Our Impact
Our guests are a population that undoubtedly remains underserved in our current social, political, and economic climate. They navigate their day-to-day feeling unheard by the world. We make it our mission to ensure our guests feel heard, acknowledged, seen, and respected.
We give our guests the space and materials to create art through various mediums where they showcase their creativity that would otherwise go unrecognized. All of our workshops range from being a space with a variety of artist grade materials open for experimentation by our guests to focused workshops teaching particular skills in a variety of mediums.
The arts are meant to mitigate common inequalities by uplifting our guest’s self-expression and healing. In its various forms, the arts are a method of storytelling that demands the artist's story, heart, and soul be heard, known, and remembered and it is our mission to ensure that every guest in our space is honored and heard.
Houselessness in New York City
What is housing insecurity?
New York saw a 53% increase in housing insecurity in 2024. Housing insecurity encompasses a range of unstable living situations, including the inability to pay rent, frequent moves, living in overcrowded conditions, and facing the threat of eviction or homelessness. It extends beyond simply lacking a home and includes precarious arrangements such as couch surfing, doubling up with other families, and residing in temporary shelters. This issue is often compounded by economic inequality, job instability, rising rent prices, and systemic racism, all of which disproportionately affect marginalized communities. People experiencing housing insecurity often face significant barriers to accessing stable education, healthcare, and employment, creating cycles of hardship that are difficult to break.
In New York City, housing insecurity is exacerbated by a severe shortage of affordable housing and an ever-increasing cost of living. The city's shelter system consistently operates at or near capacity, with tens of thousands of individuals, including many families with children, relying on temporary accommodations. Migrants and undocumented individuals, often ineligible for government assistance, are particularly vulnerable. In addition to those living in shelters, countless others reside in overcrowded apartments or substandard housing conditions that pose health and safety risks. Efforts to address this crisis must consider long-term solutions, such as expanding affordable housing stock, enacting tenant protection laws, and providing robust social services to assist those navigating these precarious living situations.