Name: The year I was homeless
Uploaded: 2009-10-28T08:29:00Z
Duration: 6 min 53 s
Description: Becky Blanton planned to live in her van for a year and see the country, but when depression set in and her freelance job ended, her camping trip turned into homelessness. In this intimate talk, she describes her experience of becoming one of America's working homeless.

Becky  Blanton: The year I was homeless

The year I was homeless

Becky Blanton planned to live in her van for a year and see the country, but when depression set in and her freelance job ended, her camping trip turned into homelessness. In this intimate talk, she describes her experience of becoming one of America's working homeless.

Homelessness can happen shockingly fast, even to someone with decades of professional experience. After the loss of a parent and a job, living out of a van turned from adventure into survival, with sweltering nights and daily invisibility. Society’s judgments strip dignity, but hope—and the ability to hold onto one’s identity—can spark a way back. Where people sleep does not define who they are or what they can achieve.