Family relationships of homeless people from the New York subway

City Cave is a powerful photography project about the homeless men and women of West Harlem by photographer Andrea Star Reese. She started this project when she was working on a photography program for photo-documentary journalism. One of her tasks was to create a photo essay "New York Subway", which led her to the tunnel, which was nicknamed "Bat Cave". There she discovered a rather complex community of people. Chuck, Lisa, Chrissy, Snow White and Country - they were like a family. Reese managed to earn their trust, so she witnessed this story. Reese says that she photographs people, not a problem, and it shows in her photographs.

(Total 52 photos)

1. Chuck and Lisa in their "home" in one of the New York subway tunnels.

2. Chuck brought food home.

3. Chuck has been living in the tunnel since 2000.

4. Lisa collects cans to sell them for money.

5. Chuck is reading on the tracks not far from "home".

5. Lisa collects scrap metal in the trash. She could be arrested for theft and trespassing.

6. One of Chuck's studies is to collect scrap metal and sell it.

7. Lisa and Chuck got a bite to eat.

8. Lisa and Chuck are having fun.

9. Lisa and Chuck in the hospital. Lisa was raped and beaten on her way home from work.

10. Lisa met her grandson for the first time.

11. Pregnant Lisa found old toys for her unborn child.

12. Lisa also ships cans and bottles for recycling.

13. Chuck and Lisa are trying to register for a place in a shelter - the first step in getting their own housing.

14. Lisa says that she continues to do everything to live better.

15. Chuck came to the place where his first house was in the tunnel.

17. Lisa and Chuck at the entrance to their house. More and more often those who draw graffiti, or bystanders get here.

18. In the end, they were evicted by the railway company and the police. "Now I'm completely homeless," Chuck said.

19. Brooklyn has been living in a tunnel since 1982.

20. Brooklyn sorts bottles because many stores only accept a certain type of bottle.

21. Sade is one of the local stray cats. Now she lives here with six other cats and Brooklyn.

22. Brooklyn found this "home" by following stray cats that brought her here.

23. Brooklyn sings and dances at the bars. She also sweeps and takes out the trash.

24. Brooklyn.

25. This dead end is called the “Bat Cave”. Different people gather here, but they all have one thing in common - the lack of a home.

26. Willie has been living in a cardboard box on the street since 2004. Before that, he lived in a tunnel.

27. Here it is - Willie's house.

28. Jamaica and Zoe found shelter in the tunnels of the New York subway and have been living here for more than 5 years.

29. Jamaica and Zoe recently got engaged. Soon they should move to their apartment, which they plan to rent with the help of relatives.

30. Steve often prays.

31. Steve in Batcave.

32. Geo takes a "homeless shower".

33. Cleaners clean the "cave". Those who lived here were ordered to leave and never return.

34. Homeless people collect metal for sale.

35. Washing.

36. Snow White.

37. Snow White helps park cars for a modest fee.

38. Snow White helps Chrissy get dressed. Chrissy is sick. According to Snow White, she was beaten by a drug dealer.

39. Snow White asked a friend to take a shower with him. In return, he asked to leave the door open.

40. Country and Snow White.

41. Country admires the river near his "home" in the building, which is sometimes called the "white house".

42. Snow White got a room in one of the cheap motels.

43. A bum named Dollar reads an appeal to tenants in a new house.

44. Chrissy.

45. Chrissie is in trouble - she can't find the money to pay for her prescription medications.

46. Chrissy and the man who comes to her, despite the illness.

47. After several men beat her, Chrissy's friends took turns sitting with her so that nothing else would happen to her.

48. Chrissy scratches the calluses on her back.

49. Chrissy.

50. Chrissy's third visit to the hospital in a few months. She is still not being prescribed the medicines she needs for her health. Without them, she could die.

51. Doctors say that medication can be prescribed to her only within the framework of a special program through which she can be monitored.

52. As a result, Chrissy was placed in a room in a special house, where she will be monitored by doctors.