Just to be clear, I am homeless (plus a collection of desert sunset film photos)

a person with a bun and dog watching the sunset

My life gets glamorized by the internet.

Everyone’s does. It's not our fault, it is just so much more fun to post beautiful photos of myself and the places I see than it is to post about the hard times.

I try to combat that in my writing, but I know it still seems more glamorous than it is. So I want to be clear- I am homeless. If I could find housing that I could afford, I would jump on the chance to be housed. To have a safe place to stay permanently and a warm shower... I crave that security.

the california desert at sunset with some mountains and bushes

I live with a lot of fear as a result of my homelessness.

I have learned through experience that when you don't have basic housing the world thinks you also don't deserve basic kindness and respect. They don't see me as equal. I have seen some shit as a result of my homelessness that I couldn't even bring myself to write about because it was too traumatic. It just feels easier to repress it, at least until I am at a safer place in my life.

a full moon over a purple and blue sunset in the desert

dark clouds over a light sky at sunrise in the desert

I wanted to share this collection of sunrise and sunset photos with you, but I also don't want to give you the wrong impression of my life. And yes, homeless people can have hobbies like film photography. Don't give me that rich person bullshit that if I didn’t spend $20/ month on film that I would be able to afford a $2,000/ month apartment.

Homelessness can look so different, depending on individual circumstances. I am a privileged kind of homeless where I do have a vehicle to live in and someone in my life who could help me if I got into a bad situation.

the light just barely shining over the mountains at sunset in the california desert

a windmill back lit by the sunset of the calfiornia desert

My partner has a full time job so we can afford food and gas and some clothes. But it's not enough for us to afford a roof to live under.

So, just to be clear, I am homeless. And also, I hope you also enjoy these photos.

Let's be friends! Do you ever feel like your life is inferior to the people's lives you see on social media? Have you ever struggled to afford housing?

All photos in this blog were taken by me and my partner on a Polaroid sx-70 camera during our time in the southern California desert.

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Olivia SmithJune 23, 2023Comment