Washington, D.C. lawyer Helena Bala experienced an unusual sense of connection and fulfillment five years ago when she saw a homeless man, with whom she stopped and shared a sandwich and a conversation. After listening to his story, she posted an ad on Craigslist offering to listen to anyone who just needed to talk.

For a little over a year now, I’ve listened to strangers I meet on Craigslist tell me stories they’ve never told anyone before. I’ve interviewed someone who went through gender reassignment surgery and was falling in love for the very first time, as his true self. I’ve spoken with a man who had lost his wife to alcoholism and was struggling to rebuild his life without her.

Since 2014, writer Helena Bala has been meeting people via Craigslist and documenting their stories. Each story is written as it was told to her. By listening, she hopes to bear witness to her subjects’ lives, providing them with an outlet, a judgment-free ear, and catharsis. By sharing them with you, she hopes to facilitate understanding of issues that are seldom discussed, at the risk of fear, stigma, and ostracism.