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Homeless Lives Matter: Homeless my story
Thousands of men and women in Washington DC, as elsewhere in mostly urban but also parts of rural America, are severely afflicted by abject poverty and not able to earn enough to take care of their daily needs, basically food and a place to call home. Every night the homeless, as they are called, sleep outside on street sidewalks and corners, under bridges, on sides of buildings, in bushes, on public benches, in train and bus stations and anywhere else where they can find a place to sleep at least for a night. Although this reality of total destitution in the midst of abundance occurs in the greatest, mightiest and wealthiest nation on earth, the issue of homelessness is generally met by apathy, probably because most people who walk pass the homeless every day; seem unable to relate to what it is like to be homeless. In order to awaken the consciousness of the reader and the general public about this social plague called homelessness, the author is telling his story as a homeless himself and portraying the reality of homelessness from his experience. His message is Homelessness is dehumanizing and detrimental to the individual experiencing it. Homelessness should alarm society as a whole, because it has reached an epidemic proportion that is afflicting and incapacitating a considerable and non-negligible segment of the American population. There should therefore be urgency, from individuals and society to act to solve and end homelessness, so that human dignity can be restored in the lives of so many human beings who have no home and dwell outside like animals in the wilderness. Also, so many who are socially and financially stable and self-sufficient, or are just doing well enough, think that they are immune to homelessness and poverty. Truth of the matter is that, they may be mistaken because they cannot predict any affliction or misfortune that can cause them to lose everything and become indigent themselves.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
141 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2016
8 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 15, 2022
Leo could benefit from an editor, but this story of his experiences is so important. I highly recommend supporting him.
June 1, 2025
excellent book written from the perspective of someone who has been systematically targeted and exploited by the US's harsh capitalistic system. leo's vocabulary is better than my own despite having significantly less resources, and i applaud him for providing a perspective to homelessness that i have been strategically sheltered from as someone who grew up in a middle class family. specifically the fact that he got the money to buy a laptop from panhandling that has then allowed him to find more permanent housing inspired me to withdraw money from the atm to have on hand in case i come across people panhandling. another story where, under subzero temperatures, unhoused people including an 80+ year old grandma were forced out of a warm train station with security guards promising transportation to a warming center that never showed up and multiple people likely died of hypothermia as a result, also forced me to reevaluate my own prejudices. some of the most impactful quotes:
“before they had the time to set the blankets on fire, they saw me walking to them with the pole and ready to hit them. they run towards the exit of the alley on the 13th street side. i chased behind them and saw them get into a car parked outside the alley and drive away. these juveniles had nothing better to do but spend their weekend night going to alleys to try to burn and use heavy objects to harm sleeping homeless people.” (Gnawa, 47)
“i will admit that i am less worried about wild animals than humans, for the simple fact that animals would harm you only when they see you as a threat to their life, or when you look like food to them. but humans will simply harm you for no justifiable reasons like the case of the kids who tried to set me and other homeless people on fire, for the fun of it.” (Gnawa, 53)
“Imagine this: a homeless man who got picked up at SOME early in the morning around 7:30 am without eating breakfast- because the eviction van had to leave before breakfast was served- and travelled for an hour to the job site, then waited for two hours for the police to show up, did a couple of jobs for 2 hours, then went to wait for two more hours to get paid and finally returned to the city by 4:00 pm, with only 10$ pay for the day.” (Gnawa, 98)
“before they had the time to set the blankets on fire, they saw me walking to them with the pole and ready to hit them. they run towards the exit of the alley on the 13th street side. i chased behind them and saw them get into a car parked outside the alley and drive away. these juveniles had nothing better to do but spend their weekend night going to alleys to try to burn and use heavy objects to harm sleeping homeless people.” (Gnawa, 47)
“i will admit that i am less worried about wild animals than humans, for the simple fact that animals would harm you only when they see you as a threat to their life, or when you look like food to them. but humans will simply harm you for no justifiable reasons like the case of the kids who tried to set me and other homeless people on fire, for the fun of it.” (Gnawa, 53)
“Imagine this: a homeless man who got picked up at SOME early in the morning around 7:30 am without eating breakfast- because the eviction van had to leave before breakfast was served- and travelled for an hour to the job site, then waited for two hours for the police to show up, did a couple of jobs for 2 hours, then went to wait for two more hours to get paid and finally returned to the city by 4:00 pm, with only 10$ pay for the day.” (Gnawa, 98)
December 6, 2025
As mentioned in other reviews, Gnawa really needs a good editor. But to write a book while homeless deserves 5 stars. Homeless Lives Matter is full of anecdotes Gnawa saw on the streets, in shelters and in businesses that attempt to ban people who appear homeless. His conclusion is full of facts and statistics on homelessness in the US and I'm sure it is far worse today than when he wrote it.
February 22, 2025
I personally would give this book a 4 stars, but since he is homeless, and he saved for a laptop to write this book, and to share his experiences, I give him 5 stars all day long .
I talked to this man in DC when i was there for work. I bought it from him on the street and he signed it for me. I was intrigued that he wrote a book and I’m glad I was lucky enough to purchase it.
I found it interesting and informative. The personal tribulations of some of the people he wrote about was eye opening. I often give to the homeless, not as much as I should i know . I’ll think twice as i get older as to helping the situation, instead of just knowing the problem exists. I think if everyone has that take away from this book , maybe a small change will take place
I talked to this man in DC when i was there for work. I bought it from him on the street and he signed it for me. I was intrigued that he wrote a book and I’m glad I was lucky enough to purchase it.
I found it interesting and informative. The personal tribulations of some of the people he wrote about was eye opening. I often give to the homeless, not as much as I should i know . I’ll think twice as i get older as to helping the situation, instead of just knowing the problem exists. I think if everyone has that take away from this book , maybe a small change will take place
March 19, 2021
Leo brings a very important perspective to our country's narrative: an individual who is navigating homelessness. This is a must-read for anyone in the social services field. Further, as homelessness worsens due to the past 40 years of punitive neoliberal policy, the humanization of its victims is crucial in any conversation pertaining to justice and progressive policy.
November 10, 2019
So many thoughts on this book! First off, I think it was an interesting perspective, very different from my own. I can only imagine what it may feel like to be homeless - to be ignored or to be treated as “less than”. With that said, it can be very easy to assume that people don’t care simply because they walk past without a word or because they aren’t throwing hashtags up on social media or organizing a protest or petitioning congress - that just isn’t true. For every solution in the world, there are 99 other problems fighting to garner our attention. It’s impossible for many of us to care about every social issue.
Nonetheless, the author presented a valid case. Homelessness truly is a problem in America, and it is disheartening that one of the richest countries in the world is incapable of providing a social structure to effectively combat the issue. Other countries seem to get it right, and yet here we are again, in America, struggling to provide for those less fortunate. It also angered me to hear of the author’s experiences with people who threw rocks at him, tried to set him on fire, and mistreated him at facilities where he was simply looking for a meal. I will never understand why people go out of their way to be assholes to others. It’s unnecessary. But I suppose, it also is a fact of life (that some people are jerks) just as gentrification is also a fact of life, and as the author pointed out, a direct cause of homelessness for a good portion of the population in Washington, DC.
The idealist in me wishes there were an easy solution. I wish everyone was trained with the necessary skill sets to find employment in their specialized fields and I wish there were enough jobs out there for everyone to have. I wish people didn’t lie, or scam, or try to cheat the system and these charitable organizations who work hard to provide for the poor. But of course it’s more complicated than simply wishing the world were different....
I would really like to see this author find an editor to help him organize his thoughts on the page because I feel he has a lot of interesting stories to tell. At times his thoughts seemed scrambled and it was difficult to fully understand the dialogue and points he was trying to make. The flow of the overall book could improve and I do wish it were longer. There were often stories presented that I wish were explored more. Overall, good book! I felt uncomfortable which is exactly how I want a book to make me feel. Because very rarely does change happen when we are comfortable in our current positions.
Nonetheless, the author presented a valid case. Homelessness truly is a problem in America, and it is disheartening that one of the richest countries in the world is incapable of providing a social structure to effectively combat the issue. Other countries seem to get it right, and yet here we are again, in America, struggling to provide for those less fortunate. It also angered me to hear of the author’s experiences with people who threw rocks at him, tried to set him on fire, and mistreated him at facilities where he was simply looking for a meal. I will never understand why people go out of their way to be assholes to others. It’s unnecessary. But I suppose, it also is a fact of life (that some people are jerks) just as gentrification is also a fact of life, and as the author pointed out, a direct cause of homelessness for a good portion of the population in Washington, DC.
The idealist in me wishes there were an easy solution. I wish everyone was trained with the necessary skill sets to find employment in their specialized fields and I wish there were enough jobs out there for everyone to have. I wish people didn’t lie, or scam, or try to cheat the system and these charitable organizations who work hard to provide for the poor. But of course it’s more complicated than simply wishing the world were different....
I would really like to see this author find an editor to help him organize his thoughts on the page because I feel he has a lot of interesting stories to tell. At times his thoughts seemed scrambled and it was difficult to fully understand the dialogue and points he was trying to make. The flow of the overall book could improve and I do wish it were longer. There were often stories presented that I wish were explored more. Overall, good book! I felt uncomfortable which is exactly how I want a book to make me feel. Because very rarely does change happen when we are comfortable in our current positions.
October 5, 2022
Found this book in a neighborhood lending library. I have never read anything from the perspective of an unhoused person and this book provided an opportunity to do so. It could definitely benefit from an editor but I am so grateful Leo put the time, effort, and money to share his experiences. We as a society need to do better regarding the problem of homelessness. Supporting Leo’s work and listening to the lived experiences of those who are homeless or have been homeless is a small step towards fighting this problem.
August 14, 2025
It's been a while since I've read this book, but I'm giving it 5 stars because I haven't seen another book like it, besides the others Leo has written, himself. As someone with multiple friends who struggle on and off with homelessness and having grown up in an upper-middle class family, I usually feel alone in my empathy towards homeless people. I have been told not to care so much or that they need to help themselves. While it's true that I do need to exercise more care for myself, I will never believe that ignoring and abusing human beings is a better solution to the problem of homelessness than showing people compassion and empathy. Leo's taught me a lot about the reality of homelessness that I'd been curious about. Unfortunately, so have my friends. Leo inspires me to keep going. He reminds me that even if you're just one person who struggles with so much, you can contribute something of great value to this world if you just keep going, keep surviving, keep having gratitude, and know your worth (even when it's hard).
October 30, 2022
I had a hard time with the telling of the story about Asian seniors who collect and resell the free supplies they give away at homeless shelters. The author fell back on several racist stereotypes against Asian people, and the placement of the story was ironic given that in the previous chapter the author congratulated himself for his entrepreneurship when he did almost the exact same thing as a ticket scalper. I would have hoped that someone who understands and writes about what it is like to belong to one or more stigmatized communities would have had more empathy.
That said, the author's openness about his imperfections helped make believable a book that, to me as a person who has always lived with privilege, would have been almost unbelievable. It's hard for me to comprehend how truly awful people can be to another human being. This firsthand account of life as a homeless person was therefore well worth reading.
That said, the author's openness about his imperfections helped make believable a book that, to me as a person who has always lived with privilege, would have been almost unbelievable. It's hard for me to comprehend how truly awful people can be to another human being. This firsthand account of life as a homeless person was therefore well worth reading.
December 30, 2018
Quite an interesting perspective and one that we should pay attention to. Apparently scammers using their elderly Chinese grandparents to pose as homeless and collect church donations of clothing and supplies meant for homeless and resell the items for profit. Also dentists scamming Medicaid system by paying homeless 20$ to come in for minimal service and then billing Medicaid $800. Recommend this book not only to support this entrepreneurial homeless man but to expose the plight of the homeless in DC. and their shameless exploitation.
October 26, 2019
What a great perspective into homelessness! Leo is very inspirational. His personality is very apparent in this book and it was fascinating to read about the observations he would make about life in DC. You would think those who are homeless have plenty of time to observe what is going on around them, but this is the first time anyone has shared their observations. Thanks Leo for sharing your story and I hope you continue to rise up!
December 8, 2019
I couldn't put this book down. His stories feel authentic, his opinion is nuanced; I think anyone interested in social issues--not just homelessness-- should buy this. It will be hard not to think of this book when I pass homeless on the streets. When I do I hope I'll remember to at least offer them a nod and smile, perhaps a word or two of encouragement. After seeing things through Leo's eyes, it's easy to see that these small measures of respect and dignity go a long way.
March 10, 2021
I found Leo on Instagram and felt inclined to buy his book since he was in the midst of transitioning out of homelessness by selling his book. Even if you feel you are empathetic to homeless people you could definitely learn a thing or two from this book. Leo's story of experiencing homelessness in DC is eye opening, especially for someone living in DC. I hope to take some of what he wrote and apply it to how I can better help the homeless and understand what they are going through.
June 1, 2021
Leo tells details about his life story throughout this memoir that is charged with a passion for activism to aid those who are homeless in America. It was a fast read, full of descriptions of everyday struggles of homeless folk that certainly arouse empathy. My dad is homeless and it was especially thought provoking to read this book with the knowledge I possess about my own father’s situation. This book reminds us of the power of simple kindness and inspires me to do more.
August 9, 2023
One man's story of his ongoing journey in homelessness in America. While such first-person accounts are essential to our understanding of what the unhoused go through, Gnawa's analysis of the causes and potential solutions to homelessness is unsophisticated and perpetuates many of the victim-blaming myths surrounding this complex issue. Still an essential read for anyone who cares about our unhoused neighbors.
December 7, 2025
A quick and insightful read! I met Leo on my first trip to DC. My group walked by and I felt God nudging me to turn around and chat with him. We talked and he showed me his 2 books. I purchased both and am so glad that I did. I learned so much from reading Leo's perspectives and experiences. Homelessness is so complex and it's important to discuss it. I plan on dropping both books at Little Free Libraries when I am finished to ensure more people can hear his story!
August 2, 2025
Interesting reading. This book was written by a man who was/is homeless. Homeless people are like the rest of society in that they are all individuals with their own history, genetics, traumas, successes, and dreams. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. I am inspired to read about homelessness in other countries.
February 23, 2021
This is a must read, especially for those whose bias tends to lean toward dehumanizing our unhoused neighbors. This is one man's perspective, but it's so important for our understanding of the experience of homelessness. Go follow Leo on Instagram @homelesslivesmatterbook to follow his journey.
November 18, 2022
Outside of some grammar and editing elements, this book is such an important perspective and experience critical to understooding the end homelessness. Recommend buying to ensure Leo also gets the support.
December 16, 2019
An insightful look into the world of the from a homeless person who tells it like it is from a first hand account. Well written and interesting.
March 1, 2021
Read it all the same day I got it, thank you so much Leo for sharing your story. I can't wait to make everyone I know purchase this!!!!
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August 6, 2021362.50973 G571 2016
December 23, 2021
Learned some interesting things
July 17, 2022
This was an eye opening and insightful book. It's short and very worth the read
February 23, 2025
Leo’s story needs to be heard ‼️
https://homelesslivesmatterbook.com/
https://homelesslivesmatterbook.com/
May 19, 2021
An unforgettable and eye-opening account of the homeless experience. It does go quite fast but the author just posted he is following up with a new novel. Hope to get that soon and to read more about his struggles. Not only as a homeless person but also a homeless writer.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews