Finalist: Love Without a Home
A narrative picture story that explores an important social, economic, or political issue.
Love Without a Home
Days are long for Janet Santos. Most days she wakes as the sun is rising. She gently wakes her partner, Jose Rodriguez, or any friends with her before starting on her day in search of warm meals from nonprofits and a safe place to sleep at night.
Life was not easy for Santos even before she became homeless in 2021. At 3 months old her father died. At 3 years old her mother died. Santos was 8 when she knew she was a girl. She says she never had explicit conversations with people unless they asked, but has always been open about expressing her identity on the outside through her clothing. She also takes hormones along with anti depressants.
In 2019 Santos had a stroke which has left one arm disabled. The stroke led to the discovery of lymphoma for which she spent months in and out of the hospital for treatment. Because she was unable to work she fell behind in rent and was evicted.
Since then she met her partner, Jose Rodriguez with whom she has a tumultuous relationship. He is in and out of jail leaving Janet alone, depressed and vulnerable on the streets.
