Disabled Homeless Woman in Austin Has Been Raped Three Times

A few years back, Jennifer woke up in pain. She immediately went to the hospital. Jennifer was diagnosed with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) disease. LAM disease is extremely rare occurs almost exclusively in women. Because of cancer caused by LAM disease, Jennifer lost a kidney. Jennifer cannot work. She has been applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits since 2017 but keeps on getting denied.

Jennifer says that since she's been on the streets homeless in Austin, Texas, she has been raped three times. Homelessness is hell for everyone but homeless women and youth have an extreme risk of sexual violence. Jennifer continues that shelters are unsafe because belongings get stolen or there is a risk of more violence.

Jennifer has been waiting two years for housing. Although she is disabled, there is not enough housing for all the people who need it. Jennifer says her legs are swollen to where it hurts to walk but she has to keep moving. Homeless people can be fined or arrested just for being in one place too long.

Jennifer saw me interviewing Cheech [ and approached me to request that I help her tell her story. Both interviews messaged me up and reinforced the importance of Invisible People's work. Jennifer should not be on the streets homeless but like many others who are also disabled yet cannot get benefits, they do what they can to survive on the streets. For me, I believe we must help people get out of homelessness because it's the right thing to do but housing people also saves taxpayer money.

Your voice can help end homelessness. If we do not fix the affordable housing crisis, homelessness will continue to get worse. Click here to tweet, email, call, or Facebook your federal and state legislators to tell them ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing is a priority to you.

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About Invisible People

There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, a living wage or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.

We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.

This isn’t just talk. Each year, our groundbreaking educational content reaches more than a billion people across the globe. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.

However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.

Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.

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