Many consider homelessness a financial issue, but housing insecurity has complex impacts on mental health and wellness.
Over 5,000 Austin residents experienced homelessness in September, and more than 15,000 sought assistance from city housing services in the past year.
As the city works to provide homes, Austin’s non-profit Art From the Streets (AFTS) offers the unhoused a sense of purpose and belonging.
Austin’s ‘Art From the Streets’
AFTS provides vital support to Austin’s most vulnerable residents.
Executive Director Kelley Worden says ATFS, established over 30 years ago, works tirelessly to provide a safe, positive, and encouraging environment wherein they nurture those experiencing homelessness through their artistic expression.
These artistic endeavors form a pathway to self-determination through personal achievements, social connections, and income generated through creative pursuits.
The program offers weekly studio sessions and art supplies to unhoused community members, allowing artists to explore their creativity amid positive social interactions.
In addition, it hosts gallery showings, giving the artists a chance to showcase and sell their work, adding to their sense of self-worth and pride in accomplishment.
Involving the Entire Community
ATFS maintains rich partnerships with other community organizations dedicated to helping the unhoused. Local companies and organizations provide crucial sponsorship support in the form of paint and other art supplies, meals for meetings and studio sessions, and kits ATFS distributes to the community.
As Worden explains, “We host gatherings with local like-minded non-profit professionals, art shows with local non-profits benefiting and educating the community of our individual missions, and offer a collectors program where businesses can lease artwork for their spaces that benefit our artists.”
The Artist’s Perspective
We asked Worden to share success stories from artists impacted by the program, and she delivered. Jack Hurd explains how AFTS allows him to explore something he loves. “I always had a love for art but never pursued it,” he elaborates. “I met friends at Trinity Center and fell in love with encouraging people to create. I started devoting all my free time to creating. I have never looked back.”
Hurd also shares the program keeps him “Motivated and encouraged as a part of my life today. I create from objects that I see. Shapes begin the process that I encounter. Never a new piece, continuation from one painting to another. This is inside me, let’s go on and move forward. Brush strokes move me as my mind might be somewhere else. I like the studio because it gives me inspiration.”
David Schumaker says, “Art is my therapy. I was asked to paint to help get my “angry” out. The response to my work was so amazing it gave me joy.”
Synethia Kelly describes how the program makes her feel. “Creating makes me light as a feather. Stress-free. I enjoy the complete silence of creating, even when people are around. Just me and my brush. Touching the canvas, the image comes to me, like magic.”
How To Get Involved
Worden says anyone can get involved, whether an Austin local, a tourist to this weird and lovely city, or a distant friend wanting to help.
“VOLUNTEER weekly in our studio or gallery shows. DONATE to help support our mission. ATTEND our gallery or community shows and buy art,” she says, adding that 95% goes directly to AFTS artists.
Worden explains the studio isn’t generally open to the public but hosts monthly studio gallery shows, allowing visitors to view art and chat with the artists.
“We also engage in 3-5 community art shows where we are supported by our community partners. We educate patrons about the program and sell artwork to expand our audience and gain income for the artists who participate with us,” she says, sharing that there are multiple ways for Austin residents to support the program and community.
“We look forward to engaging further with community partners to share our mission and engage support to sustain AFTS,” she adds.
Those who live outside the city can get involved by purchasing prints and merchandise online or donating directly.
Art Is Human
AFTS highlights something we know on a visceral level that we often forget in our celebration of old grandmasters: Art isn’t just for the wealthy elites who can afford schooling and apprenticeships.
Art is the most basic form of human expression, predating civilization. ATFS taps into the artistic spirit inherent in all of us and unique to humanity.
A worthy cause, AFTS gives artists a sense of dignity and purpose while asking the community to face the humanity of people we try to ignore.
