Jean Rice
American advocate for the homeless
About Jean Rice
Lived 1939 – 2025 (aged 85–86).
Jean Rice (July 1, 1939 – March 12, 2025) was an American advocate for the homeless in New York City. He lived on the streets for three decades. They later moved to Brooklyn, where he attended school before joining the United States Army.
He earned money picking up cans and bottles, which he redeemed for the five-cent deposit; he also panhandled. The Jean Rice Homeless Liberation Reference Library in Fordham, Bronx, is named after him.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jean Rice's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jean Rice?
American advocate for the homeless
When was Jean Rice born?
Jean Rice was born in 1939.
When did Jean Rice die?
Jean Rice died in 2025.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jean Rice. https://biography.guide/jean-rice/
MLA: "Jean Rice." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jean-rice/.
Chicago: "Jean Rice." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jean-rice/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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