Lewis Haggins Jr (September 23, 1955 – December 23, 2003)[1] was an American homeless leader who co-founded Picture the Homeless.[2]
Born in Princeton, New Jersey,[1] Haggins was living in New York City by the late 1990s.[2] He co-founded Picture the Homeless in 1999 to "change the public perception of the homeless".[2]
Haggins collapsed on a subway in December 2003, and died after being taken to hospital. He was initially buried on Hart Island as a John Doe, but was identified months later and reinterred near his family's home.[2] His story was the impetus for the creation of a memorial service for those buried on Hart Island in 2005.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b In Memory of LEWIS HAGGINS JR., Picture The Homeless co-founder
- ^ a b c d Emily Brady (November 12, 2006). A Chance to Be Mourned. New York Times.
- ^ Amy Gop (2007). Ritualizing with the Poor: The Potter's Field Memorial Service. Liturgy, 23(1), 15–19