Iron Gate Portraits

Photographs and words by MIKE SIMONS

The Iron Gate is a kitchen and food pantry that serves people experiencing homelessness and the hungry in downtown Tulsa. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iron Gate has changed to grab and go meals and seen their food pantry numbers increase by 40 percent. Workers have even seen former donors to the food pantry line up to get food. 

As clients stepped in front of a white background to have their photo taken, it becomes easier to look in their eyes and see their faces. Strip away the usual items they are seen with: a sleeping bag and tent, or a panhandling sign, and their humanity shows. Robert walks with a limp and sometimes he struggles with his words. He wears an American flag tank top and after getting his photo taken says, “"These guys they do like Jesus does: Look at the inside of your body instead of the outside.”

Lisa has struggled with addiction and homelessness in the past, but has been sober and housed for 6 years now. Then the COVID-19 pandemic came along. She vows to not go back.  She was working and sharing an apartment with her brother. "We were doing the best we could until this COVID thing came along and it just messed with everybody. It's taken a lot of people down," she says, as she begins to cry.