Photo Essay Pitch—Documenting Jacco Stuben

 Jacco Stuben is an unhoused man who lived in the Ville-Marie underpass encampment up until the day it was dismantled by the city in early 2023. Jacco was then subject to extreme cases of NIMBY (the "not in my backyard mentality"). He would be forced to move around the city, from back alleys to behind scaffolding, only to have the same hand shove him out each time: the city's. Currently, Jacco still lives his vagabond lifestyle and has been travelling between Toronto and Montreal, picking up odd jobs to finance a safe place to live.

As Montreal enters its coldest and deadliest season for unhoused individuals, with very little municipal infrastructure in place to prioritize unhoused shelter and safety, it is essential to highlight the extent to which some must go to secure basic living conditions. Suboptimal solutions such as warming shelters are shut down on near whims while Montrealers freeze to death on the street. This photo essay will work to highlight Jacco and document how he hustles through the winter.

Jacco has many prized possessions—things he has trouble leaving behind—which is why moving is always a hassle for him. I think capturing Jacco with his things and moving his things are some engaging visuals to help animate the rigorous act of constantly being forced to move. Jacco is currently preparing to move some belongings between storage lockers—perhaps some photos of the locker and he, with his belongings, can add a variety of settings to the final photo essay.

My "in" with Jacco is that I already know him! I have previously written a story on Jacco about the city's unjust eviction of him from both the encampment and an alley. I wrote that piece over a year ago and have been in contact with him ever since. 

I can do a good job telling Jacco's story since we've worked together before and have built up our trust and connection. When reporting on sensitive topics and communities, it is important to understand a source and have them understand you so the work doesn't sensationalize a subject's position. I will document Jacco's daily lifestyle and hustle with respect and plan to help him move his belongings around, too. 

I plan to start photographing this story by letting Jacco know I'm interested in covering his life again and that this time, it would require me hanging around him, helping out, and snapping the occasional picture.

I plan to see him at least once every two weeks on Tuesday when I don't have classes and until about a week before the final portfolio is due, spending time with him and photographing him periodically each time I'm with him. That window will give me enough time to catch up with Jacco, lend a helping hand when necessary and develop a healthy portfolio. However, if there are super sensitive moments or days where I feel photos aren't necessary, I will listen to my gut and save the photography for the next visit.