[vrba44070]

I write a blog about an art workshop I offer at a drop-in center that serves mentally ill people. Half of them are homeless and they sleep at the drop-in center during the day because it's too dangerous for them to sleep at night. A woman who usually sleeps there couldn't that particular day so she spoke to me about how hard it is to get sleep when you're homeless.
No one did any art that day, but usually they color pictures I've copied from adult coloring books or downloaded from the internet. I originally wanted them to make collages, but they would rather color because choosing images out of magazines and deciding where to glue the images on the paper is too overwhelming for them.
Does anyone else have a drop-in center or some kind of day program for the mentally ill in their area?
I always leave there feeling grateful for what I have. The blog is called Word Salad Word. Word salad is a term used to describe incoherent speech during a psychotic state.

[Nammu]

When I lived in Albuquerque I worked at a homeless drop in center for any homeless person. It was geared specifically for art. It was part of the Health Care for the Homeless unit and called Artstreet. It was run by an Art therapist who was mentoring me to get into the art therapy program at the UNM. Unfortunately they dropped that program even though thousands of people applied every year for a small number of openings. Last time I checked Artstreet was still up and running but under a new person.

Where I live now does have a drop in center but I don't know much about it.

[shezbut]

Rochester Homeless Shelters and Services - Rochester MN Homeless Shelters - Rochester Minnesota Homeless Shelters

I am not currently able to devote any time to my local shelters, but I used to enjoy volunteering at a soup kitchen. Once a week, I'd go downtown cook and serve the homeless people that waited. Almost every one was so nice and thankful, it really was enjoyable! I would do it all again if I could. I'll have to look into that for my new area.