honorable mention
Kristof Vadino belgium
title
Descent to Hell
Every year more and more people in Europe become homeless, especially after the financial crisis of 2008. Our western societies have never been so rich, but income disparities also have risen very fast. The lower classes have it difficult. More and more end up in the street. Once in there, it is very difficult to get out. They search everywhere for a place to sleep, for some proteccion and intimacy. Under bridges, in parks, in bancs, squads, woods, abandoned galleries. Without shelter. Unprotected. Always in danger of violence and theft. The whole night. It is a slow psycho-descent into hell.
Denis, a social worker of Samu Social, with whom I went out a couple of times, gave me the title when we were driving around at night: 'Descent to hell', he told me, 'that's what it means to be homeless. First becoming homeless due to a combination of some problems, slowly losing friends, than the shame to knock on the door of a social organization, the descent of self esteem, the violence of the streets at night, the growing loneliness. The slow closure towards the outside world and the closure of the outside world, the fear and alcoholism all blend together in a descent to hell'.
Lola the nurse told me that she twice unwrapped a bandage and white little animals were roaming around in the wounds. The old man hadn't taken of his shoes for almost a year. The stockings of the man were grown into the flesh. We all want to think we will never become homeless. Many social workers tell from their experience that it can arrive to anybody. That may be true and it is a wise lesson, but you have much more chances when your earnings are at the lower side.
He started out as an independant photographer 3 years ago. Currently he continues to work on refugee stories, is making a book on the homeless of Brussels and another one on the city of Mumbai.
He is based in Brussels, Belgium.
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entry description
Descent to HellEvery year more and more people in Europe become homeless, especially after the financial crisis of 2008. Our western societies have never been so rich, but income disparities also have risen very fast. The lower classes have it difficult. More and more end up in the street. Once in there, it is very difficult to get out. They search everywhere for a place to sleep, for some proteccion and intimacy. Under bridges, in parks, in bancs, squads, woods, abandoned galleries. Without shelter. Unprotected. Always in danger of violence and theft. The whole night. It is a slow psycho-descent into hell.
Denis, a social worker of Samu Social, with whom I went out a couple of times, gave me the title when we were driving around at night: 'Descent to hell', he told me, 'that's what it means to be homeless. First becoming homeless due to a combination of some problems, slowly losing friends, than the shame to knock on the door of a social organization, the descent of self esteem, the violence of the streets at night, the growing loneliness. The slow closure towards the outside world and the closure of the outside world, the fear and alcoholism all blend together in a descent to hell'.
Lola the nurse told me that she twice unwrapped a bandage and white little animals were roaming around in the wounds. The old man hadn't taken of his shoes for almost a year. The stockings of the man were grown into the flesh. We all want to think we will never become homeless. Many social workers tell from their experience that it can arrive to anybody. That may be true and it is a wise lesson, but you have much more chances when your earnings are at the lower side.
about the photographer
KristofVadino is a documentary photographer, working for Belgian and international media. Publications include De Standaard, Le Monde, Le Courrier International, BBC, De Tijd, among others. He also work for NGO's: Doctors of the World, Doctors Without Borders, Handicap International.He started out as an independant photographer 3 years ago. Currently he continues to work on refugee stories, is making a book on the homeless of Brussels and another one on the city of Mumbai.
He is based in Brussels, Belgium.
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