Web Extra: A Look Back at Jessica Dean's Night on the Streets
By: Jessica Dean, KARK 4 News
Updated: April 30, 2013
(This article originally appeared in arkansasmatters.com in February 2013)
LITTLE ROCK, AR - For hundreds of Arkansans, simple things like sitting down to dinner at the family table after a long day, are out of reach.
KARK 4 News Anchor Jessica Dean spent a night on the streets of Little Rock from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning to get a first hand look into the lives of the homeless.
They are men, women and children with no place to go. Some live on the streets while others have a car that's become their home.
There may be a lot more of them than we realize.
Aaron Reddin of the nonprofit homeless advocacy group "The Van" has been helping homeless people in the city for years.
"Two years ago we counted 487 people in 24 hours that lived outside in the Little Rock area. 487...have you seen 487 people out panhandling?," he says.
Reddin told Jessica the biggest misconception about homeless people is they all have a cardboard sign asking for money.
While many of us have seen some of those people, Reddin says so many more of them are hidden away under bridges, in parks and in the corners of parking garages.
Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, Jessica spent a night on the streets with only a sleeping bag and a pillow.
She had a photographer with her to capture the story and a security guard was posted not far away. Her goal was to find out how it feels when the city gets dark and quiet and you're left on your own for the night.
Continuing Coverage:
LITTLE ROCK, AR - For hundreds of Arkansans, simple things like sitting down to dinner at the family table after a long day, are out of reach.
KARK 4 News Anchor Jessica Dean spent a night on the streets of Little Rock from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning to get a first hand look into the lives of the homeless.
They are men, women and children with no place to go. Some live on the streets while others have a car that's become their home.
There may be a lot more of them than we realize.
Aaron Reddin of the nonprofit homeless advocacy group "The Van" has been helping homeless people in the city for years.
"Two years ago we counted 487 people in 24 hours that lived outside in the Little Rock area. 487...have you seen 487 people out panhandling?," he says.
Reddin told Jessica the biggest misconception about homeless people is they all have a cardboard sign asking for money.
While many of us have seen some of those people, Reddin says so many more of them are hidden away under bridges, in parks and in the corners of parking garages.
Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, Jessica spent a night on the streets with only a sleeping bag and a pillow.
She had a photographer with her to capture the story and a security guard was posted not far away. Her goal was to find out how it feels when the city gets dark and quiet and you're left on your own for the night.
Continuing Coverage:
