Home to the nation's largest open-air narcotics market which The New York Times once referred to as “The Walmart of heroin”, Kensington exists as the epicentre of America’s growing opioid epidemic.

The neighbourhood has seen a rapid surge in distribution of synthetic drugs like Fentanyl, K20 (spice) and most recently an animal tranquilliser called Xylazine which causes severe infection and skin rot when injected, earning it the nickname ‘the zombie drug’. With supply outweighing demand, people form queues down Kensington Avenue to try free samples before deciding which dealer to buy from that day. It's a buyers market that functions unlike any other city.

Driving down Kensington Avenue feels like something from another world. With a homicide rate 30% higher than the rest of the state, life in Kensington is tough for anyone. To women however, it poses a more dangerous set of risks. Violent sexual abuse is commonplace and appears to be a shared experience for almost all women facing homelessness.