Joshua Coombes brit fodrász ugyanazt csinálja, mint kollégái az egész világon: hajat és szakállat vág. De meg kell említenünk, hogy Joshua-nak szokatlan vendégei vannak - hajléktalan emberek, akik nem fizetnek a hajvágásért. Joshua azt mondja, hogy második esélyt akar adni a hátrányos helyzetű embereknek, mivel véleménye szerint a megjelenés megváltozása belső változásokat okozhat.
Azt gondoljuk, hogy ezek a legcsodálatosabb átalakulások, amiket Joshua Coombes végez a világ minden táján, és szeretnénk, ha mindenki látná őket.
22. Benjamin, Los Angeles
View this post on InstagramThis is Benjamin, 38 years old. Currently, he's sleeping near Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Angeles Church, near Union Station. I asked him what brought him here - "Before, I was sleeping by a bridge beneath a highway in the Valley. There's a tent encampment there but it was a toxic place for me. I was hooked on crystal meth and doing anything I could to survive. When you have nothing, everyday is a struggle to keep things moving towards the next. I had to get away from that. One night, when I was in a really dark place in my mind, I tuned in to a deeper voice that was talking to me. I feel like that voice was God telling me to change my life. I haven't been clean for very long, but I'm trying. I'm going to work. I want a job where I can work as much as I can and start to change things. I want a family." As I was cutting Benjamin's hair, he opened up some more - "I knew I was gay from an early age. It wasn't easy growing up so I suppressed those feelings for a long time until I was out on the streets. Now I feel like I should resist those feelings again to live a good life. I know the church wants that. I don't know. I want to be better…I want to be happy." #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
21. Tod, Santa Monica
View this post on InstagramThis is Tod, 37 years old, from North Carolina. I sat down next to Tod near Santa Monica pier and we got talking. His journey across the country has landed him here on the west coast, arriving a few months ago. He sleeps on the street not far away. I asked him why he left his home - "Do you ever feel disillusioned with everything? That feeling hit me really hard a while back. Everything began losing it's meaning. My job was paying me just enough to cover rent and food each month with little to spare, then it's starts all over again. It felt like I was living someone else's life. I took anything I had saved and got on a greyhound bus. The road has been tougher than expected but the kindness of strangers helps a lot. I think I'm ready to head back to Carolina soon. I'm unsure of what I'll do when I get back, but I needed to get away from it all for a while." That disconnection Tod feels and the struggle of everyday life is something most of us can relate too. It's hard to combat that. What do you do when you feel this way? I was racing against the light to cut Tod's hair but I finished up in time to watch the sun go down together and talk some more. #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
20. Cedric, Párizs
View this post on InstagramThis is Cedric, 42 years old. I met Cedric in Paris a few days ago on Boulevard Monmarte. He has been homeless for three years now. At first, I noticed the sign he'd made, which read - 'Vote for me in 2022.' When I said hello, I was given a big greeting in return, we started talking. I asked him where he had learnt - "I used to live in London for some years with my friends. I remember the carnivals so well, I loved my time there." - It turns out Cedric and I have lived on the same street in Brixton, what are the chances! I do feel we connected almost immediately, so it was really nice to hear Cedric open up some more about his life recently - " I was holding down a job at a library near here. It didn't pay all that much but I enjoyed my work. One day we found out the library was to be down sized considerably, so many of us lost our jobs. The drinking increased and so did rent on my apartment at the time. I guess I stopped caring. It wasn't long before I became homeless." Next to Cedric was his pal Dada. I could tell these guys were close and that they really helped each other out on the street - "I saw Dada looking at me one day. After staring at me for a moment, he broke into a big smile, we've been friends ever since. It's important to have that when you're homeless. I used to have an amazing friend that looked out for me, I suppose she was my step mother almost…" At this point, tears appeared in Cedric's eyes, but he continued - "She owned a music venue in the 9th Arrondissement, it was the best place for music. Whenever I visited her she would feed me, talk to me and give me hope. I never had to paid. Always food and water, she would never give me alcohol. One week, I visited and she was no longer there. I found out she had died. It really broke me. I still think about her everyday." When it came to showing Cedric he mirror at the end, his reaction said it all.A post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
19. Joshua, Kalifornia
View this post on InstagramThis is Joshua, 24 years old. We met a few days ago on Venice Beach Boardwalk, CA. Joshua saw me cutting hair for someone else near the beach and walked over shyly to ask if he could be next. When I began cutting, Joshua spoke softly and slowly. His whole demeanour was introverted. He'd seldom look me in the eyes. I didn't push for conversation. I just listened to what he wanted to say - "I've been wanting to get rid of this beard for the last couple weeks. It's hard to find the chance to shave out here and it's been so hot here recently. I was sleeping in a tent for a few months until it was removed in a 'routine clean up.' Before Venice I was staying in Torrance, near Redondo Beach. I had a room and was getting some help to pay for that. I was born in Louisiana but I left home early on. I didn't have it all that easy growing up. But, I don't like to talk about it all that much. You don't have a choice where you land in this world…" As Joshua left, We hugged and I caught his eyes. We didn't have all that much conversation, or get to know a huge amount about one another, but we shared something. I felt someone that had conceded more pain than he'd inflicted. He was so humble throughout. #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
18. Zack, London
View this post on InstagramThis is Zack, 33 years old. Zack is such character, it's hard to explain without actually meeting him, but this guy is awesome. He has a huge heart and plays a big role in the homeless community down at Charing Cross. I've met Zack plenty of times now, but today was the first time I've given him a haircut. He grew up on London near Upton Park and fell upon hard times a long time ago. Zack didn't wanna speak to me about family but said he hasn't got anybody to rely on here anymore. He's been homeless for years but wants a fresh start and to enjoy some of the things most of us have the opportunity to each day. I want to follow Zack's story and help him along. He hadn't had his haircut properly in ages so it was great to give him a makeover, I could see he was brimming with confidence afterwards. Giving someone back there dignity, even for a short while, makes it all worth it for me. #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
17. David, London
View this post on InstagramThis is David, 54 years old. We met recently near London Bridge. It was rush hour and David was sat on the ground, not far away from the train station. As I walked by, he looked up and gave me smile and nodded. I sat down next to him and we began talking - "See over there." David said, pointing down the street - "That's Guys Hospital, I was born in there. I've always been a Londoner. I grew up here and worked in and around this city for my entire life. This is one chapter that I couldn't have foreseen… I had my own business. We cleaned up the big buildings and sprayed them down like new before they were refurbished. There were some big contracts for a while. I had a loving family also. My children have all grown up have their own lives now… my wife and I drifted apart recently. It all changed after that day, a couple years back. The day of the accident. It hasn't been the same since…I was driving one night. We'd been visiting family outside of London and my daughter and her children were in the car also. We had a collision on a fast road. It all happened so fast. I won't go into all of it… it hurts." I could feel the pain in David begin to bubble to the surface. But also there was an honesty and a clarity in the way he was speaking - "l've confronted some feelings while I've been out here. I'm not happy I'm on streets. There's no way I could've seen myself sitting out here. No way. But you know I'm what… It sounds stupid, but maybe I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. It's shown me a different part of life. It's opened up a different part inside of me." When I finished cutting David's hair, he insisted on walking me to my train platform. We hugged and David smiled and said - "You know what Josh, I think we brought back the art of conversation just then." #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
16. Aman, London
View this post on InstagramThis is Aman. He has been homeless in London for the last four months. Aman didn't have any requests for how he wanted his hair apart from saying 'Tidy me up!' - so I got to work. It was amazing to spend time with him and to learn about his life. He was very open with me, saying alcohol played a big part in him becoming homeless. 'Drink is the problem, it got to the point where I knew I was relying on it and that's not good.' He told me how it effected the people around him and his life in general. He talked about London being a tough place since living on the street and now realising he took for granted some of the amenities most of us have access to every day. It was great to give him a transformation, making him feel like his old self again for a while. ✂️ Every time I do this I learn, whatever the reasons contributing to someone being in a bad situation in their life, we have to treat them with love. It's the only way people. #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
15. Phil, London
View this post on InstagramThis is Phil, 34 years old. Phil is best mates with Lee (previous post) They're both from Maidstone in Kent, south east of the U.K. I asked Phil what work he looked for when he first came to London - 'I'm a painter and decorator by trade and I'm a good at it. I really miss it to be honest. There just wasn't any steady work for me here. I tried to apply for other jobs to get by but this is the situation we're in now'. These guys stick together and have best friends for nearly twenty years, the last two of those spent sleeping rough in London. When I stopped to approach them both, they couldn't have been more welcoming. We sat down and chatted for about twenty minutes before I even mentioned I was a hairdresser and told them about @dosomethingfornothing || When I mentioned about getting their hair they were really excited but then expressions changed and Phil said 'We haven't had a shower in a few days though mate, our hair is dirty' That's the perfect time for a tidy up ????????✂️. #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
14. Callum, Manchester
View this post on InstagramI met Callum in Manchester recently. I'd just arrived in town with @gotvitaminc and we'd only been walking for a few minutes when we saw someone bundled up in their sleeping bag. I often talk about isolation. For a guy like Callum, it's as real as it gets. . "I've been sleeping on the streets for a long time now…It's hard to keep track. I always keep myself to myself. I find it difficult to trust anyone really…I've felt that way since I was I kid. I didn't have any family as such. I was raised in care, so I was moved around a lot." . Whilst I was cutting his hair, Callum pulled out a joint of spice (K2 in USA) I've ran into this countless times in the past. Once marketed as a Synthetic Marijuana, Spice is cheap, easily accessible, potent and highly addictive. A few years ago, it got a hold on some people I got close with, who slept on the streets in London. Two of those people aren't with us anymore. I asked Callum how it makes him feel. . "It just numbs you, you know..? I don't know how else to describe it…It makes you feel numb to everything. It gets you to sleep. It knocks you out. It makes time fly and sometimes you need that out here." . Through all Callum has been through, he had this smile that makes you want to smile with him. It only appeared from time to time, but when it did, I saw another side of him. A warmth that I wouldn't have had the chance to see whilst walking past him on the street. #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
13. Spider, Miami
View this post on InstagramThis is Spider. 52 years old. He walked over and came and sat quietly in line for his haircut. "I used to have it all, man. The fast car, the apartment, the girls. The limits of Miami never stopped for me, I just kept going faster and faster. Cocaine was always by my side. Right there whenever I needed it. On my coffee table. In my bathroom cabinet. Inside the glove box of my car. All I had to do was reach out and I'd be back where I needed to be. I don't know how it took me so long to realise that Cocaine didn't love me back. I got pulled over by the cops one day. I had a large amount with me. I spent the next eight years in Jail… Life sure is different now. I had nothing when I got out. All those nights out. All the drinks. All the drugs. All the conversations. None of that leaves you with people you can truly call your friends." I was brushing sand from Spider's hair whilst cutting it - "I usually sleep out by Miami Beach. I'm always searching for a quiet spot so that I don't have to worry about being messed around with too much. Yeah, life has certainly changed. I guess I've changed also. Perhaps this is it. Perhaps this is just another chapter…" #DoSomethingForNothingA post shared by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on
12. Michael, London
