Mark Horvath gets what it’s like to feel “invisible.”
You can probably recall a time in which you felt invisible, too. Maybe your boss tossed out that one brilliant idea you had… Or perhaps that person you really like hasn’t texted you back in a few days… It’s not an easy feeling.
For folks experiencing homelessness, this feeling of invisibility can be overwhelming. When people ignore you day in and day out, it can really begin to feel like you don’t exist.
Twenty years ago, Mark Horvath was experiencing homeless on Hollywood Boulevard, watching the faces pass him by. In November 2008, he founded Invisible People – a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way we think about people experiencing homelessness. Storytelling is at the heart of Mark’s work, and video is his preferred medium. Since 2008, Mark has traveled to over 300 cities in several different countries and interviewed hundreds of folks experiencing homelessness.
“Everyone on the streets has their own story. Some made bad decisions, others were victims, but none of them deserve what they have been left with, and it is a reflection of our own society that we just leave them there,” Mark said. “Please always remember, the homeless people you’ll ignore today were much like you not so long ago.”
Youth experiencing homelessness often fly under the radar.
Young people experiencing homelessness often don’t “seem” homeless, as they tend to blend in, couch-surf, or double-up with friends. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth experiencing homelessness are often even more invisible still – as it can be unsafe for them to be their true selves.
“I don’t care who you worship or what you believe. I don’t care who you sleep with,” Mark said. “If you are helping hurting people, you’re my friend and I will support you.”
Mark’s storytelling amplifies the voices of the ignored and unheard.
By centering the voices of folks experiencing homelessness, Invisible People is shattering stereotypes, opening hearts and minds, and delivering a call to action. Mark has hundreds of awesome interviews on InvisiblePeople.tv, and you should watch them all! We recommend checking out his interview with Alexander, a transgender man living in Boston, and his visit to TRANS: THRIVE, a drop-in center by and for the transgender community.
You can make a difference! Spread the word online and help make the invisible visible.