About the Exhibit

Photographer Randy Bacon, based out of Springfield, Missouri, had occasionally captured images of the homeless through his work as a humanitarian and documentary photographer. After partnering with a local homeless advocacy group to capture a handful of additional stories, the project quickly grew to include nearly 200 portraits from individuals in the Springfield community and beyond. Accompanying each portrait is a heartfelt narrative from each person, sharing their diverse personal stories and lived experiences. Some stories are emotional, some are uplifting, and some are heartbreaking. All inspire empathy for our neighbors, housed or not.

The Road I Call Home includes 32 of these intimate stories, with narratives told in the participants’ own words. Many of the stories have relatable beginnings, painting a picture of how easily and suddenly one can find themselves without a place to sleep. While some stories have tragic endings, most are hopeful, inspiring, and encourage the viewer to approach the issue of homelessness with compassion and humanity. Bacon states, “The goal of this project is to bring awareness to our homeless community and convey one simple message – ‘That we’re all people and every single one of us matters.’”

The Road I Call Home is a project by Randy Bacon, the founder and creative behind the nonprofit 7 Billion Ones. This exhibition is toured by Exhibit Envoy.