Homelessness and extreme poverty is a pervading socio-political issue lacking any widely implemented solution in the United States. Specifically, 100,000 New Yorkers experience homelessness each year and nearly 1-in-20 New York City residents have experienced homelessness at one point in their lives. Each night, over 38,000 homeless individuals sleep in the NYC shelter system, yet thousands more sleep on the city streets and other public places each night. Though there are over 1,000 soup kitchens and food pantries in NYC and 2,700 in the state of New York that serve 2 million New Yorkers annually, 2,500 people are turned away every day and suffer hunger.

This reality television show challenges two contestants to survive being homeless for a 72-hour period in New York City to get a taste of the problems homeless New Yorkers face on a daily basis and the obstacles they have to overcome. Each contestant will be stripped of all means of contact (i.e. their mobile device and any other forms of communication) from the world in which they know and will not be able to rely on their identity or connections during their homeless period. It is up to them to set their egos aside and use their wit, creativity, and resilience to deal with inevitable complications such as (but not limited to): obtaining food, seeking shelter, communicating with the homeless and everyday New York populations, and finding warmth. At the end of the episode, the contestants will be given the choice to pocket $50.00 or give the money to a local homeless person.

CHARACTERS:

We are casting for non-actors or character actors (one male, one female) who are creative and willing to participate in this three-day venture. Out of the designated shoot dates from 11/9 to 11/15, you will be allowed to choose which consecutive three days you are available for the project.