Mark Horvath
@hardlynormal
Followers
31K
Following
2K
Media
15K
Statuses
243K
Do-Gooder 💓 Storyteller 📹 Marketing Consultant💡Keynote Speaker 🎤 Founder of @InvisiblePeople ➤ See. Learn. Take Action. ➤ https://t.co/ItVRsre3zs
Los Angeles
Joined April 2008
.@InvisiblePeople publishes daily news on homelessness also on Apple News and Google News . We produce social impact documentaries We produce scripted social impact films We produce social impact animations
2
8
18
A homeless friend was placed into housing a month ago. He immediately started to quit drinking and has now stopped completely. Now he is working on working on his heroin addiction. This is what the dignity of housing does. Housing gives people a purpose to get up in the morning.
28
464
3K
Someone emailed me a photo of Vegas’s courtyard model. Notice the barbed wire. Homeless people are allowed to sleep on the floor. They are given a mat. There is no social distancing. This is what Las Vegas invests in to solve homelessness.
71
546
2K
28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE! 28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE! 28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE! 28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE! 28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE! 28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE! 28 MILLION NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE!
13
769
973
I honestly don’t know how anyone in Los Angeles right now, seeing the rain and wind along with the bitter cold, cannot be heartbroken about all the people sleeping outside
73
228
939
As a formerly homeless person now in housing, the three things I cherish the most are toilets, warm showers, and taking naps lying on a bed.
10
69
593
Today I saw a homeless man in a wheelchair beet red b/c of sunburn. I asked him if he needed sunscreen. He said he cannot use it b/c of his sensitive skin. I asked him if he wanted an umbrella for shade. HE SAID YES! I bought him an umbrella and clamp to attach it to his chair.
13
44
533
@adventuregirl @randallwoodfin @dreamarius Warehousing humans in tiny boxes meant for lawnmowers is concerning. They claim they are temporary, yet these is no housing to move people to, so that's not true. They are also fire hazards. Here in LA, several went up in flames. Luckily, no one was hurt,
21
65
536
Humans make trash. Housed humans get trash pickup. Homeless humans do not. That’s the main reason there’s a lot of trash at homeless camps.
11
70
533
Heard on PBS today that we have a recovery and a depression going on at the same time. Basically, two economies. High paying jobs where people can work from home have come back. Minimum wage service jobs are still gone, and people are suffering deeply.
14
156
501
Cindy is 63. Social Security doesn’t pay enough to rent an apartment, so she lives in a van with her dog. Parked next to her, Bob is 74. He’s lived in his car for two years. Even before COVID, elderly homelessness was a growing crisis. It’s soon to get much worse!
25
240
477
Lots of people sharing concern for pets. I've not seen one post with concern for the tens of thousands of homeless people in the path of this fire. Many of them are disabled, not able to quickly more. #palisadesfire.
22
76
541
I wish people were less concerned about a homeless person's past and more focused on helping them have a future.
10
95
461
The hospital just called. My mom passed away this morning. She was eating breakfast and her heart stopped. The doctor said there was nothing they could do, and there wasn't enough time for them to call me so I could be there.
326
16
444
In Los Angeles, homeless people are ticketed for blocking the sidewalk.
11
122
428
People who suffer mental illness need housing. People who suffer from addiction need housing. It’s mind blowing to me that so many people push for treatment without housing, but treatment without housing DOES NOT REDUCE HOMELESSNESS!.
12
117
417
Dear Los Angeles homeless sector, Project Roomkey is NOT housing. It's a temporary hotel room. Please STOP using Project Roomkey placements as housing numbers. IT'S NOT THE TRUTH!.
8
76
374
A homeless man just posted this in our online peer support group. I am not sure who else needed to see this. I know I sure did.
5
59
339
Would you live in an 8x8 box with another single adult? It always blows me away how leaders who have never experienced homelessness support tiny shacks that they would not use themselves. PLEASE STOP CALLING THESE TINY SHACKS HOMES. It’s a box, not a home!
18
45
343
Most housed people now use unhoused, although houseless is being used more since unhoused is so popular. Most homeless people use the word homeless. Still lots of service providers use “people experiencing homeless.” For me, I’m going to listen to homeless people. That said 1/.
11
43
333
The myth I hate the most is “you can only help those who want to be helped.” We MUST love on people - ALL PEOPLE - until they can love on themselves. People often use this harmful belief to justify inaction. They accept that it’s OK to allow people to die outside! IT'S NOT!.
5
76
339
FUCK! Whole different emotion watching this in real life than on a video. That’s someone’s home. You can argue they shouldn’t be on a sidewalk, and you’re right, THEN FUCKING GET THEM INTO HOUSING instead of pushing them around the city.
33
118
313
If there was an award show for GIFs, this one would get my vote.
9
53
311
I still can’t get past homeless people not having towels in a Project Homekey hotel. Residents are provided paper towels only. They cannot even bring in their own towels. No towels allowed at all. Homeless services has dumb rules, and this may be the dumbest.
15
64
312
Callie doesn’t drink or do drugs. She doesn’t suffer from mental illness, yet. After her husband died, Callie lost her place to live. She’s been homeless for 8 years. Don’t believe the false narratives that there’s plenty of support for people who fall on hard times #mydayinla
2
86
308
In 1986, Los Angeles homeless people and advocates protested city hall. Notice the signs "homeless deaths will increase" and "homes not shelters." WE ARE STILL DOING THE SAME THING 35 YEARS LATER, yet it keeps getting worse, not better! THIS IS INSANE!
7
113
297
Children’s toys outside of a tent mess me up. No one was home, so I’m not sure the story, but I did have a call with a large homeless services provider that told me children now living outside in tents is a growing crisis on Los Angeles. #mydayinla
11
103
288
A now formerly homeless man shared this in our online support group. When was the last time you appreciated taking a shower like this? . FYI, Gabe is his dog.
7
46
285
This is probably my favorite photo with mom. I was about 4 years sober at the time. This was the first time after homelessness reconnecting with family in-person. I will always cherish this moment and this photo.
16
10
260
When I give money to homeless people, I never ask for anything in return. I give freely. A homeless man in our support group shared he was hungry. I sent him $100. He didn't ask. I just sent it. The man just messaged me this photo. He didn't have to send it, but I am smiling! :)
4
21
244
I'm freaking out. I went from homeless to homeowner and then lost everything in the 08 crash and still have not recovered. I was 46 then. I turn 59 tomorrow. I don't have another recession in me. Since I got off the streets 24 years ago, I have been fighting to survive. I'm tired.
18
36
231
Nothing says LA like a Rolls parked next to a homeless camp.
4
19
257
"More than anyone else in the country, Horvath's interviews give the homeless a face and a voice" ~ @DatelineNBC
22
69
244
Interesting ad placement on a hostile design bus bench that does not allow a person to lay down.
4
62
234
A formerly homeless person shares about drug use among homeless people:
1
40
242
This is a great response to the “get a job” madness!
4
96
232
Homeless haters try to spread fear that women & children are not safe around homeless people. Soma is a petite woman. She was often by herself on Skid Row yesterday. At one point, when a homeless man told her someone had a serious injury, Soma took off down the street w/ urgency.
4
53
225
Rachel was in a shelter, but she feels safer out here. She doesn’t drink or use drugs. Rachel says it will take her five hours to pack up her stuff, move across the street, then move back. Homeless sweeps are psychological warfare, not a solution
19
65
209
HARM REDUCTION WORKS! HOUSING WORKS! I first met this young woman almost five years ago (photo on right) when she was addicted to heroin. She was 23 then and homeless! CHECK OUT THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT! She went into harm reduction housing, and now she's in college to be a nurse!
8
46
222
Shortly after this interview, Derrick went into the Bridge Shelter. He contracted COVID and passed away.
Derrick made his living as a professional photographer. After Derrick lost his photo gear when his car was stolen, life snowballed down into crisis, and he ended up living in a tent homeless in Venice Beach, California.
10
97
205
@TeemaV @TheCoalitionSF Hostile Architecture: A Look into the Horrifying Anti-Homeless Trend - Invisible People
3
58
208
Most drug users live in apartments and houses and will never experience homelessness. Most homeless people are sober. Cities with the highest drug use have much lower homelessness than cities with high rents. For every $100 increase in median rent, homelessness increases by 9%.
9
67
203
Shortly after this interview, Derrick went into a congregant shelter. Unfortunately, he contracted COVID and passed away! Another death that could have been prevented.
Derrick made his living as a professional photographer. After Derrick lost his photo gear when his car was stolen, life snowballed down into crisis, and he ended up living in a tent homeless in Venice Beach, California.
12
80
199
Echo Park homeless community already knows Jesus. On their own, they host daily bible studies and prayer groups. "Christians" like Sean Feucht and his followers come into homeless communities only for selfish reasons. THEY DO NOTHING TO HELP ANY PERSON GET OUT OF HOMELESSNESS!.
5
53
197
A homeless friend in Washington DC text me this photo with no caption or text to go with it, yet I’m pretty sure this means HE IS NOW IN HOUSING!
7
14
200
Ever since mom died, I have been slowly losing any motivation. COVID, affordable housing crisis, growing homelessness, growing anger, and polarization, the war in Europe, gas prices, my failing health. Life seems pointless. I'm going to head back to AA. I'm not in a good space.
70
4
189
I honestly believe the same negative beliefs the public has about homeless people that they consciously or unconsciously accept criminalization as a solution are the same negative beliefs that have people supporting tiny shacks. They don't see homeless people as valued humans!
20
44
199
I hate this! What it says is a homeless person cannot be trusted with money. It reinforces harmful stereotypes. HOMELESS PEOPLE CAN BE TRUSTED! Years ago they reached out to me. I asked the founder if he would give me his paycheck and I could govern how it’s spent. He said no.
This app sends you an alert when you walk past a homeless person. And if you choose to donate via the app, the homeless individual can use the funds at a few local partners: a grocery store, an outdoor supply store, a barbershop, and a coffee shop.
14
37
205
To all the journalists, tv reporters, and news producers that follow me, HOUSED PEOPLE ARE NOT THE VICTIMS OF HOMELESSNESS. Housed people have shelter, bathrooms, privacy, kitchens, air conditioning/heat, electricity, food, resources, beds, and the ability to make choices!.
1
39
186
GAH! The homeless camp I adopted emailed me Caltrans swept their encampment, taking or ruining all their stuff, including the sleeping bags I bought them. It’s one thing not to provide services, but it’s fucked up taking away what homeless people need to survive cold weather!.
7
47
180
Housed people will argue and fight for homeless people to be warehoused in tiny shacks meant for lawnmowers. Imagine if they put the same passion behind getting homeless people into apartments. By law, jail cells have to be bigger and have a toilet and sink.
41
61
179
It's deeply disturbing @JoeBiden is considering @MayorOfLA for @HUDgov. Why on earth would @JoeBiden put someone in charge of the county's homelessness who obviously cannot effectively reduce homelessness in a city? Instead of politics, appoint someone who is capable!.
17
43
172
Yesterday I shared about a homeless couple now in housing w/o a bed or fridge to store food for over a year. A bunch of people responded, "when I was in college I slept on the floor and did want free stuff." 1st, that was YOUR choice. Homelessness is the absence of choice. 1/.
5
19
188
It’s effortless to drive by homeless camps taking photos/videos of tents, then say how horrible homelessness is and share blanket statements like homeless people are all addicts. I interviewed this woman today. As soon as I hit record, she started to cry. I could feel her pain.
5
44
171
Just met a homeless man living in a tent that works as a housing case manager. Think about that one!.
10
38
180
Anyone that doesn’t see the affordable housing crisis as the biggest driver of homelessness is not seeing reality. Yes, racism, foster care, criminal system, domestic violence, addiction and mental illness all play a role, but it’s the high cost of housing driving increases!.
5
50
162
@TJJohnston415 Kind of. Mats on the floor is common, especially in rural areas. What makes Marbut’s worse is the reward and punishment model. Homeless people have to sleep outside in the courtyard until they agree to programs of some kind.
3
18
177
Empowering homeless people is not putting formerly homeless people on a stage to speak. Empowering homeless people is not a dog and pony show like Captial Hill Day. Empowering homeless people is not token committees. Empower homeless people by giving them power to affect change!.
4
42
174
Hugs to everyone who may be alone this holiday. I know we think of Thanksgiving and Christmas mostly, but for many homeless people, all holidays remind us we are different from the rest of you because we don't have a home. That feeling especially on holidays can be overwhelming!
3
52
151
A homeless woman texted me on Thursday that she wanted me to meet a homeless friend of hers. The woman just texted me that the woman she wanted me to meet was found dead on the side of the freeway. I no longer believe politicians care if homeless people die, but it messes me up!.
16
36
162
Good morning. Today @invisiblepeople hired it’s first employee. Me. After 12 years of working without compensation. I am no longer unemployed.
12
10
165
Derrick went into a congregant shelter, contracted COVID, and passed away. Today, I am joining others to remember our homeless friends who passed away this year. Like most homeless deaths, Derrick's death could have been avoided.
7
52
157
It obvious that many people are not aware Housing First is housing + treatment + mental health services. They continue to push treatment over housing, yet without housing, treatment doesn't reduce homelessness, and with housing, treatment has better outcomes and saves money. 1/.
12
43
154
2/ cost for the umbrella was $22 and the clamp was around $10 since it was specifically for wheelchairs. Outreach workers are lucky to have budget for water or granola bars. WE must fill the gap providing support NGOs cannot. Just pay attention to people’s needs. That simple!.
4
14
156
It’s hard for people to understand why a homeless person won’t give up their pet. For starters, housed people don’t want to give up their pets either. For many homelsss people, their pet is the only love they receive. Pets are also a distraction from the hell of homelessness!.
11
16
158
Love all of @NMotioninfo’s writing. Today she included a tweet from @DanPriceSeattle, which I read to my dad a moment ago. We were talking about increasing minimum wage, so timing was perfect.
5
29
146
While John Oliver's episode is brilliant, hundreds and maybe even thousands of negative news stories and social media content will be posted today reinforcing harmful beliefs. My hope is that John Oliver's episode will motivate the homeless sector to start investing in messaging.
6
24
150
At the core of all homeless hater messaging is a push for police action. They know it’s expensive to taxpayers. They know criminalization doesn’t end homelessness. They are motivated by harmful beliefs and a desire to have homeless people out of their sight as quickly as possible.
3
49
149
25 years ago today was my last day street homeless. I am proof we can end homelessness. Thing is, although homeless people are being housed, we lack the public and political will to do it at scale, which is why @invisiblepeople's work is more important than ever!.
7
26
146
4 tips for the homeless sector as they start on messaging 1) be proactive. By being proactive, you retain control and can counter harmful beliefs that trigger news media. Responding has little impact because the negative message is already out 2) constantly engage new networks 1/.
3
23
149
A very real negative consequence of the police action at Echo Park Lake is many people are applauding it and now want the LAPD to remove homeless people in their areas!.
11
34
144
Posted this morning in our online support group for homeless and formerly homeless people.
4
23
145
@adventuregirl @ChudsOfTikTok Yup, and sadly, it happens a lot. This was just caught on video. Most abuses like this are never seen or reported.
2
8
135
I’m in Redding. 30% of homelessness is caused by fire. Think about that as fires grow in California.
4
35
137
Pinch me! I just got off a Zoom with television show writers. They are introducing a homeless character. but wait. they are going to talk about the horrors of criminalization this person faces while surviving the streets! This has been a rough day for me, but I'm now smiling!
7
14
146
Venice NIMBYs are sending me photos of the murder scene gloating that someone died. One even immediately rode his bike there just to tweet me a photo. If there was any doubt of sick these people are, they are boasting about a person being murdered even to the point of celebrating.
10
21
134
"More than anyone else in the country, Horvath's interviews give the homeless a face and a voice" ~ .@DatelineNBC
14
50
146
Thinking about @PalletShelter warehousing villages makes me want to give up because the paradigms people hold onto that support placing humans in tiny boxes are hard to change. Not sure people can see it, but we are building internment camps for homeless people.
13
39
137
Instead of selling old gear, I give cameras to homeless people. A homeless woman just shared this rose she took with a camera I sent her. I had a really crappy day. I feel like I was punched in the gut with a cannonball. I want to quit. But this photo reminds me of why I can't.
7
21
138
It took me from November 2008 when I lost everything (except my sobriety) until November 2021 to rebuild my life. I finally am settled in my new apartment, and my car arrived (that I bought from sale of Mom’s house) Now, I wish I could show her. I believe she’s smiling.
12
5
139
This afternoon, @HomelessnessSD took us to camps by the river. We interviewed a homeless man who…wait for it…lost his job because of a homeless sweep AND…wait for it…WAS ARRESTED WHEN THE SHELTER RAN OUT OF BEDS. He said, “my entire criminal record is because I am homeless.”
7
74
134
I remember years after being off the streets, someone invited me to their home. When I stepped inside, I burst into tears. No one invites someone like me into their house is what I felt. To this day, I have HUGE FEAR of ending up outside, I don’t camp, and I have a bag fetish.
It’s a cute saying that “homelessness doesn’t define a person,” but it is not true. All experiences a person has defines them. If they are lucky, they may not have to stay in homelessness, but I guarantee that homelessness remains with them until they die!.
4
31
125
This young couple lived in their car. They took showers at the beach in the middle of the night because that’s when it felt safe. Now, thanks to the “host homes” @SafePlace4Youth started, complete strangers opened their house, and this couple is no longer homeless. BAM 💥
0
19
127
Hiding homelessness and reducing homelessness are not the same thing.
3
48
132
I am scared for LA. Homelessness has always been a shitshow, but the push for criminalization is growing. With homelessness projected to increased 89% in four years, LA has a very small window of time to reduce homelessness and set up solutions. Police actions will make it worse!.
11
45
128
2 years ago, Chris lived in a pickup truck in Venice. @invisiblepeople paid for her cellphone service and art supplies, for her to make money. She went into Project Roomkey, and now she has her own apartment. Chris invited a few homeless friends and me over for Christmas dinner!
3
18
126
Sweeps are happening all over Los Angeles this morning. Homeless people have nowhere to go. Police and sanitation are displacing people causing trauma and making it harder for services to get them off the streets. Evictions are increasing and sweeps will make homelessness worse!.
10
49
127
I asked a homeless man what he needs. He responded, reading glasses. I'm off to get him some. I am not all that. Just trying to inspire you to do the same, and show the homeless sector that it is possible to help someone quickly w/o putting their data into a computer for approval.
1
27
131
People trying to spread fear use schools and children as a tactic to get others to fear homeless people, yet no homeless person has ever walked into a school with an automatic weapon and started shooting. Plenty of middle-class white dudes have, though! #perspective.
South LA parents upset over homeless encampment near elementary school
3
49
124
Dear media, PLEASE stop calling @PalletShelter tiny homes. The manufacturer doesn’t even refer to them as homes. They are tiny boxes, and if stays were temporary, they’d be fine, but there is no housing to move people to. We’re building warehousing villages across the country!.
6
30
124
I have been working to solve homelessness for 13 years. Before that, I was homeless for 7 years. It’s the same shit every year screaming about homeless people in the rain, yet homelessness continues to grow, and there’s less support for people who desperately need help. WTF?!!.
12
25
126
Yup, that’s @adamconover in the wild out doing outreach with @selahnhc, and yup, that’s @imalexgasaway helping to produce a new #InvisibleStories mini-documentary. #MyDayInLA.
2
15
125
This woman was raised with the harmful belief that all homeless people are drug addicts. After watching @invisiblepeople videos, she and her husband are making goodie bags to give out to homeless people. Multiply this by 29m views each year. Imagine the impact if we had funding.
1
30
123
@mllemarguerite I am the founder of @invisiblepeople. We are a nonprofit newsroom focused on the topic of homelessness. I see you freelance. Would you be interested in writing this story? It’s an important story. If so, send me an email: writers at invisiblepeople dot tv.
6
8
120
For as long as I can remember, a few times a year I share “LA politics surrounding homelessness can’t get any worse” while Los Angeles continues to make horrible decisions over and over as homelessness increases. Well, @drdrew being appointed to the @LAHomeless board is a new low.
9
20
120
Today would have been my mom's 89th birthday. I didn't think it was going to mess me up that much but I am wrecked. I miss her so much!
22
2
130