Jon, I love this shot and want to add my thoughts to this interesting thread as well.
I am a social worker and part of my job is managing a homeless assistance program. Some points to make:
-you can't tell a homeless person by how he/she looks because homeless people are unique individuals like anyone else. My agency supplies clothing, hygiene items, sleeping bags, laundry vouchers etc so homeless people don't necessarily have to be unkempt.
-the homeless aren't bums as some uneducated people think. They are: young mothers leaving domestic violence situations, employed people who don't earn enough to pay the rent, people who have lost their jobs, people who are mentally/emotionally ill, folks dealing with addictions, previously incarcerated people who can't find a landlord who will rent to them, families with bad credit who can't get a rental.. and many many other situations.
-homeless people often keep a pet as a companion and they are generally well taken care of.
The hardest part of my job is dealing with homeless children. There is often a look of fear and hopelessness in their eyes that is heart wrenching. Kids just shouldn't have to be afraid that they won't have a place to sleep or something to eat.
I don't see it as exploiting to pay someone to take their photo.
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