A wildly colorful converted school bus cruises down the street and stops next to a city park. A poet proclaims over upbeat music from speakers on the roof deck. A group of people, of all different ages and appearance, scramble out and start a performance,
as others film them. People passing by look at the bus curiously, then step inside, where they find an art gallery full of softly blinking lights, installations made of recycled materials, and paintings and drawings.
You begin to realize that the art has a common theme—the artists, writers, and performers are homeless. But we are much more than that.
We want to end homelessness. And art is the key.
“I see people who are homeless all the time—but what can I really do to help?”
(Artists create street performance, "One Step Away," outside DC City Hall.)
What can you do? You can INTERACT. You can see and hear us. You can share your art and ideas with us. You can get on the bus! That’s how we get moving toward a solution.
“Art helps me be part of something to improve our lives and advocate for the larger picture.”
--I Have a Home Here artist
Donate to the I Have a Home art bus and be part of the larger picture. Help make the bus an appealing, exciting platform sharing art for all.
When you give:
-- You help an artist with training, a gallery, supplies, and connection to an audience.
-- You help a person experiencing homelessness learn skills and make community connections.
-- You help communities that may not have access to galleries and theaters. We bring the art to them!
Your tax deductible support pays for construction, painting, gas, insurance, storage and the ability to get the art bus roadworthy and make it amazing!
“Some people say to me: You’re young, you should get a job. They don't know that I do have lots of jobs, but it’s not enough to get a place to live.”
--I Have a Home Here artist
When we build and maintain the art bus, we get to practice and learn all kinds of skills—engineering, art, working as a team, keeping track of a project—good skills that can pay.
When we get the bus on the move, we’ll meet people all over and show them what people labeled “homeless” can do. One of the toughest parts of being homeless is being invisible. Another is having people think that “homeless” is all you are.
And we raise awareness about the reality of homelessness--the dangers, the struggles, the fact that it's not so simple as just finding a job.
The art bus changes minds—and changes lives.
“Most people don’t realize they can be just one step away from being homeless.”
(Artists give street performance in Downtown Washington, DC.)
All kinds of people like you are helping us to get this bus on the road. We work with the
Street Sense Media Center, a nonprofit founded as a street newspaper, which now includes many different kinds of media and content, all meant to change perceptions of homelessness. Professional
artists and engineers donate their time and expertise. Schools and student groups are also working with us.
(Our group gets inspired, with a visit to Baltimore's Visionary Arts Museum.)
And now it’s your chance to get on the bus, too!
How many times have you walked by a homeless person and wondered what you would do if you were in their place? How many times have you wondered what you can do to help?
Right now, you can make a difference! Let’s drive this bus to a new reality!
-- Check out the fantastic, original, personal rewards we artists are ready to send you when I Have a Home Here reaches its goal.
-- We welcome you to look around this site and
our website and find out more about what we’re doing. Maybe we can bring the art bus to your community—or help you build your own.
-- Right this minute, just
hitting the share button or
re-tweeting could end up making a difference in our lives—so please, use your power. Or email or text a friend--people who care know people who care.
We'll see you on the bus!
