The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
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Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
Dec 2014 back issue
by Andrea Star Reese
The Urban Cave, photographed primarily in Harlem, New York City is a story about the resilience and humanity of
people who live unsheltered on the other side of conventional society. It is about a group of individuals and the full
spectrum of their lives, rather than just their deprivations. The images are in response to the beauty of a place, a
people, and the dignity, determination and perseverance reflected in their culture.
New York:2007-2010_Chuck has been living in the Amtrak tunnel for more than ten years, Lisa more than seven. Of all
the men and women I covered, Lisa has been on the street the longest. ‚"After a while when people live like this it gets
to be OK. That scares me more than anything. How can living like this ever be OK?" Lisa is adamant she wants out.
She does not want to die on the streets.
When Snow White was ready to leave an abusive partner she was sheltered by people living in an encampment near
the river. Homeless men and women had been living in area settlements for more then twenty years.
Country runs the short, dead end street, called "The Batcave." All hours, day and night, people come and go seeking
its shadows. The faces change. Some leave for treatment, jail, family, or housing. Others just leave. Many return.
According to the women, it is a safe place for those seeking refuge. Despite the hardships and the uncertainties of his
life, Country is the only one that stays. That is because of "the beauty of it. I love the street."
When Krissy was sick from a life threatening illness and threatened with assault from men emboldened by her drug
use during a time when Country was incarcerated, Roz showed up saying “ Don’t worry, I’ll stay with her” then D. O.
(Daddy O) came down low, then others, all volunteering to keep Krissy safe.
Brooklyn has been living in the tunnel for more then twenty years. She found her home by following the feral cats that
befriended her. During all the evictions beginning with the original purge in the 1990’s, Brooklyn escaped detection.
New York 2011_2014: Currently most of the people depicted have been placed in housing or are on track to receive
their own space, most through CUCS, Center for Urban Community Services, a non-governmental NGO. Many have
been evicted from the sites photographed and the encampments emptied of all belongings. Some have lost housing
after being arrested and are back on the street. In 2009 Country was arrested 5 times. In 2014 during August and
September Country was arrested at least 5 times. As October began he was arrested two more times.
New York, October 2014: The Batcave is raided and emptied for the final time.
Phone call from Country
8:41pm “We lost that war baby girl” (earlier Country had been arrested for blocking a door in the barrier wall of the
Batcave, a door that had been welded shut).
Fragile and resilient, tragic and beautiful, self-destructive yet surviving, these men and women are just people. Neither
more than us, nor less than us they are a part of us. And they are apart from us. Nothing is simple in the shadows of
the street.
"Don't call me homeless." – Country
Chuck and Lisa have lived in their makeshift home in the Amtrak
tunnel for more then nine years.
Chuck waits for his companion.
Chuck shares his small but well protected makeshift home, high up in the walls of the tunnel, with his companion Lisa.
Lisa, several months pregnant, collects some things for the baby she will have.
After moving into assisted housing Brooklyn found it hard to leave her cats behind. She comes to the tunnel daily to
clean up and to reassure her pets.
Jamaica and Zoe take refuge in the subway. They have been sleeping there regularly for more then two years.
After being evicted from track 13 in 2004, Willy made a home in a box near the train station. He is still on the street.
He can hear the trains pass underneath him.
Geo takes a "homeless shower".
The Urban Cave
a book project by Andrea Star Reese.
Lisa and Chuck watch as someone enters the tunnel. Sometimes people who come to paint graffiti are afraid of them
and alert the police which can lead to an eviction. Other times they have been robbed.
Country and Snow White.
