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Art exhibiton kicks off homelessness week
Bristol Homelessness Awareness Week begins with an art exhibition featuring work created by people who have experienced homelessness.
Throughout the week homelessness organisations including the Spring of Hope, the Julian Trust, Julian House, Golden Key and Caring in Bristol will be opening their doors to allow people to see how they work.
The week will culminate in the annual sponsored Sleep Out on Friday, which is organised by the Bristol Homeless Forum.
Opening the week is an exhibition at St Mungo’s of fine art, mixed media, photography and sculpture on display produced by people who have experienced homelessness in Bristol.
Simon Dyer, deputy manager at St Mungo’s said: “Attending our art workshops at the Recovery College allows our clients the space to explore personal interests and helps to support them to build confidence and social networks. All of this provides a solid basis for a sustained recovery.
“Art forms an important role in recovery. Having a creative outlet, learning new skills and having a regular workshop to attend all helps to build routine in what may previously have been a chaotic lifestyle.
“It also acts as a reminder to everyone that beneath the statistic of the homeless person, there is an individual with their own talent and expression,” he added.
In 2015 more than five thousand households became or faced homelessness in Bristol. Many of them became homeless because private rented accommodation ended.
On Friday Mayor George Ferguson will be joining the annual sleep out at Pip ‘n Jay’s Church. He said the number of rough sleepers in Bristol has “become one of our most pressing concerns”.
“People who are sleeping rough or ’sofa-surfing’ face daily problems that are difficult to understand for those with more comfortable lives.
“We must all come together to tackle this growing challenge. There is help out there from a range of organisations, so if you know anyone you think is at risk, make sure they seek advice and support as soon as possible.”