A Surprising Reunion: The Homeless Project That Reconnected a Daughter with Her Father

Hawaii: Diana Kim, a 30-year-old law student, had her parents split up when she was just five. Since then, she had completely lost contact with her father and grew up with her mother and relatives. She never imagined the circumstances that would lead to reuniting with him: While in the midst of photographing a project about the homeless in her city, Kim unexpectedly found her father living on the streets, mentally unwell and suffering from a severe mental illness. 

"He didn’t shower because he was hearing voices telling him not to," Kim recalled. "I have no idea when he started hearing those voices, but what I do know is that his illness had become bigger than he was. He even lost his connection to the daily purpose in his life," she said. 

After this discovery, Kim reached out to authorities to seek assistance for her father, but he refused help, continuing his current lifestyle. Despite this, Kim did not give up and kept documenting his journey while encouraging him. "It pained me to see him like this. There were days when I just stood there staring at the ground helplessly because I couldn't watch him like that. Some days I couldn't find him at all, and other days he returned to stand on the street corner," she explained. 

Eventually, Kim succeeded in persuading her father to be hospitalized, and he agreed. He now resides in a homeless shelter and has fully recovered from the dangerous and miserable state he was in. "We are still getting to know each other, and I am sure there is a lot for both of us to process. I must admit, it’s nice to be able to meet for coffee and continue watching his life improve. As long as we live in this world, every day is an opportunity for a second chance. There is no failure unless you give up, and concede. But we have never given up and will never give up on each other." Alongside documenting and supporting her father, Kim initiated a project called 'Homeless Haven', aimed at helping the homeless wherever they are, successfully raising about $10,000 for this noble goal. 

This indeed is a beautiful gesture for her father, but if you want to understand true respect for one’s father from a Jewish perspective, you are invited to watch the following video: