Real Street: People's Perspective, Photo Project

Aim: We're working with people who are homeless, using photography as a tool to view their surrounding environment from a different perspective

We are Real Streets: People's Perspectives

Our aim is to try to give people who are having to live on Bristol's streets, a camera so that they have a tool to be able to share and find a different perspective on their surroundings and hopefully recontextualize and empower some locations that otherwise are seen as negative. 

A way to escape, a new lens to look through, a way to be seen.

We want to help people be able to have a way to have a voice to share their views and experiences and show their real day-to-day lives- that are so overlooked and often ignored. How many times have you walked past someone sleeping on the street? Have you ever stopped and thought of their perspective? How many times have you stopped and talked to someone? Many people do understand that being homeless must be difficult, but few really emphasis with the extent of the every day unseen struggles and how near impossible it is to break or escape it. 

We are working with people who are homeless and want to be part of this project by:

• Giving them a disposable film camera (we are working with local businesses to provide drop off points throughout town) 
• We will develop, scan and print their photographs for them and make a photobook zine they can keep
• Give workshops so they can use their photos to create more art and prints from them- helping them learn new skills, providing a space for them to be creative and a giving them a safe community 
• Hold an exhibition for the public to view and buy the photographs and art; and talk to the photographers with their perspective being on full view and impossible to ignore
• All money made from their work will be given back to them and will remain on sale in various places

There are misconceptions around the reality of homelessness in the UK.

Shelter is part of survival- anyone without it is in survival mode- which can be a catastrophic catalyst to anyones mental health. 

The real situation in Bristol (and the UK) for people who can't afford to rent or buy is pretty scary and helpless: with the fastest rent increases since records began this year and the Tories' seemingly endless pursuit to rinse every penny from the public purses- let's not forget their manifesto promise to end rough sleeping by 2024:

• The number of households living in temporary accommodation in England are at an all-time high. As of March 2023, 104,510 households were living in temporary accommodation, including 65,000 households with children. 
• Nearly one in three people die from treatable conditions, according to a 2019 University College London study. 1,313 deaths were reported across the UK in 2022 – that represented a 2% rise compared to 2021 when 1,286 people died.
• Due to lack of funds councils are ending some homelessness duties and often find loopholes where they don't legally need to help someone
• There were 39% fewer accommodation providers and 26% fewer bed spaces for people experiencing homelessness in England in 2021 compared to 2010 with funding cited as one of the main reasons for the decline.
• There has been (on average) a LOSS of 24,000 social homes EACH YEAR since 1991 and the waiting list for social housing is so long in most council are that some people will never get off it in their life.

Homelessness experts, charities and organisations propose plenty of changes to how society operates to end homelessness for good. That includes tackling drivers of homelessness evictions from private rental homes, benefits that don’t keep pace with inflation and unaffordable housing. Read some solutions here

Power to the people: we can make change together.