Reportage: Living the American Nightmare: Living the American NIghtmare

Tammy Shuler, 42, and Erik Eckhart, 23, are a couple. Tammy’s dog, Schmeagal, rides everywhere with her in the basket of her pink bicycle. They’ve both lived in the encampment for seven years, and Tammy is the biological mother of Ashley Foster. Erik says he’s been doing everything right, doing everything he can to get off the street. He says he and his brother are going to move into an apartment together soon. When asked where she’ll move, Tammy answers with a laugh, “Hell if I know!”