Homeless In America
the other hundred
"The Other Hundred" is a unique photo book project aimed as a counterpoint to the Forbes 100 and other media rich lists by telling the stories of people around the world who are not rich but whose lives, struggles and achievements deserve to be celebrated. Its 100 photo stories move beyond the stereotypes and clichés that fill so much of the world's media to explore the lives of people whose aspirations and achievements are at least as noteworthy as any member of the world's richest 1 percent.

New York City, USAPhotographer: Ruddy Roye

Riley, 2, never seems to leave his stroller as his mother, Brittany, and stepfather, Nelson, panhandle their way from street to street and borough to borough.

He eats little. Most of what he does eat costs less than U.S. $0.99 an item. That seems to be how the family budgets: all food and drink items must cost U.S. $0.99 or less. The rule doesn’t hold for cigarettes or K2, a marijuana substitute.

Nelson met Brittany at a shelter. Because couples aren’t allowed into shelters in New York, rather than spend any time apart, they decided to live together on the streets with Riley. Riley’s stroller is used to carry their few belongings.

15Nelson, Brittany and Riley leave a flophouse after failing to find a room for the night. “No vacancy” signs are a hazard of taking too long to beg for enough money.

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The couple and their son eat outside a soup kitchen. Because of the cold, Riley is seldom allowed to leave his stroller and walk around.

20After securing a room at a flophouse in Harlem, Brittany feeds Riley while Nelson contemplates which spots to hit early in the morning to get the next day’s food and rent money.

7On a bitter February day, Nelson and Riley take refuge from the cold at a housing complex in the Bronx.

19In a park in Harlem, Nelson and Brittany argue about their finances.

12Riley enjoying one of his favorite foods, chocolate. His parents feed him a steady flow of chocolate and iced teas, items within their U.S. $0.99 panhandling budget.

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