Number of homeless students in Sacramento County schools jumps 50% plus, Sac Bee, 7/14/11  

Editorial: Litigation isn't the answer to homelessness, Sac Bee, 6/6/11

After ruling, Sacramento must figure how to handle homeless campers' property, by Cynthia Hubert, Sac Bee, 6/6/11 

Would you support a homeless shelter near your home? Online forum about Safe Ground on Facebook

Still no safe ground - by Hugh Biggar and Jimmy Spence, Sacramento News & Review, 4/14/11

Sacramento's nomadic winter shelter deemed a success, but what next?, by Cynthia Hubert, Sac Bee, 4/6/11

Safe Ground supporters hold vigil, call for a state of emergency, by Hossana Paida, Sacramento Press, 3/15/11

Safe Ground offers strength in numbers, but its homeless must move often, by Gina Kim, Sac Bee, 3/5/11

Homeless In Harper's,

Sac News & Review, 3/3/11

Art does many things. It gives us a history of culture. It decorates our homes. It helps the homeless.

This 2nd Saturday, Vox Sacramento art studio is giving back to the community, as well as providing a unique art show called "Home." The studio is asking locals to bring camping equipment, blankets and coats to the exhibit. Items will be used by Safe Ground Sacramento, a homeless advocacy organization supported by a coalition of local non-profits trying to provide a safe, dry and warm solution for local residents without homes. SafeGround supports a self-governed, alcohol, drug and violence free homeless community alternative.

The exhibit features several local artists -- see the poster above to check out their names. Art is available for purchase and some artists will be on hand at the event. The studio is located at 1818 11th St. and the showing is from 5 to 9 pm.

Hobos to Street People: Artists' Responses to Homelessness from the New Deal to the Present is a traveling art exhibit that began in San Francisco in 2008. Currently the exhibit is on view through December 4, 2011 at the de Saisset Museum Santa Clara University. Art Hazelwood, who is both curator and one of the artists, wrote a book by the same name, which includes many of the wonderful works of art from the exhibit.

On October 26, 2011, Safe Ground Sacramento cosponsored a book-signing event at Time Tested Books in Sacramento. Art Hazelwood came up from his home in San Francisco and gave a slideshow presentation of the artwork from the book. Also present was a local photographer featured in the book, Francisco Fernandez. Steve Watters from Safe Ground, Sonny Iverson from Wind Youth Services and two homeless youth spoke before the presentation.

Art took us through the history of homelessness from the 1930's to the present. I found interesting that in the earlier years, artists most often depicted poor and homeless people as a noble and dignified people, and often in larger groups, conveying a systemic cause of poverty. He showed examples of more modern artwork that most often depicted homeless people alone and in undignified poses, conveying homelessness as an individual's fault. There was a great deal of artwork commissioned by the Federal Government during the years of the New Deal in an effort to employ artists, which resulted in a large infusion of artwork depicting the times and circumstances in which the artists lived, in a time of extreme poverty.

The book-signing event was well attended and, though the event was free, a collection was taken at the end to help pay for Mr. Hazelwood's transportation with the remainder going to Safe Ground. Most of the books Time Tested Books ordered ended up being sold, but there may still be some left if you'd like to purchase the book. They are located at 1114 21st Street in Sacramento. If they are out, you can order a copy at www.freedomvoices.org

Sleeping Bags

Backpacks 

Scarves

Gloves

Long Johns (thermal underwear)

Hand Warmers  (like hunters use)