Alan Emmins's Blog

Hounded: Stories from the American Road The five stories in HOUNDED are simple portraits of American icons.The heroes are made of flesh, blood and tarmac. The baddies are the result of 200 years of failure and success, made possible by a loud history of disgrace and glory. None of them could have been made anywhere else. Eighteen-Wheeled […]

For most people, the risk of a £300,000 fine would have them hanging up their cans. But MOA are raging against the machine, and for them the trains of Copenhagen are feeding the machine a fresh supply of bodies.

First published in Down Town Magazine (Spain – 2003) Words and images by Alan Emmins A cute girl rushing along the sidewalk stops abruptly and asks a guy if he has the time. She rests a hand on his shoulder and smiles flirtatiously. She thanks him more than she needs to, and dashes on. Smiling, […]

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** As a writer who spent a month living homeless in New York to research a book, I naturally acknowledge that there is an awful lot that I don’t know about being homeless, or about the administrative and bureaucratic… Continue reading 10 strategic imperatives for attacking homelessness

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** Outside the OTB, JR stands four dollars lighter than when he entered. The loss has no effect on his smile. We walk up 80th Street, stopping to search every trashcan outside every house. Jauntily JR takes… Continue reading Bench Bugs: Homeless in New York – Excerpt 10 – Eat by then

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** Of course I knew I was going to come across poverty and desperation while living homeless in New York, but nothing prepared me for the recycling station in the Bronx. Wherever you see a recycling machine… Continue reading What was my biggest shock while living homeless in New York?

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** The trolley is stowed in a dark corner, out of view from train drivers and passengers. JR picks up a ladder that is lying on the ground and leans it against the wall with a swift,… Continue reading Bench Bugs: Homeless in New York – Excerpt 9 – Tunnel Dwelling

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** When I first stepped onto the streets to live homeless in New York, it is fair to say I did it with a fair amount of naiveté. I was more scared than I had expected. My… Continue reading Where do you sleep when homeless in New York?

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** I sign in at the reception under a horrible green light. A woman takes my bag and gives me a ticket. I am told that I will go through enrolment in the morning, but for now… Continue reading Bench Bugs: Homeless in New York – Excerpt 8 – Get with the programme

Alan Emmins is the author of Bench Bugs: Portraits of Homeless New York Follow the Homeless in New York Blog here. *** When I first stepped onto the streets to begin my project living homeless in New York, I was armed with various snippets of obvious advice: like keep your possessions attached while sleeping, otherwise they will be… Continue reading What was the most painful lesson while living homeless in New York?