Jesse Smith

Photographed by Dawnesha Coffin, age 18

Jesse was homeless for six years. He grew up primarily in Northeast D.C. As a kid, he enjoyed going to the local Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs and aspired to be a jet pilot. Over the years he worked as a mail clerk, a telephone installer, and a telecommunications engineer and consultant. For thirty years he was married, owned a home, and raised children. Jesse never expected to be homeless, but once he got divorced he handed everything over to his ex-wife and became homeless. Mental illness gave him more problems. Jesse became unemployed and went through some tough times. He is now a very active member of the National Coalition for the Homeless Speakers Bureau.

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