Disabled homeless woman living in a tent near Greensboro, North Carolina

"Brutal and senseless."

This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I've heard in a long time.

Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that's not bad enough, she has been living this way for over 16 years.

This raw and unedited story makes one thing crystal clear: living on the streets is horrible. Cotton is the real face of homelessness; the face that we need to see and hear and see and hear and see and hear until something changes. From this raw and gritty story, I hope you can find the the will to act. The will to get involved in the fight to make poverty and homelessness unacceptable.

I hope this story inspires you to do something.

________________________________________________

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Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way we think about people experiencing homelessness.

[LeRepetitiveness]

The look on her face when he leaves ..

[GlennRobinsongetgln]

The most painful parts of these videos is the end where the person seems hopeful to tell there story, and then abandoned after all is said and done. 

Many comments say they should pull themselves up by their boot straps, but what it not explained is that they may not have boot straps to pull up. What I mean is they may have emotional issues, depression, addiction. It's easy for people who are privileged to bash people who are not privileged. 

[sarabower]

Regardless of whose fault it is, it hurts to see people in this situation

[leontaylor]

How can we donate to this woman. I love her being so real. 16 years. I'm inspired by her grit. She is the face of true GRIT. I would be an idiot to say I feel her pain, because I have a roof over my head. But it makes me so angry to see people that have to live like this, while all government are pissing our money away.

[eyetotheworld]

You can tell from her disposition that she has lost hope... Our society has alot of moral issues to tackle.

[Ann]

This is what happens in the abusive money system we allowed wher emoney is placed above people/life and where beings can be born in absolute poverty with no help from the system what so ever, and others having all the luxury and wealth to get whatever they want and get education to succeed in the system. The system doesnt even help the poor people in this world, because to get the education to "succeed" in it, you need money, which they dont have.

[rogerthat]

OMG 16 years. Heartbreaking and shameful that the richest country in the world doesn't take care of it's women and children and Veterans.

[maryellwood]

My God this lady really needs help, how can a 1st world country let their disabled be homeless like this, how does she manage? Not many people could  Where are her relatives? Does she have any? There has to be an organisation somewhere that can come and get her and put her into housing and get her the assistance she needs.  This is truely shameful. The look on her face when he leaves, how can you leave someone there like that without offering some sort of assistance, anything.

[jamesr]

It doesn't get anymore real than that. I can totally relate to her.

[LitusTheGod]

This is the second video I'm watching and the tears are ready to creep down my face. It's the expression on her face at the end that got me. You could see that when the guy leaves she'll be all alone again.

[FliffinsOfDoom]

OMG 16 years! My mom and I were homeless for like 2 months or more when we first moved to California, and it was bad, but this is soo bad :( I feel so bad for Cotton.

[mikeab]

Please people, feed the homeless, not the trolls.

[ronniemead]

The lady looks and sounds surprisingly well put together for someone living in a tent for 16 years.

[nopretribrapture]

I've been in shelters and the abuse and lack of privacy, , sleep deprivation due to noise etc...these shelters are horrible...better to be in a tent, , i hope she gets a new tent from somewhere and new things, , sleeping bag etc...i help homeless here in UK but one ripped up the two tents that I have and the other almost blew my house up....still...don't give up helping them...just don't let them know where you live....most are full of anger, , bitterness, ,revenge etc...they sometimes hate you for your generosity and kindness..etc..believe me I've been there...

[shooker]

for a homeless person she is really civilized and polite and she still seems like shes educated

[elainebmack]

Everyone of these interviewees says the same thing about shelters, that they are so bad that they would rather be on the street. Why can't shelters be made more humane and safe? It's not the only solution, but it certainly would be a start.

[royalredus]

Wow I have a feeling this woman could fill a book. She seems like she has quite a story to tell. Any word since this interview?

[maryjones]

did you get nervous at the end? you don't normally leave like that! bad vibes or what?

[vhfbdlt]

I recently became homeless...looking for a tent...it happened overnight..never thought it would happen to me. Save all you can, it can happen to anyone

[thebenchwarmer]

this is very painful to witness.. My heart goes out to her..