Breadlines and soup kitchens, panhandling and finding shelter, scavenging and dumpster diving – the daily realities of life on the street. Meeting basic necessities consumes all of one’s energy. The struggle just to get by, survive another day with one’s pride intact is often overlooked by people who see only a “problem population.”

Depression-era and contemporary artists offer glimpses of life on the street that show many similarities between the eras. There can be incredible ranges of emotion, from fear to a strong sense of community. There is no single emotional experience that captures homelessness but there can be surprising moments of camaraderie.