Patrick, Austin Texas, aged 53, been homeless and on streets for 5 years - Invisible People

After a person does their time, they are released out into the streets with little to no support. As a convicted criminal, it's nearly impossible to get a job. Many end up homeless. Like this or not, as a taxpayer, we all pay huge tax money per homeless person that's out on the streets. Our criminal justice system is broken.

Patrick is 53 years old and lives homeless on the streets of Austin, Texas. After 30 years in the prison, Patrick was released to homelessness.

Patrick suffers from mental illness. He has several fingers amputated from his right hand and a dislocated shoulder. Even if there was someone who would hire an ex-felon, Patrick is disabled and cannot work.

He says he's tried to get out of homelessness, but the cost of housing is too much. Patrick has a sister that tries to help, but she's hurting too.

Patrick got emotional and asked to stop the interview. I can literally feel Patrick's pain and frustration. Homelessness is hard. He's paid the price for whatever crime he committed. There should be support for people like Patrick, but our criminal justice system is broken.

Your voice can help end homelessness. If we do not fix the affordable housing crisis, homelessness will continue to get worse. Click here https://invisiblepeople.tv/getinvolved to tweet, email, call, or Facebook your federal and state legislators to tell them ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing is a priority to you.

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About Invisible People

There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, a living wage or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.

We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.

This isn’t just talk. Each year, our groundbreaking educational content reaches more than a billion people across the globe. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.

However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.

Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.