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Discuss a piece of longform journalism with a group of longreads fans in this monthly club from the Magazines and Newspapers Center. Read the selection ahead of time and come prepared to discuss following the Shared Inquiry Method.

January Selection

Kevin Fagan’s Homeless Reporting

San Francisco Chronicle, 2003 – 2019

In this curated selection of articles showcasing Kevin Fagan’s longterm homeless coverage for the SF Chronicle, we are invited to get to know two people’s stories of life on the streets in the City: Rita from 2003 – 2005 and Tyson in 2019. Both stories put individuals at the center of a swirling milieu of policy, geography, drug addiction, mental illness, and systemic failure. Fagan published a monograph on the topic in 2025, The Lost and the Found.

Access options:

• Email MNC@SFPL.ORG to request a PDF of all 6 articles
• Read the articles on NewsBank (SFPL card required):
  1. Fagan, Kevin. "Shame of The City: Homeless Island, Part 1." The San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 30, 2003, p. A1.
  2. Fagan, Kevin. “Shame of The City: Reclaiming her life - 54-year-old Rita Grant fell from a middle-class life to homelessness, heroin and heartache before accepting her family's offer to help clean up.” The San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 9, 2005, p. A1.
  3. Fagan, Kevin. “Reason To Smile - Rita Grant's teeth were a raw reminder of her brutal years on S.F.'s streets. Now she has a new life in Florida -- and a full set of custom-made dentures.” The San Francisco Chronicle, May 21, 2005, p. A1.
  4. Fagan, Kevin. “Diverse District Split Over Shelter Location; Homeless: Waterfront Offers Respite from Dangers of Tenderloin. ” The San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 14, 2019, p. C1.
  5. Fagan, Kevin. “Homeless and lost, until photo appears. ” The San Francisco Chronicle, May 5, 2019, p. A1.
  6. Fagan, Kevin. “5 months after reunion, hope dies on street. ” The San Francisco Chronicle, Sep 22, 2019, p. A1.

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