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Finding Grace: The Face of America's Homeless
Strength. Dignity. Humanity. Grace. These qualities are not commonly associated with America's homeless, so often overlooked or avoided on our city streets. Yet they are precisely the qualities that illuminate the faces pictured in this astonishing volume. These are our sisters and brothers, and this collection of portraits honors them. Photographer Lynn Blodgett is the head of the nation's largest provider of computer-based services to state and local governments. While traveling for work, Blodgett began compiling a photographic journal of the homeless people he encountered in each of the cities he visited. He discovered the grace and dignity in his subjects. He listened to their stories. And in response he has created a compelling social document, at once gorgeous and simple. Finding Grace: The Face of America's Homeless is Lynn Blodgett's elegant statement on humanity. Through his lens we are reminded of the inspiration that can be found in the gravest of circumstances, and that can be the source of change. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Finding Grace Homeless Initiative in its efforts to raise awareness for homeless issues across the country.
- GenresPhotographyNonfiction
136 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 27, 2025
Each photo was stunning.
January 16, 2022
It is brilliantly horrifying and horrifyingly brilliant. I looked into the eye's of diverse people with every emotion known to man. One particular image left me feeling disgusted. Before you judge me to harshly, it was disgust with myself and my lack of gratitude. ambition to help, and general self-involvement to not concern myself with the plight of others. I need to look over this book weekly. Daily even.
March 9, 2021
Photo collection honoring the humanity of those without housing
July 11, 2025
Beautiful photography collection. Especially loved the photos that had captions describing the photographers’ interactions with specific models—kind of wish they’d all had that!
March 17, 2012
Finding Grace is a coffee table sized book whose black and white head shot cover compels you to pick it up. “Who is that beautiful woman?” is your first thought. Her elegantly weathered face intrigues and draws you in. Your eyes move to her adorned hands prominently displayed, crossed at her throat and it is here that the inkling of truth shows. One, of the many rings seems to be a bandaged bottle cap. It isn’t until you pick up the book that the subtle subtitle, printed in a faint gray ink becomes apparent. Read “The Face of America’s Homeless” and you have that, “ah,” moment that makes you think, this book is saying something more than, “here is a beautiful face.” Lynn Blodgett’s intention is to make you see “the homeless” and he succeeds.
Mr. Blodgett started taking pictures as a child and continued to study photography through the years though he pursued a career in business. It was while participating in a photo workshop in New Mexico that he shot his first homeless portraits, a subject that he has now pursued over many years while traveling on business. Starting in 2004 through 2007, Blodgett has arranged 50 photo shoots, mainly outside and near homeless shelters, and shot 1500 subjects, all of them homeless. It is a selection of these black and white shots that make up the portraits of the book. People, who were used to being ignored, shunned, and marginalized posed for Lynn, because he saw them. In return, Blodgett wants you to understand that these people are your aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, your family, your fellow American. He wants you take responsibility for what is happening to them as members of our society. They represent us, at our worst, because we’ve continued to ignore them. By not looking, we can dismiss them assuming them to be losers, druggies, lazy, and mentally unstable, as if they have failed in life and are solely responsible for their own fate. But, statistics prove us wrong in our assumptions.
The preface, written by Marian Wright Edelman, President of The Children’s Defense Fund and the Foreward, written by Danny Glover- Actor, Producer, and Humanitarian, both quote statistics and lament our societies lack of progress in eliminating homelessness and outline who the homeless really are. It is especially saddening given that such a large segment of the homeless are children and families. I appreciated the last segment in the book, “What can you do” by David Langness, who is a writer, and founder of “Homeless Healthcare LA.”
My impulse to pick up this book was triggered not only by the beauty in the face of the cover but her resemblance to my Aunt Theresa who died just a few weeks ago. I’d always loved her cracked and craggy features caused by years of outdoors work and living, and wanted to know who this doppelganger was. I see myself, my family and friends here. I’m not so far removed or ignorant of homelessness that I need the lesson these photo teach but I found them overwhelming nevertheless. I haven’t been able to resist picking it up and gazing, wondering who they are, what their stories are, and where they are now. There are a few I want to touch, so they will become character sketches. In the Afterward, Blodgett writes, “...and we will discover talented musicians, bricklayers, and stockbrokers, businesswomen and poets.” I hope I can honor those people I am finding here through my own interpretation of fully developed characters. People aren’t just the circumstances you find them in. What a great lesson for a writer.
Mr. Blodgett started taking pictures as a child and continued to study photography through the years though he pursued a career in business. It was while participating in a photo workshop in New Mexico that he shot his first homeless portraits, a subject that he has now pursued over many years while traveling on business. Starting in 2004 through 2007, Blodgett has arranged 50 photo shoots, mainly outside and near homeless shelters, and shot 1500 subjects, all of them homeless. It is a selection of these black and white shots that make up the portraits of the book. People, who were used to being ignored, shunned, and marginalized posed for Lynn, because he saw them. In return, Blodgett wants you to understand that these people are your aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, your family, your fellow American. He wants you take responsibility for what is happening to them as members of our society. They represent us, at our worst, because we’ve continued to ignore them. By not looking, we can dismiss them assuming them to be losers, druggies, lazy, and mentally unstable, as if they have failed in life and are solely responsible for their own fate. But, statistics prove us wrong in our assumptions.
The preface, written by Marian Wright Edelman, President of The Children’s Defense Fund and the Foreward, written by Danny Glover- Actor, Producer, and Humanitarian, both quote statistics and lament our societies lack of progress in eliminating homelessness and outline who the homeless really are. It is especially saddening given that such a large segment of the homeless are children and families. I appreciated the last segment in the book, “What can you do” by David Langness, who is a writer, and founder of “Homeless Healthcare LA.”
My impulse to pick up this book was triggered not only by the beauty in the face of the cover but her resemblance to my Aunt Theresa who died just a few weeks ago. I’d always loved her cracked and craggy features caused by years of outdoors work and living, and wanted to know who this doppelganger was. I see myself, my family and friends here. I’m not so far removed or ignorant of homelessness that I need the lesson these photo teach but I found them overwhelming nevertheless. I haven’t been able to resist picking it up and gazing, wondering who they are, what their stories are, and where they are now. There are a few I want to touch, so they will become character sketches. In the Afterward, Blodgett writes, “...and we will discover talented musicians, bricklayers, and stockbrokers, businesswomen and poets.” I hope I can honor those people I am finding here through my own interpretation of fully developed characters. People aren’t just the circumstances you find them in. What a great lesson for a writer.
January 16, 2010
The photographs are very confrontational: mostly just one person, often making eye contact with the camera, against a white backdrop. Removing any context is highly effective in allowing the viewer see Blodgett's subjects as people rather than a social problem. The photographs are beautiful, although many of them are difficult to look at. The afterward is Blodgett discussing his methods, which I really appreciated; after I look at photographs as open and human as these, I always wonder about how photographers got in the situation to take them. Oh, and this was really bizarre to find out: Blodgett is the CEO of ACS.
June 4, 2009
I was impressed by a three page article in the Deseret News about Lynn Blodgett, the CEO who took these pictures and wrote the commentary included in this book. He is an amazing man.
I enjoyed the photos and the charitable purpose for which this book was made (a little reading, a lot of photos). I appreciate how he reached out to homeless, and was able to capture a more than superficial glimpse into them... something which few could capture as he did.
I enjoyed the photos and the charitable purpose for which this book was made (a little reading, a lot of photos). I appreciate how he reached out to homeless, and was able to capture a more than superficial glimpse into them... something which few could capture as he did.
December 5, 2011
Can you tell I work by the oversize books? This is one of my favorite in the oversize (coffee table books) collection.
The cover is an example of the interesting people inside that are photographed excellently. I think the cover gives humanity and dignity to this beautiful woman.
The cover is an example of the interesting people inside that are photographed excellently. I think the cover gives humanity and dignity to this beautiful woman.
February 5, 2008
Unsentimental but moving portaits of homeless people as people; remarkable whether viewed as photographic art or as a poignant glimpse into individual human souls.
June 29, 2011
i much prefer black and white photography to color. i found this book interesting, moving, and thought-provoking.
January 27, 2013
"The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty." -- Mother Teresa, p. 15
December 19, 2011
Important: 5
Must Read/View: 5
Accessible: 5
Kept Attention: 5
Well-Written: 5
Must Read/View: 5
Accessible: 5
Kept Attention: 5
Well-Written: 5
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews