Bringing art to our young homeless

Atlanta, where I live, was recently ranked one of the "meanest" cities for the homeless.  I'm still trying to figure out what exactly this "mean" means...just the mere thought of not having a home is mean to me. 

I remember being at a huge luncheon a few years ago for the highly reputable Atlanta Woman's Foundation, and being read the statistic that the average age of a homeless person in our city was....eight.  Yep, 8 years-old. 

In fact, it is estimated that one in 50 children in the U.S. are homeless, and with more foreclosures and job losses this past year, the numbers are likely to be worse.   Now, I'm not one of those people who can read a statistic and recite it for years to come; I have a hard time even remembering a joke or lines from a movie.  But I have never forgotten that statistic.  And it especially rings in my heart around the holidays. 

So you can imagine my excitement when I heard about Houston's ArtBridge program for homeless children.   The mission of ArtBridge is to encourage creativity and self-expression within a supportive environment. By nurturing imagination, hope and self-esteem, the program strives to combat the despair of homelessness. 

The staff and volunteers at ArtBridge bring weekly art lessons to the shelters in Houston to teach kids how to express themselves creatively through painting, drawing, coloring, and other mediums.  I imagine it brightens these young people's lives in more ways than just on a canvas. 

Here is what really draws me to this program:

- While families in this situation often have to focus on meeting the physical needs of the families, i.e. food, water, shelter - to truly break the cycle of homelessness its so important to address mental and emotional health.  ArtBridge is doing that.

- Kids need alternative outlets to express themselves in a positive way.  Its either with a paint brush under the suprevision of caring adults or in the streets fighting out their emotions in an attempt to survive.  ArtBridge is providing that.

- Every child deserve a chance to build and carry good, healthy self-esteem.  ArtBridge is giving that.

To find out more about ArtBridge and how you can help.  Donate or volunteer, check out their website: www.artbridgehouston.org