See How Nonprofit Colors In The Darkness Of Homelessness
Colorado homeless shelter decorated in beautiful artwork showcasing joy, peace and hope
Photos courtesy of Denver Rescue Mission
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You walk in and the far wall is covered in artwork. Paintings, drawings, paper cut-outs. Each week is different, but with all the other white walls, the color immediately draws you in.
Now artwork on a wall isn’t the most unique thing, but what is unique is that this art is on a wall of a homeless shelter, and it was created by those who temporarily call this place home.
As you walk closer, words on a large, paper banner begin to stand out—joy, peace and hope.
When I first read these words here, I thought, “How do people experiencing probably one of the most difficult times in their life stay so positive?”
Yet, as I began to talk with staff members and some of the men in the shelter, I learned that being positive can be one of the only ways to survive the worst of days.
One staff member—who runs the weekly art collaborative for those staying in the shelter—explained that simply joining the art group has motivated many people to engage with a case manager and take active steps toward progress.
“Maybe they’re not ready to seek mental health care or any other resources that are going to be necessary for them to get out of this situation,” she said, “and so it’s giving people an opportunity to just be with others and do something that is good for them, that brings life.”
You don’t have to call yourself an artist to create something beautiful. Whether going through a challenging time or not, art and creativity can help us all process through things before we can even put words to it. Like Les, a shelter guest told me, “I’m not an artist, so just sprinkling a little joy into your day, that’s what it’s about.”
Denver Rescue Mission meets the needs of those experiencing homelessness and poverty through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional programs, and community outreach.
Linneya Gardner is a photographer and a writer––a storyteller––with a passion for sharing authentic stories and capturing meaningful moments. As the Content Specialist at Denver Rescue Mission, she is driven by the stories of transformation she sees every day at the Mission. LGardner@DenRescue.org
