Ever wonder what it might be like to be homeless in downtown Olympia?
I estimate that most people here have never spoken with a person living outdoors, in a recreational vehicle or in temporary housing. Most might say it would be uncomfortable, unpleasant, even dangerous.
JM Simpson seeks out conversations with our homeless neighbors. He works to understand them and photograph them, nearly always with permission, and sometimes to write brief profiles about how they came to live here, on the streets, in alleys and on undeveloped properties.
He has selected about 50 of his photos and invited our JOLT colleague, Jerome Sagcal, to join him in constructing the three-minute video you see with this story.
Take a look: You might be surprised to learn about these people. Some of them are bewildered, unable to explain how they fell into homelessness. In-person, it’s clear that some have obvious developmental or intellectual disabilities. Some go to work each day but can’t afford conventional housing. We meet some who are stoned out of their minds. While some are substance users, many are not.
There is no coordinated effort between Washington counties or cities to enforce laws, limit movement of transients who shop for the most hospitable cities, such as Olympia, or provide enough temporary housing or residential treatment services. There is no national Homelessness Czar, either.
On the other hand, California’s governor has ordered cities to clear their homeless camps. San Francisco’s mayor has reportedly offered free bus tickets to leave town. It’s not clear how many of the state’s 181,000 homeless individuals will be displaced. Neither is it clear where they’ll go. How many more will come to Olympia?
JM Simpson believes that in confronting this issue we must clearly see who the issue is about. His documentary photography of Olympia’s homeless clearly identify some of these human beings.
Another photographer, the pioneering photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971), once said, “Sometimes I come away from what I am photographing sick at heart, with the faces of people in pain etched … sharply in my mind. Utter truth is essential, and that is what stirs me when I look through the camera.”
Why does The JOLT prioritize coverage of homelessness? Who else will do it? Who else will help our local, regional and state lawmakers to understand what’s happening on the streets of Olympia so they might make better decisions about the billions of dollars they are spending on the varied issues of homelessness?
Regular readers of The JOLT likely have seen his byline: JM Simpson. Few know that he’s got years of experience as a war correspondent, including some eight tours with Joint Base Lewis McChord’s Stryker Brigade Combat Teams in Iraq and Afghanistan. His documentary photography has appeared in various publications, including The Ranger and The Airlifter, locally, and in publications across the U.S.
This week, SeattleMet published a profile of Simpson and his work titled, “The Photographer Who Is Changing the Way We Look at Homelessness.”
JM’s work has the attention of leaders across our region. After one recent story in The JOLT, a public agency agreed to sit down with a nonprofit organization that it had been, well, avoiding.
His work has also attracted attention from across the U.S. and Canada. His photos were included in a profile of his work in the May 8, 2024 issue of Flaming Hydra, a national publication. He was invited to produce a story that appeared in the May 2024 issue of Street Photography Magazine.
We’re pleased to have JM Simpson and so many other talented and dedicated journalists serving our Thurston County communities. I hope you are, too.
Danny Stusser is the publisher of The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater.
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Larry Dzieza
I believe anyone seeing these photos cannot help but be moved by their humanity.
Thank you for the photos and the thoughtful textual commentary and context.
Perhaps the next Governor and our sister cities will step forward as much as Olympia has.
Friday, August 23 Report this
Esther
Thank you for telling these stories. Journalism at its best
Saturday, August 24 Report this
gypsydjango
Thank you for sharing JM's photos, which so poignantly capture the despair and hopelessness of so many of our fellow citizens. One thing people could do to show some humanity towards these people is to speak to them, say hello or just acknowledge them in some way. It doesn't have to be money. Appreciate that the Jolt is covering homelessness in such a thoughtful and informative manner.
Saturday, August 24 Report this
TimRansom
Thank you for the coverage of such excellent and important work!
Saturday, August 24 Report this
Amyruns1
I think the photographs are well done. I would encourage the author to a quick synopsis on as many of these people as possible. Ask questions about who they are and if they have family, what their job was, do they have goals ? Pictures are nice and the photographer is superb but it doesn't allow for a good connection .
Sunday, August 25 Report this