Press

Washington, D.C. lawyer Helena Bala experienced an unusual sense of connection and fulfillment five years ago when she saw a homeless man, with whom she stopped and shared a sandwich and a conversation. After listening to his story, she posted an ad on Craigslist offering to listen to anyone who just needed to talk.

Featured in Quartz, an online news publication

Since 2014, writer Helena Bala has been meeting people via Craigslist and documenting their stories. Each story is written as it was told to her. By listening, she hopes to bear witness to her subjects’ lives, providing them with an outlet, a judgment-free ear, and catharsis. By sharing them with you, she hopes to facilitate understanding of issues that are seldom discussed, at the risk of fear, stigma, and ostracism.