One World Cinema

What happens to kids when they don’t have parents who support them, to bring them on casting calls, or soccer practice, or ballet lessons? Who makes sure their homework gets done and that they are eating healthy?

1.6 million kids in the US are homeless and, surprisingly enough, for many of them, it is out of their own volition. Most of the time they are running away from something, escaping a painful situation that they can not bear; abuse, bullying, loss, or addiction.

‘Most don’t like to talk about life before the streets. Most would do anything to FORGET ABOUT LIFE before the streets.’

Meet ‘Sugar’ a homeless girl living in the artsy bohemian town of Venice Beach, California with her ‘new’ family; Marshall, Ronnie, Sketch, and Free. After something tragic (explained later in the film), happens to her ‘real’ biological family, she is sleeping under an overpass, scrounging money from a social worker, Bishop, who, if she confides in, will give her a stipend. Leary, defensive, and untrusting of anyone in ‘the system,’ she feeds him just the bare minimum of information about her past, just enough to get paid and leave his office abruptly, making sure she is only referred to by her street name, ‘Sugar’. As the sessions continue, Bishop is hoping to establish a trusting relationship, break down her barriers, and uncover more information in order to help her and her other homeless friends obtain a better life.

As can be expected, petty crime, drug use, fights, and death become an everyday occurrence. She values the freedom that comes with the streets, where no one cares about what you wear, or where you came from, and learns Free’s secret to life, ‘when you know that life is going to end eventually, there is nothing really to worry about and when you aren’t worried, then it can become a lot more fun.’ However, it is not all ‘fun’ out there. The harsh reality takes it’s toll on her, and she grows tired.

In support and in conjunction with National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, SUGAR has also created FIGHTING FOR THE HOMELESS (http://igg.me/at/Filmanthropy/x/3548242), an Indiegogo Campaign with a goal to feed 10,000 homeless youth and draw awareness to the growing issue of homelessness. SUGAR has partnered with Subway, The National Coalition for the Homeless, My Friends Place, and Attention Homes in order to reach their goal of feeding 10,000 hungry and educating and inspiring the public to get involved. 80% of proceeds from this campaign will go towards the partnered organizations and shelters throughout the country in order to help them to continue their invaluable work towards feeding the hungry, eradicating homelessness and providing a safe haven for those plagued by life on the streets.

Article by Sharon Abella
Editor of One World Cinema
http://1worldcinema.com

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/h/homeless_persons/index.html

Comments are closed.