i can recite statistics to you all you want, but when i do that people s eyes glaze over. but if i tell the story of one family and one family s struggle with poverty, and if i tell it in a compelling way, then they re engaged. reporter: on this day the one family is shirley, who live a trailer with her son dalton, daughter michaela and her boyfriend on $450 a month from welfare and $500 a month in food stamps. you don t feel like you ve been seen all that much in your life, do you? no, i felt like i ve just been shoved away and the closet door has been shut on me, if you know what i mean. reporter: what s it been like to have him here taking pictures of you? it s been wonderful. he is treating my family like human beings. reporter: finding dignity amid poverty s grinding despair follows in the long tradition of