In your head, picture a homeless person out on the streets, lying on a pile of cardboard sheets, belongings scattered around with no dignity. It’s a man, isn’t it? 

When we talk about homeless people, most of the time we’re talking with the image of a scruffy, rag-wearing middle aged man in mind; very rarely do you hear about homeless women, nor will you see them on the streets during the day. 

     There are around 3000 documented homeless individuals in Taiwan, and while women make up 15% of the official number, there are many more undocumented ones who remain under the radar. 

Unlike homeless men, a lot of which resort to the streets due to unemployment, women are likely to become homeless due to not just unemployment but also domestic abuse and/or psychological problems; in every 10 homeless women, there are 6 or 7 who are burdened by various mental disorders. These women hide from not just the public, but also professional social workers; conditioned by years of harassment and abuse, they push people away and build walls that take more than a few bentos and snacks to break down. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth trying; in recent years, there has been a slight growth in numbers of those who have sought out help.

     Everyone has a story that deserves to be told, so here I am, inviting you to uncover these untold stories with me, one artwork at a time.