Malichia, TAPH Artist Partner
I am originally from Los Angeles, California. I came to Houston in May of 2011, after marrying my (now ex-) wife who was from Rhode Island. After suffering through 6 months of a tumultuous marriage where I endured both physical & emotional abuse, I finally just packed a few of my things and left on the 22nd of May 2012. This is how I became homeless.
How can I describe how survival on the streets is for someone who has never experienced this ordeal before? Life on the streets of Houston was literally Hell! No family to turn to, no friends to depend on, no knowledge of where anything is that will give you a HAND-UP and not a HAND-OUT.
Every day, waking up to try to find some form of work to care for yourself while at the same time trying to find a secure place to hide your belongings, only to come back after spending all day searching for work to discover that your things were stolen by some other person who has a drug or alcohol addiction. My things were stolen on three different occasions since I’ve been on the streets, including having my identification & work credentials stolen the very first time my things were taken. This is what caused me to be on the streets for so long.
Even through all of that turmoil, I’d have to say that the worst experience of life on the streets were the winter months. Having to sleep under bridges, in parks, or in the doorway of some building when it is cold or raining or both is the worst feeling ever. Even worse is to have someone who has a nice warm house to go to every night tell you, “don’t give up, it’s going to get better,” yet they do nothing to help ease your condition. It's like being on fire and someone standing there with a bucket of water but not throwing it on you to douse the flames.
I came upon the Bread of Life a few days after I first became homeless, and met Pastor Lanecia during one of the art programs she was teaching that day. It was an art contest to paint something using the theme “HOPE.” I’d never held a paintbrush in my hand to create anything until that day and really didn’t want to participate, but she encouraged me to do so.
I ended up winning the contest with a painting that I titled “My Dad’s Not Missing,” and sold the painting at an art exhibit a few weeks later. That experience ignited a desire to create and I’ve since sold numerous paintings at other exhibits that Pastor Lanecia has taken me to.
The Art Project, Houston was the stepping stone that I was searching for to help me get my life back on track. It gave me a safe and constructive way to vent the stresses and frustrations that life was weighing on my shoulders without me doing anything that would get me into trouble with the law. Through The Art Project, Houston I was able to meet a number of influential people including, but not limited to, Reginald Adams (an artist and Co-Founder of the Museum Of Cultural Arts, Houston).
I have since gotten a job working at the Port of Houston as a roustabout, and an apartment on Houston’s Southeast side. I can honestly say that none of this would have been possible without my experiences and opportunities through TAPH. This is why it is very important for programs such as TAPH to continue to thrive. Because for every 3 people you run into on these streets full of games, there is one who is sincerely striving to make a way to live a better life…and that one is worth all the effort!
How can I describe how survival on the streets is for someone who has never experienced this ordeal before? Life on the streets of Houston was literally Hell! No family to turn to, no friends to depend on, no knowledge of where anything is that will give you a HAND-UP and not a HAND-OUT.
Every day, waking up to try to find some form of work to care for yourself while at the same time trying to find a secure place to hide your belongings, only to come back after spending all day searching for work to discover that your things were stolen by some other person who has a drug or alcohol addiction. My things were stolen on three different occasions since I’ve been on the streets, including having my identification & work credentials stolen the very first time my things were taken. This is what caused me to be on the streets for so long.
Even through all of that turmoil, I’d have to say that the worst experience of life on the streets were the winter months. Having to sleep under bridges, in parks, or in the doorway of some building when it is cold or raining or both is the worst feeling ever. Even worse is to have someone who has a nice warm house to go to every night tell you, “don’t give up, it’s going to get better,” yet they do nothing to help ease your condition. It's like being on fire and someone standing there with a bucket of water but not throwing it on you to douse the flames.
I came upon the Bread of Life a few days after I first became homeless, and met Pastor Lanecia during one of the art programs she was teaching that day. It was an art contest to paint something using the theme “HOPE.” I’d never held a paintbrush in my hand to create anything until that day and really didn’t want to participate, but she encouraged me to do so.
I ended up winning the contest with a painting that I titled “My Dad’s Not Missing,” and sold the painting at an art exhibit a few weeks later. That experience ignited a desire to create and I’ve since sold numerous paintings at other exhibits that Pastor Lanecia has taken me to.
The Art Project, Houston was the stepping stone that I was searching for to help me get my life back on track. It gave me a safe and constructive way to vent the stresses and frustrations that life was weighing on my shoulders without me doing anything that would get me into trouble with the law. Through The Art Project, Houston I was able to meet a number of influential people including, but not limited to, Reginald Adams (an artist and Co-Founder of the Museum Of Cultural Arts, Houston).
I have since gotten a job working at the Port of Houston as a roustabout, and an apartment on Houston’s Southeast side. I can honestly say that none of this would have been possible without my experiences and opportunities through TAPH. This is why it is very important for programs such as TAPH to continue to thrive. Because for every 3 people you run into on these streets full of games, there is one who is sincerely striving to make a way to live a better life…and that one is worth all the effort!
Solo, TAPH Artist Partner
"Even though my experiences with the Bread of Life were positive, the streets were not. Frustration, fatigue, dismay, and anger were felt mainly when dealing with the mainstream population. People in general, while speaking magnanimously of the homeless issue, were betrayed by their own actions. There were public places where I was unwelcome... not due to ill behavior or uncleanliness, but because I carried my meager belongings on me in a backpack.
The fatigue factor was probably the worst aspect of being homeless. There is so little rest to be had. Homeless people are constantly shoed away from anywhere that they could possibly relax and get away from the elements. Homeless shelters, while stretched to their limits, allow little relaxation for the homeless to get away from the day's heat or cold. Because of the hours of operation, there is so much time spent waiting in lines for various things, there is little time to actually rest. Once you are bedded down it is late and then you've got to get up early to start the process all over.
I found out about Bread of Life through another homeless man. He told me of a place where food, showers, and a place to sleep were available. My impressions of the Bread of Life were positive, and admittedly, one of the most influential times of my life. I learned that it's okay to give of oneself. Whether the giving is money, time, possessions, or life's insights, giving to others makes you feel good about yourself.
The Art Project, Houston was WONDERFUL! The program, while probably not for everyone, offered me an artistic release. From the directors to the volunteers, I was given the tools and the challenge to be creative. The program allowed me to open up as an artist and use different mediums to convey thoughts, emotions, and/or physical hardships or pleasures.
The interactions with the staff and other participants involved in The Art Project, Houston is an experience I'll never forget. There is genuine love in abundance. There is virtually no selfishness; it's about giving, helping, guiding, and encouraging others to be better than they themselves think possible.
I am most grateful for the life lesson that it's okay to give of oneself to those less fortunate. I'm also grateful for the lesson that art is not defined and definite, that it's okay to paint outside the lines."
The fatigue factor was probably the worst aspect of being homeless. There is so little rest to be had. Homeless people are constantly shoed away from anywhere that they could possibly relax and get away from the elements. Homeless shelters, while stretched to their limits, allow little relaxation for the homeless to get away from the day's heat or cold. Because of the hours of operation, there is so much time spent waiting in lines for various things, there is little time to actually rest. Once you are bedded down it is late and then you've got to get up early to start the process all over.
I found out about Bread of Life through another homeless man. He told me of a place where food, showers, and a place to sleep were available. My impressions of the Bread of Life were positive, and admittedly, one of the most influential times of my life. I learned that it's okay to give of oneself. Whether the giving is money, time, possessions, or life's insights, giving to others makes you feel good about yourself.
The Art Project, Houston was WONDERFUL! The program, while probably not for everyone, offered me an artistic release. From the directors to the volunteers, I was given the tools and the challenge to be creative. The program allowed me to open up as an artist and use different mediums to convey thoughts, emotions, and/or physical hardships or pleasures.
The interactions with the staff and other participants involved in The Art Project, Houston is an experience I'll never forget. There is genuine love in abundance. There is virtually no selfishness; it's about giving, helping, guiding, and encouraging others to be better than they themselves think possible.
I am most grateful for the life lesson that it's okay to give of oneself to those less fortunate. I'm also grateful for the lesson that art is not defined and definite, that it's okay to paint outside the lines."
We celebrate with Solo that he is currently a professional tattoo artist at Big Daddy's Tattoo Studio in Bryan, Texas (814 E. Villa Maria). Solo continues to keep us updated and taps into opportunities Bread of Life offers through TAPH. Solo shares his art to be sold via TAPH as a way of providing support for those who are still in need of the services the Bread of Life offers.
More Glimpses of the Impact:
"People who are homeless spend a lot of time alone and they kind of go into themselves and something has got to bring them out. We have to stay in touch with the world around us and not just turn in. In The Art Project, we get to talk about ourselves. We get to feel like we are a part of something again. When you come to these shelters, you have a very disconnected feeling. You don't feel like you belong to anything, like you are floating. When you come to the Bread of Life and you participate in something, it becomes a part of you and you become a part of it."
Anna J., TAPH Artist and Participant
"We are not in a rich environment; we are in a poor environment. And The Art Project kind of, you know, helps us to keep away from being so depressed about other things. I may not have enough money to go to McDonalds, but when I am doing something, when I am doing art, I feel less depressed."
Ms. Carolyn, TAPH Artist and Participant
"It builds self-esteem. It is a relief from stress. And you never know -- people may find a skill they didn't know they had until they tried."
JR, TAPH Artist and Participant
"I loved doing it. It was a very fun and creative experience. It was a fruitful experience. I am so excited about what I have experienced in this class so far. The creativity, the inner peace I have been experiencing. I am so grateful for this class."
Pastor Paul, TAPH participant and artist reflecting on a Collage Workshop
