3/13/2023 0 Comments Ocean waves pictures5, First Friday, Beyond the Portrait will premiere “#changingperceptions: A Photography Exhibit” at London Nelson Community Center. I find myself often asking, ‘Where were you when you were taking this photo?’ as their perspectives are so unique.”įrom 4-8 p.m. They are outside so much and they see places and they capture things from vantage points that we do not normally notice. They love taking pictures of surfers, too. We look at the photos they have taken, we talk about what they were drawn towards, we talk about specific areas they might want to improve.” Orlando continues, “The majority of members are taking nature photos – lots of shots of the ocean and waves. Orlando met with the team weekly in a group and individually to walk around and take photos while providing guidance. In the past six months, a team of nine members including current and former Downtown Streets Team participants were loaned a digital camera. “We really care about each team member as an individual and want to make sure each initiative will be able to feed their soul,” says Curran. Her fiscally-sponsored camera sharing program, Beyond the Portrait, has worked alongside Downtown Streets Team to provide photography skill building and joy to program participants while offering a more human-centered approach to learning about their experience. One such advocate is professional photographer, Gina Orlando. As we say at our weekly success meetings, ‘We are changing the perception of homelessness one cigarette butt at a time.’ We couldn’t be prouder of our Team Members who do the work every day.”Ĭurran continues to build partnerships with community leaders dedicated to the same goal. We work every day to combat the stigma that surrounds homelessness. “Downtown Streets Team data shows that for folks who are living outside, the absolute worst part of it is the way that people look down on them. ![]() On the eve of this milestone, Curran says that they are more committed than ever towards shifting the community’s perception of homelessness. (Gina Orlando/Contributed)ĭowntown Streets Team recruits community members experiencing homelessness to volunteer their time weekly towards litter cleanup and watershed restoration efforts in the city and county, while offering members encouragement and camaraderie, incentives like basic needs stipends and food, job application references and resume support, connection to mental health, addiction counseling, and housing networks, and reducing barriers that prohibit employment and self-sufficiency like obtaining licenses, required paperwork, proper identification, and more. ![]() A person living outdoors cleaning the area near their home by the San Lorenzo Riverpathway. They were priced out.” She continues, “The cost of living is so high, many folks can be just one medical emergency away from living outside or in their car/camper.” Curran and her team are about to celebrate their 5-year anniversary serving those experiencing homelessness on the central coast while beautifying our watersheds. ![]() Last week, Jocelyn Curran, the director of Downtown Streets Team for Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, reminded me that their data shows that “over 75% of the unhoused in Santa Cruz lived in Santa Cruz before becoming homeless. “How will our credit handle multiple checks? Can we afford a pet deposit and additional monthly pet rent? I guess we can avoid talking during all morning and evening hours so that the onsite landlord is not disturbed by our existence during her meditation practice?” It’s brutal and depressing, and we are “dinks (Double Income, No Kids).” ![]() “Do you think we could make it work commuting from Moss Landing or Marina?” I ask him. As my husband and I doom scroll through Craigslist seeking yet another egregiously unaffordable rental, I am reacquainted with our privileges and how close we could be from moving our belongings into our car while competing with our peers for increasingly limited housing options. Homelessness and homeless response in Santa Cruz and along the central coast continues to be one of our most pressing, complex and contentious issues.
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