On Wednesday, November 5, we start Street Art!
Dallas-based artist and art therapist Rachel Nash will be leading Street Art. Rachel is an incredibly gifted artist herself who also displays the work of other artists on her online gallery, "Rachel Nash Gallery."
Click here to see more about her work and the other artists whose work she displays.
Read MoreOn Saturday, November 8, we are holding our next community gathering in South Dallas. After trash pick-up, we asked the homeless community what other needs they have. Their immediate response was, "We need haircuts!"
Of course! It was something we would have never thought about, but it makes so much sense. It is such a basic human need, and one that I take for granted.
So in partnership with some local hairstylists, we are hosting our first "Street-Side Salon" on November 8.
Read MoreRecently, I have encountered a different kind of language barrier. Jerry, pictured above, has never had the ability to hear. Maybe to the trained ear, his speech and language would pose no barrier. However, his chronic homelessness and inability to gain access to a shelter are proof that a hearing impairment can complicate life on the streets.
For a person without a disability, getting out of homelessness is difficult. For a homeless person with a disability, everything -- from getting an I.D., to finding work, to purchasing a bus pass -- is exacerbated. Adding something in like deafness or paralyzation (which we encounter every single week) complicates overcoming homelessness tenfold.
Read MoreThis is the first time I get to share someone's story from their perspective. What you will read below is mostly quoted from a couple with whom I spent time last Tuesday. Their names are Cecilia and Raymond.*
--
"You ain't shit and you ain't never gonna be shit."
That's what her stepmom used to tell her.
Read More
This is Cecilia. She and her husband Raymond are homeless -- they live under the bridge. Cecilia shared the poem below with me. She was thrilled when I asked if I could record it and share it with you.
There is more to their story, and we will share it in our next post. But for now, be encouraged by this poem Cecilia wrote called Surrender.
Read More