“We don’t have to be here if we don’t have to be here. We are ready and more than willing to just get up and leave in the case of the infection spreading to the encampment. This freedom lets us find safer spaces for us to be able to rely on that won’t be bad for our health.”

“Only way to make money since everything is shut down. You have to pick up cans or pick up trash to make money. That cart will be sold once I get enough metal in it, you know, I’ll be able to get cigarettes. I’m stocking up if the grocery stores close down with boxed and canned food in the crate. Once the stores close down, that’s when hell will break use. When everything shuts down, you just gotta do what you gotta do to survive. Bare necessities. I have a lot of good friends in a lot of places, this encampment will have enough food for 100 people for 2 weeks. People have to get off their asses and do what they have to do. Stop bitching and complaining. Everyone cries they are broke but they’re not willing to work, just flying signs and begging people they work for. Coronavirus is just a big scam to me. Just another thing that was created. 15 years ago, I heard they were going to do global depopulation by 1/3 of the population. If I die from this virus, its one thing, as long as I don’t die from something stupid or from someone else.”

“I took this picture to show how easy I can make a mask. It helps me stay away from the virus and stay healthy. Being that I’m the age of 50, a diabetic, asthmatic, and a smoker, I gotta stay safe. That’s all I can say. The best way I know how, as far as me being homeless. But we do need to use more protection, masks and gloves to be healthy. I wash my hands and take it very seriously because it going to get worse. It reminds me a lot of that movie, World War Z, where the virus spread so quick. This is going to get worse as we don’t have a cure for it.”

“Instead of using public phones, I use this cell phone on a daily basis. I always make sure to sanitize my hands after using it. Having the portable battery helps me avoid public places too. I found out about the coronavirus through my dad. He called me on this phone and now he keeps me up to date since he’s on top of what’s going on. Communication helps the world not spread the disease. Also, I have access to medical personell and have a list of my medical, if im sick and dont know whats going on with me they can look at my history and see whats going on. I can explain that to first responders.”

“This is very serious. I don’t even think words alone can define the seriousness and severity of it. People are losing their lives here the amount is doubling maybe even tripling. It’s very serious. At the hospital, I did see people who were experiencing the full extent of the virus and it was not pretty. If people aren’t trying to get masks, gloves and cleaning supplies, that’s just showing their lack of care for themselves and anyone else. We need more of that PPE, yessir. No one is exempt from this virus. Race, color, degree, origin, it doesn’t discriminate. I am defining the reality right now. This is very real. Its not pretty and its not meant to be pretty. We can put on the face mask and some people can say, ‘Oh that looks cool,’ but this isn’t about cool. This is about life or death.”

“Theres ways homeless can stay safe. Keeping clean, hands away from your face, washing, sanitizing anything. If we use the hand sanitizer, gloves and mask, we’ll be able to beat it. It’s always important to wash my hands everyday. It keeps me safe to use soap, hand sanitizer, and other steps to not get the virus. It’s not too hard to get them because I stock up on them in the dollar store. Using and having this stuff right here, its accessible, easy to get to and keeping my health and others around me safe.”

“I wanted to show you don’t always have to go to public places to clean your clothes, the air itself is enough. I usually go to the laundromat but its closed. We’re on top of it. Even though it’s a virus, it can still be on your clothes and body. We need to begin picking up healthy habits by taking care of ourselves by keeping our clothes, body and skin taken care of.”

“Clothes not only smell good, but this stuff kills a lot of germs. It’s helpful if you use it correctly. I usually wash my clothes with the bleach thoroughly because you never know who had them before donating. With this virus, you can be out in public and someone can cough on you and you can end up bringing it back to your bed from your clothes. You need to keep yourself clean to keep yourself healthy. Homeless people don’t know how to use these cleaning supplies. People don’t use it, just take it and put it in storage.” 

“I think it’s awesome the church is staying open because a lot of people are hungry, they’re homeless, and I’m glad people are reaching out. Even though it’s more peaceful now, it’s still not safe to go out no matter if you wear face masks or gloves. The church’s safe precautions helps keep people safer.”