Lester, Missouri, aged 63, homeless Vietnam veteran, sleeps in car, divorced, wife took kids, volunteers to help others - Invisible People

Lester lives in his car in Springfield, Missouri. He first experienced homelessness at five years old. I can't even imagine what it must be for a child to be homeless at such a young age. Lester is the second person now that has told me they were first homeless at the age of five.

Lester's mother died in her arms when he was 15 years old. Only days after his mother's funeral, Lester's dad wanted to move another woman into their house. When Lester spoke up, his father beat him, and Lester ran away.

Lester's third time of experiencing homelessness was after he returned from Vietnam. He says when Vietnam Vets came home nobody wanted them. Overall Lester says he has been homeless around 25 years.

Lester receives $770 on Social Security Disability every month. After car payment and insurance, there is not enough money for rent. Lester is one of the many mobile homeless in America sleeping in their vehicles.

The good news is that Lester has been approved to go live at Eden Village, a new tiny homes community. I toured Eden Village and I hope to have a vlog up about it soon. It's an amazing place.

Lester is excited but also cautious. For most homeless people, moving into housing starts a whole new battle of challenges. I have been off the streets for 23 years and I still struggle sometimes.

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Since its launch in November 2008, Invisible People has leveraged the power of video and the massive reach of social media to share the compelling, gritty, and unfiltered stories of homeless people from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. The vlog (video blog) gets up close and personal with veterans, mothers, children, layoff victims and others who have been forced onto the streets by a variety of circumstances. Each week, they’re on InvisiblePeople.tv, and high traffic sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, proving to a global audience that while they may often be ignored, they are far from invisible.

Invisible People goes beyond the rhetoric, statistics, political debates, and limitations of social services to examine poverty in America via a medium that audiences of all ages can understand, and can’t ignore. The vlog puts into context one of our nation’s most troubling and prevalent issues through personal stories captured by the lens of Mark Horvath – its founder – and brings into focus the pain, hardship and hopelessness that millions face each day. One story at a time, videos posted on InvisiblePeople.tv shatter the stereotypes of America’s homeless, force shifts in perception and deliver a call to action that is being answered by national brands, nonprofit organizations and everyday citizens now committed to opening their eyes and their hearts to those too often forgotten.

Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way we think about people experiencing homelessness.