The city estimates that 7,539 San Franciscans lack stable housing. Lumped in a statistic, 7,539 individuals easily blur into one homogeneous identity, a single misleading notion of what it means to be “homeless.” The “Change of Address” project aims to challenge that.

In collaboration with SonicSF, a “reality news” radio show, the Public Press presents a series of audio portraits of people who are — or are on the verge of becoming — homeless.

These narratives cover a wide range of stories on housing instability. They reveal what life without a secure home can look, sound and feel like. The conversations flow from the particulars of each situation. For every person struggling with homelessness there is a unique path accompanied by their own set of ideas, passions, hopes and struggles.

“When people are on the streets they get thrown into a label,” said Michael, who has been homeless for five years. “And sometimes they start believing that label, rather than believing the truth — which is, we’re all equal.”

All eight narratives are also available on SonicSF’s website as part of the June 29 media blitz on homelessness in the Bay Area.

Production by SonicSF’s Ellison Libiran, Chloe Davidson, and Stacy Bond. Photos by Public Press photographer Hyunha Kim.

Special thanks to Lava Mae and Catholic Charities of San Francisco.

— Text by Hye-Jin Kim. Photos by Hyunha Kim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stacy Bond is the executive producer of SonicSF, a former producer of KQED’s "The California Report," and held multiple positions at National Public Radio in Washington, D.C. She is currently the director of media for GrowthX, and a founding producer and creative director of SonicSF’s Joyride!, a multimedia storytelling series.

Ellison Libiran is an audio producer and the music director for SonicSF. He is also a founding producer and creative director for SonicSF’s JOYRIDE!, a live multimedia storytelling series, and works at the Conservatory of Flowers. Ellison has a B.A. from San Francisco State University’s Broadcasting and Electronic Communication Arts department with an emphasis in audio production.

Chloe Davidson is an audio producer and the social media director for SonicSF. She is the coordinating producer for SonicSF’s JOYRIDE!, a live multimedia storytelling series, and works in the distillery at Anchor Brewing. Chloe has a B.A. from San Francisco State University’s Broadcasting and Electronic Communication Arts department with an emphasis in radio production.