And that is why blogs like this one, Homeless Tales, Slohomeless, Adventures of Homeless Girl and a host of others are so popular; they provide the voice to those who aren't heard otherwise.... document.write('Your request is being processed...'); Your request is being processed... Rachel Fleischer Posted: October 3, 2009 04:16 PM Without A Home: To Live and Die on The Streets of Los Angeles Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-fleischer/without-a-home-to-live-an_b_301023.html I met "Skateboard Bruce" in the same spot in the valley I'd met Joby a few days earlier. His real name was Bruce Cram but he went by the nickname Skateboard Bruce, which I have to say, seemed really fitting, even though I never heard him mention owning a skateboard. There was something special about this man. I couldn't immediately put my finger on it but I sensed he was different and that he had a real gift. He spoke in such a way that led me to believe he may have suffered from an injury or had some kind of mental illness, perhaps schizophrenia. Not being an expert on mental illness, I was left only to wonder. He had large hands that seemed disproportionate to his otherwise small frame. His eyes darted back and forth with passionate energy as he spoke dutifully of his obligation to care for all forms of life around him: insects, animals, birds, trees, plants, and people, particularly his homeless brothers and sisters. I had only done a handful of interviews with homeless people at this point and I had never heard anyone speak this way. Truthfully, I had never really heard anyone I know speak this way. He sounded...