» 2018 Gabriel Scarlett – “On The Brink”

<script src="/jbcore/juicebox.js"></script><script>new juicebox({baseUrl : '/2018_Winners/Scarlett/On_The_Brink/',containerId: "juicebox-container",galleryWidth: "100%",galleryHeight: "100%",backgroundColor: "rgba(34,34,34,1)"});</script><div id="juicebox-container"><noscript><h1>On_The_Brink</h1><p></p><p><img src="images/1599-On_The_Brink01.jpg" title="" alt="Shawn and Taneka Hill brought their children to Colorado for a better life and for Shawn to find steady construction work. Despite his skill level and $25/hr wages, Shawn was never able to get his family in permanent housing and they shared a one bedroom unit at the Kings Inn Motel. The surge in housing prices has kept thousands in Denver area from escaping homelessness. For over a year, the Hills enjoyed the close knit community at Kings until new ownership took over and rent was increased several times. The evictions soon began and the they found themselves struggling to survive, moving from one motel to another. A family, on the brink.On a typically hot evening in July, Taneka Hill argues with fellow residents of the Kings Inn Motel about how to handle their current situation." /><br> Shawn and Taneka Hill brought their children to Colorado for a better life and for Shawn to find steady construction work. Despite his skill level and $25/hr wages, Shawn was never able to get his family in permanent housing and they shared a one bedroom unit at the Kings Inn Motel. The surge in housing prices has kept thousands in Denver area from escaping homelessness. For over a year, the Hills enjoyed the close knit community at Kings until new ownership took over and rent was increased several times. The evictions soon began and the they found themselves struggling to survive, moving from one motel to another. A family, on the brink.On a typically hot evening in July, Taneka Hill argues with fellow residents of the Kings Inn Motel about how to handle their current situation.</p><p><img src="images/1598-On_The_Brink02.jpg" title="" alt="" /><br> </p><p><img src="images/1600-On_The_Brink03.jpg" title="" alt="Taneka takes another look across her family's room at the Kings Inn Motel as she gathers the possessions they most need. The ownership has frequently locked out residents who could not pay, often leaving their belongings in the parking lot." /><br> Taneka takes another look across her family's room at the Kings Inn Motel as she gathers the possessions they most need. The ownership has frequently locked out residents who could not pay, often leaving their belongings in the parking lot.</p><p><img src="images/1601-On_The_Brink04.jpg" title="" alt="Taneka clutches her daughter Nessa close as a social worker takes her family by bus to another motel. They are hopeful for a better life once permanent housing is found." /><br> Taneka clutches her daughter Nessa close as a social worker takes her family by bus to another motel. They are hopeful for a better life once permanent housing is found.</p><p><img src="images/1602-On_The_Brink05.jpg" title="" alt="Taneka's husband, Shawn Hill, reacts in frustration and begins to cry as he explains his family's situation to a relative. "I'm a man and I just can't do my job as a father to provide for my kids," he yells. "I know that however we come out of this, I will never forget this year. I will never forget how it felt to be this low."" /><br> Taneka's husband, Shawn Hill, reacts in frustration and begins to cry as he explains his family's situation to a relative. "I'm a man and I just can't do my job as a father to provide for my kids," he yells. "I know that however we come out of this, I will never forget this year. I will never forget how it felt to be this low."</p><p><img src="images/1603-On_The_Brink06.jpg" title="" alt="Taneka's son, Jaydon Carter, watches television late on the night before his first day of school. Because of the family's move, he is unsure of what school he will attend and if he will be separated from his closest friends." /><br> Taneka's son, Jaydon Carter, watches television late on the night before his first day of school. Because of the family's move, he is unsure of what school he will attend and if he will be separated from his closest friends.</p><p><img src="images/1604-On_The_Brink07.jpg" title="" alt="Taneka bathes her baby Nessa at the Stay Inn Motel. She spends each day caring for her four children while Shawn is out looking for work." /><br> Taneka bathes her baby Nessa at the Stay Inn Motel. She spends each day caring for her four children while Shawn is out looking for work.</p><p><img src="images/1605-On_The_Brink08.jpg" title="" alt="Jaydon waits between buses on his way to school. He has to make his to school each day from the motel, but he said he is excited to be reunited with his friends." /><br> Jaydon waits between buses on his way to school. He has to make his to school each day from the motel, but he said he is excited to be reunited with his friends.</p><p><img src="images/1606-On_The_Brink09.jpg" title="" alt="" /><br> </p><p><img src="images/1607-On_The_Brink10.jpg" title="" alt="Taneka embraces Jaydon as he starts at a new school. The future was hopeful as Taneka spent the day searching for permanent housing for their family. But they only spent three more weeks in Colorado before the motel living became unsustainable and Taneka was forced to bring her family to stay with relatives 1400 miles away in Atlanta. A family on the brink, they simply could not afford Colorado." /><br> Taneka embraces Jaydon as he starts at a new school. The future was hopeful as Taneka spent the day searching for permanent housing for their family. But they only spent three more weeks in Colorado before the motel living became unsustainable and Taneka was forced to bring her family to stay with relatives 1400 miles away in Atlanta. A family on the brink, they simply could not afford Colorado.</p></noscript></div>