Humanity, On the Street
Luxury behind glass. Survival beneath it.
Photographs and text by Just Gonz (Justin Gonzalez)
Artist Statement
I walk through cities that shine, but I always notice the places left in the shadows. In Budapest, as in New York, wealth and hardship often coexist, divided only by glass, stone, or chance. This series is about that closeness: a blanket under a storefront, someone beside an ATM, or sleeping on steps meant as an egress.
We all share this human experience, and small changes in circumstance can quickly change our lives. We should remember that truth and never take it for granted.
Homelessness is not just an idea to me. It has affected my family twice. Two people I care about ended up on the streets for different reasons, and finding them there broke my heart. We were lucky to find them and help. Many people are not so lucky. Some are never found, and many have no one who can help them. That reality is behind these photographs, and it is why I felt compelled to take them, even though I have mixed feelings about the subject.
These images are not meant to make a spectacle of struggle. They are an effort to look honestly and recognize people that the city often ignores. I tried to be careful: I hid faces when privacy was needed and left out details that showing them might cause harm. When I could, I asked for permission. One portrait in this series was made with consent because dignity matters, even if it is not always visible.
The surroundings are important. They reveal what is highlighted, what is kept safe, and what is overlooked.
Note: Faces are obscured in certain images to protect privacy.
Support (Budapest + New York)
If this series moved you, please consider supporting local organizations doing the daily work of outreach, shelter, and long-term housing. Help can look like donating, volunteering, or learning what resources exist where you live.
Budapest
Menhely Foundation (Menhely Alapítvány)
https://menhely.hu/
BMSZKI (Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions)
https://www.bmszki.hu/en
From Streets to Homes Association (Utcáról Lakásba! Egyesület)
https://utcarollakasba.hu/
New York City
Coalition for the Homeless
https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/
Breaking Ground
https://www.breakingground.org/
Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC)
https://www.brc.org/
Project Renewal
https://www.projectrenewal.org/
The Doe Fund
https://www.doe.org/
NYC Street Outreach (How to get someone help)
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/street-outreach.page