I’ve been visiting this abandoned factory in Peoria for a few years now. At first, it was truly abandoned. Within the past year, it is no longer abandoned. COVID and the 2020 financial crisis has caused the homeless population to explode in Peoria. This newly painted mural invites people with no place to go into a place where you can at least have a roof over your head.

I didn’t know there were people living out here when I took this picture, because this place is so far off the beaten path, I honestly didn’t expect it. I didn’t know what the sign meant, because there is a lot of graffiti and tagging around the site already, and I just didn’t put 2 and 2 together.

When my friend and I were exploring the various buildings we ran into some folks roughing it in the sturdiest of the buildings – out of respect I did not want to disturb them any more than I had so had a few courteous words and went on our way.

Leica IIIC, Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm, Ilford HP5+, 800 ISO.