Ordinary People

These are not your neighbors, but they could be.

That’s the message behind these portraits of homeless families and children by Los Angeles-based photographer Terrance Wimmer for the cookbook “Open House,” published this week by Tradery House.

The book is a mix of photographs, poetry and prose by homeless people and volunteer workers and recipes from such star chefs as Paul Prudhomme. It aims to inspire volunteerism--a sustaining force of its sponsor, the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Wimmer took his pictures in the classically lit, formal style that many people have on their walls or mantels so the homeless could be seen as individuals who have met hard times.

“I want to show that homeless families are no different from families with homes,” he said. “They share the same love and nurturing and harbor the same hopes and fears for their children and grandchildren. And they try their best to attain a better life.”

The book will be available in major book chains, and most of the $15.95 price will go toward helping the homeless. Wimmer’s portraits were taken at the Valley Shelter of the Los Angeles Family Housing Corp. in North Hollywood.

As a testament to the work done there, most of the families pictured now have permanent homes.