UPDATE: Rockey Is No Longer Homeless in Los Angeles

Video Description

The last time I was with Rockey, she gave me a tour of her tent where she lived homeless in Los Angeles. You may remember Rockey showed us the door she made for security. You can watch that video here: https://youtu.be/aJgCU-evt8c I first met Rockey on the set of a virtual reality film Oculus is partnering with Rose Troche and Invisible People to produce. The story is Rockey's story, and she played herself in the film. You can watch that video here: https://youtu.be/2G3oeDj9QGw Today I went and visited Rockey in her apartment. That's right, thanks to LA Family Housing Rockey is no longer homeless! It was so great seeing Rockey today and checking out her apartment. I didn't have my main camera with me simply because I don't video everything I do. Cameras change things and this didn't seem like a video moment. Arien requested we record a video to update her story so that's why I had my good camera. When Rockey started showing me all the amazing things she makes I pulled out my smartphone to shoot this little video. I have to be honest, this video doesn't even begin to show all the cool stuff Rockey builds. She is a born maker and is truly gifted at decorating and interior design. Huge thanks to Invisible People supporters who helped get Rockey a bedroom set, a refrigerator, and a few other things to make her apartment a home. When I learned she was sleeping on the floor and had no way to keep food from spoiling, you all stepping up to help. Thank you! To clarify, nonprofits like LA Family Housing would furnish each apartment if they could. They do the impossible by covering rent. The issue is funders either do not fund furniture or put restrictions on their funds. Making apartments a home is a great opportunity for faith-based and community groups. I wish more would step up to coordinate with service providers to help. When Rockey kissed me on the cheek it was unexpected and I forgot to say how important permanent supportive housing is to ending homelessness and saving taxpayer money! Homeless shelters are needed as part of a community-wide system to get people off the streets but there always must be a path out of the shelter to housing! Housing ends homelessness, it saves lives, and it saves taxpayer money - your money! 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. ================================================== Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/invisiblepeople?sub_confirmation=1 Invisible People’s website: http://invisiblepeople.tv Support Invisible People: https://invisiblepeople.tv/donate On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/invisiblepeople Invisible People’s Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/invisiblepeople https://twitter.com/invisiblepeople https://www.instagram.com/invisiblepeople https://www.facebook.com/invisiblepeopletv Mark Horvath’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/hardlynormal 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.