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The Door

Toni Schlesinger, the author of Five Flights Up, has spent the last year visiting and photographing the homes of people who have been hit by the economic crash—people who lost their money, their savings, their terrors, their dream-lives, and their pluck. Step inside their lives with "House Calls."

This story about the economy begins today in Brooklyn.

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The Stairs

The story got its start five years ago when Aileen Bodiwali moved from Mumbai to join her husband and work in a motel in New Jersey.

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The Couch

“My husband met a guy who said New Jersey looks like a haunted city. Come to New Orleans. So we moved in 2005. I was at the front desk of the Grand Palace Hotel. My husband was night auditor. In July my husband went in for a brain tumor. He was in a hospital—then the hurricane [hit]—then me and my son were trapped for five days in the hotel, no water, lights, fighting, looting, burning, 3,000 guests  ... .”

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The Window

“After the hurricane, my husband went missing. I got the news six months [later]." He was in Atlanta. His name was on his wrist. No memory. He had died. He and me, from school days, we were together. He wanted to come to the United States. He wanted his son to achieve something in life. It was very late for us to come. My husband was 58. My daughter, we couldn’t get her a visa. We had to leave her behind  ... ”

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The Table

“My son and I went on a website and got a help center in New York. When I got the new apartment, I got a one-shot deal for the furniture. Black Veterans for Social Justice are my landlords. They’re taking good care of me.”

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The Bed

“Now I do baby sitting. I have one baby now. Mothers are not having jobs so they’re not giving babies to me. Many parents are trying to save money, they put small babies in day care. I am unable to buy groceries. I’m just managing because I know how to cook, but it's very difficult to pay the bills. FEMA stopped paying my rent. When I go to my caseworker, I show them the papers. The Human Resources office considers your status.”

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The Fan

“Then maybe they approve that. I really don’t talk to anybody. I’m very nervous to move around. I take care of babies in my apartment. I have my homecare certification. I’m not comfortable going to other houses. When I went for training, they sent me for practical work to one guy dying. I said, 'Why let me go to a person who is dying?' ”

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The Stroller

“Babies give me a lot a motivation. They make me happy. In Bombay, I used to take care of babies. They make me forget about everything.”

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The TV

“Now my son is going to join the Marines. Next month, I’ll be left by myself. He says, ‘Mom, let me go.’ He’s interested to join the Marines. I said, ‘I’m here for you. You go ahead with life, achieve whatever ...’ He said, ‘Mom, this is land of opportunity.’ I said, ‘Go be a better man.’ My son wants to be a great man.” Where will he be sent?

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The Cross

“Maybe Afghanistan.”