Homeless Truths

Launched in 2020 by British Journal of Photography and Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), the Homeless Truths commission was conceived to give people who have experienced homelessness in London the tools to tell their own stories

The Commission

Under the mentorship of Inzajeano Latif – a documentary photographer with years of experience in creating nuanced, empathetic portraits – five participants were given a Polaroid camera and asked to document their daily lives in the country’s capital. The aim was to create an honest, intimate picture of homelessness, as seen through the eyes of those who have lived it.

The Brief

The CALM Homeless Truths commission awarded one photographer from the 1854 community  £10,000 to create an honest and intimate body of work capturing homelessness in London. The commission aims to dispel some of the common misconceptions around homelessness, giving a platform to some of society’s most vulnerable, and often overlooked, individuals.

About CALM

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) are leading a movement against suicide. Every week 125 people in the UK take their own lives. And 75% of all UK suicides are male. CALM exists to change this by offering life-saving services, provoking national conversation, and bringing people together to reject living miserably.
Through their campaigns they challenge stereotypes and challenge the stigma that prevents people talking about suicide. And they use music, sport, art and anything in between to get their message across and help people find the strength to seek help.
80% of people who are experiencing homelessness have reported struggling with their mental health and suicide is the second most common cause of death for this group. That’s why it’s vital that CALM reach more people who need their services and let them know that if they’re struggling, they’re not alone.

About Studio 1854

Studio 1854 is the award-winning visual content agency of 1854 & British Journal of Photography. Drawing on its global community of photographers and creatives, the agency produces stories for brands through photography, film and journalism. At the same time, Studio 1854 offers paid opportunities for photographers to produce new and creatively challenging work. From photo stories about Brexit to a road trip across California, Studio 1854 works with clients to create thought-provoking stories with purpose.

About Inzajeano

Latif is a documentary photographer with years of experience in creating nuanced, empathetic portraits. After studying for a BA in photography at Middlesex University,, the British-Pakistani photographer discovered the medium was a language with which he could explore and interrogate the world around him. Latif’s enduring approach prioritises an emotional core upon which to build a project, rather than seeking inherently visual subject matter first. 

Read more about Latif’s work here

The Participants

Wayne

“I was trying to show survival, whatever that looks like”

Saffron

“I see things that other people can’t see”

Dee

“Nature is my sanity”

Curtis

“I see glimpses of something wonderful but I don’t get to hold it”

Kerry

“Today I am a strong, confident and resilient woman, but it hasn’t always been that way”


Find out more about CALM here