“You Are the Light of the World”
Taking Flight at Lowell Park
Photo by Marcela Pardo Ariza
More people experience homelessness in California than in any other state—at least 151,000 people, 75% of whom are not living in a shelter. California alone is responsible for roughly 27% of homelessness in the nation; 23% of California’s homeless population is severely mentally ill; 8% are unaccompanied youth under the age of 24. These harrowing statistics remind us of the extreme wealth gap present in cities like San Francisco, and the jarring contrast between the skyscrapers that form our skyline and the landscape dotted with tents below. Located in the Facebook headquarters Palo Alto, California, this mural is a series colors and shapes. While the painting is bright and colorful, the tent encampment is a stark reminder that one in every 588 Americans is currently experiencing homelessness. We must stop ignoring the growing number of people living without homes. What are YOU doing to create change?
