City Hall showcases HomeAid photo project
Homeless youth share their experiences through photography at an exhibit now on display at Houston City Hall Annex at 900 Bagby level P1, through July 3. The project, called Picture This, was underwritten by HomeAid Houston, a Greater Houston Builders Association charity.
It is the third in a series of Picture This photo projects involving the homeless of Houston and surrounding areas. The project is designed to educate the public about the homeless youth crisis in Houston-area communities.
The project gave disposable cameras to approximately 50 young people who are facing homelessness or are currently living on the streets and are working through Angel Reach, Montgomery County Youth Services, Covenant House and Grace Place.
The photographs include self portraits, street life, relationships and some very moving images. The exhibit also includes narratives written by several photographers that express what living on the street has felt like as they’ve grown up. The exhibit is free of charge. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Most of the photos in this exhibit were taken by kids aging out of foster care,” said Terry Swenson, creator of Picture This and the photographer and writer for HomeAid Houston. “Unfortunately, their stories often include neglect, abuse and abandonment.”
The homeless youth statistics are impactful. According to the 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, in January 2013, nearly one-quarter (23 percent or 138,149) of the total U.S. homeless population (610,042 people) were children, under the age of 18. Ten percent (or 61,541) were between the ages of 18 and 24, and 67 percent (or 410,352) were 25 years or older.
“We can only imagine what it must feel like to be a child or young adult with no life skills and no one to turn to,” Swenson said. “We thank the Mayor’s office for allowing Picture This to give a voice to these kids so they can tell their story.” Picture This has had an extensive history. The first Picture This exhibit was the SEARCH Homeless Services series. That exhibit also debuted at City Hall on April 9, 2013. The exhibit then was on display at numerous downtown Houston high-rise offices including the Chevron Building and the Heritage Plaza Building.
The latest location was at the Art Car Museum and was part of the international Fotofest 2014. The second Picture This exhibit was Homeless Veterans. Veterans working through the De George at Union Station and Homeless Veterans Initiative took part in the project.
HomeAid Houston is a 501(c)3 charity that works with homeless care providers in the Houston area, helping them to identify their new construction and remodeling needs and pairs them with GHBA builders, remodelers and their suppliers, to obtain donations of labor and materials.
For information about HomeAid Houston, visit www.homeaidhouston.org or call 281-970-8970. For information about Picture This, visit www.picturethis-project.com.
The photographs include self portraits, street life, relationships and some very moving images.