Through His Eyes - Video Excerpt

A​ harsh cast of light and fluttering moths block the rusting doorway of the gas station. A tickle of diesel fumes is the only smell for miles. A man opens the door. He wears an old pair of denim blue jeans with a small gray jacket. His charcoal- grey hair is unkempt and his eyes are yellow. He is polite. Inside rows after rows of branded chips, candy, potted meats, and ramen take over the room. Sounds of people asking for gas and the jingle of keys are his normal surroundings.

The drumming rain on the roof changes the atmosphere. The man gazes out the window. His body begins shivering uncontrollably; the people in the store leave.

Many of our neighbors are unsheltered and feel invisible. Although every community has its own share of homelessness, some places are worse than others. Atlanta used to be known for sweet peaches and the satisfying taste of Coca-Cola. Today Atlanta is considered the Hollywood of the South, with the busiest international airport on the planet. While many of us have our focus on the glamorous city, we must not forget the invisible people who lie in the shadows.

Ozea Poland, 63 in Atlanta Georgia, has been homeless for a year and a half. “I believe he’s comfortable sleeping on the street,” said an Atlanta resident. In the Hollywood of the south, homeless people are often overlooked. So no one has had the courage to ask him “Why are you on the streets?”. His gazes hint at lost hope. Census surveys suggest substance abuse and severe mental illness, especially for the chronically homeless. Now, Ozea is ready to shed light on his story by wandering aimlessly through a series of “bad luck” and what he believes the reason Atlanta can’t end poverty.