About Us
Homelessness is a growing crisis in the City of Los Angeles. In 2020, there are an estimated 41,000 members in our city who are currently un-housed, a 14% increase from the previous year. Inspired by an exhibit at the Paris City Hall in 2015, the “LA Through Their Lens” project is organized by two recent graduates of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Youth Council, Lauren Hodess and Ethan Hodess, in hopes to build connections between those who have homes and those without.
A select group of homeless participants were identified by our partner organizations and given disposable cameras to chronicle their experience of Los Angeles. The photographs in the collection were selected from over 300 entries by twelve photographers, and were thoughtfully curated with the help of Los Angeles photographer Matt Sayles.
These images allow us to catch a glimpse of the lives of the talented men and women behind the cameras. They present us with views of the city that at times reflect a sense of solitude and isolation, but at other times capture moments of joy and hope. We are reminded that the photographers, and many more like them, are creative, perceptive and interesting people who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
We hope that this exhibit is a call to action. Together, we can improve the lives of our less fortunate neighbors and make the city of Los Angeles a better place to live for all of us.
“The LA Through Their Lens project provides a creative voice for some of Los Angeles’s most marginalized people to convey the beauty, despair, and hope they feel and experience each day in our city. The photographs remind all of us that all people have inner lives and personal stories that are worth learning about.”
— Sherry Bonanno
Executive Director, Hollywood Food Coalition
“One of the goals of The Laundry Truck LA has always been to create dialogue and bridge the gap between those with shelter and those without. We are happy to support this project and observe our beloved city through the eyes of residents that are often marginalized, but matter just as much as anyone else. We can all do more to break the stigma and help our neighbors in need.”
— Christine Moore
Community Relations Director, The Laundry Truck LA