Local college student shares stories of Philadelphia's homeless population

Burlington County, NJ (WTXF) - Giving an identity to a population that often feels nameless. A local college student is using her voice to tell the stories of the men and women most in need--Philadelphia's homeless population.

FOX 29 Photojournalist Bill Rohrer has the story.

20-year-old college sophomore Lauren Purnell has the passion to become a print journalist.

Lauren's professor's thought it would be a good idea to start a blog--helping her learn the art of an interview and to practice writing.

"It has really taught me to be more open-minded about people."

The blog's goal is naming the homeless. So every other Saturday afternoon, Lauren and her family head into Philadelphia with her notepad and care packages filled with all sorts of necessary items. Clothing and supplies are mostly donated by friends and family while others donate money to her Naming the Homeless GoFundMe page.

So far, Lauren has interviewed six people.

"Usually, when you think homeless a lot of negative stereotypes come to mind. So this kind of gives you a name, an image, a person in a story and background in their life to bring them to where they are today."

Her mom, Kathy, captures the images with her cell phone as Lauren's sister helps taking notes. Naming Philadelphia's homeless one sentence as a time.

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