“Stigma… we don’t matter. A lot of people hate us and want us to die. A store owner wouldn’t call the police [for someone overdosing] and said oh, I hope he dies.”

[what do you need to get out of this environment?] “To get hooked up with the right people. The people who want to help us homeless, who want to help us get off drugs.”

[on leaving this environment] “I need some housing, somewhere safe. I tried every resource so far.. its a phone number that leads to another phone number that leads to another phone number.”

[on not using shelters] “They’re dirty. I’m afraid of bed bugs or body lice. The staff are mean. Really mean. And you don’t get sleep because someone has a mental health crisis and is screaming obscenities all night. I’d rather be out here.”

“[living in this environment] Feels like the ultimate rejection. This happens to me… I’ll ask someone on their phone the time, they can see me, they don’t have headphones in, but they straight up ignore me and just keep walking.”