FEATURE
A NEW IDENTITY FOR THE HOMELESS
Time and time again , art has proven its benefits towards better mental health , self-esteem , and overall sense of identity . Charities like Arts & Homelessness International have used art as a form of therapy for people suffering from homelessness .
Art can be a tool for self-expression , a medium to express opinions , a way to exorcise emotions , and a form of therapy .
In many cases , it can be all of the above . Arts have often been used to help people living with various issues and difficult situations . Homelessness is no exception .
Arts & Homelessness International
Arts & Homelessness International ( AHI ) is a global charity which supports homeless people by providing them with opportunities for self-expression through art and creativity .
Founded in 2019 by Matt Peacock in London , the organisation has supported many homeless people and given them the tools to reclaim their identity .
AHI is a global network of arts-centred projects working with homeless people . They work on policy making and organise projects and programmes all around the world , supporting people and their ideas . The goal ? Founder Matt Peacock explains : “ We are keen to circulate this notion that homelessness isn ’ t just about housing . Homelessness services aren ’ t necessarily enough to help people move on and move out of homelessness . Art is a small intervention , but it ’ s effective at building people up and giving people permission to believe in themselves .”
Art as a tool
In this understanding of creativity as a tool , art can be a way to bring back characteristics that were lost , such as motivation , selfconfidence , and agency .
“ People are able to have a different identity , for that time , which is really important ,” Peacock says . During those short moments of creation and artistic delivery , homeless people get to view themselves as creative and social individuals . “ We ’ re trying to show them that they have a lot to bring as well .”
Studies have shown that art has beneficial
Photography workshop during Covid , Haringey .
impacts on self-esteem , mental health , and assertiveness . An article published in the 2018 Canadian Children and Youth Service Review revealed that among the 20 youth participants , the main benefits were better mental health management , improved coping with stress and trauma recovery , selfexploration , and positive self-esteem .
Many of those struggles surround people dealing with homelessness , and trauma is a common denominator . Bringing art into their lives can be a step towards improving their situation by positively impacting their mental health and self-perception .
Art is a small way for them to regain identity and view themselves as more than a societal problem and a burden . As Peacock puts it : “ Everyone [ is ] being asked their ideas , not their problems . And when you are going through homelessness , you ’ re really regarded as a set of issues to be solved , but not what you ’ re really good at .”
Success stories
Although this kind of support is hard to measure , there are many “ success stories ” coming out of the work that AHI does .
In their three areas of focus – policy change , supporting projects and supporting people – many have reaped the benefits of this specific structure . Having worked with local governments , they managed to make councils , such as Coventry , include arts in their homelessness strategies .
And as an international charity , the benefits have been shown on a global scale : “ We ’ ve helped set up some choirs in Rio , as part of the Cultural Olympiad of 2016 , and in the first year , something like 30 % of the choir were into housing and jobs .”
Peacock adds : “ It ’ s because of that structure that they were in , the way that they were accepted , and the purpose they had . These choirs are sort of like homes for people who have to live on the streets of Rio .”
Behind the success
At the very centre of the charity , there have been two success stories already : Peacock himself , and his recently promoted co-director David Tovey . They have both experienced homelessness first-hand and are all the more qualified to speak on it now .
“ I think it ’ s really important that charities working with homelessness are run by people who have had experience of these issues . Having had that experience , there are strengths you bring , in terms of resilience , empathy , emotional intelligence , and networking abilities .”
Yaelle Raccaud
ISSUE 5 SLEUTH 13