“I don’t need a preamble about the system,” Philadelphia-based poet and photographer Charlie O’Hay tells us. His project Everyone Has a Name began unintentionally when he picked up street photography and realized just how much his city had changed. He recognized some of the homeless people who he encountered. As a recovering alcoholic, O’Hay says that he had a bad time of it himself once; no stranger to pan-handling, he was saved from the shelter system by the good grace of his friends with extra couches and a few night jobs. After nearly two decades, he wants to do his part to humanize the homeless of his city, if only by passing along their names. Click through to meet a handful of his subjects.
James. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
John Patrick Kelly. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
Buchan. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
David and Scrapps. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
David, Tommy and friend. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
David. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
Ed. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
Laura. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
Michael. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay
George. Photo credit: Charlie O’Hay