aya Por Vida holds a monthly outreach for people experiencing housing insecurity in Overtown and Downtown Miami. During this outreach, we provide food, Infectious Disease Prevention and Education care kits, community resources, Narcan, and overdose prevention education. We also offer Art as Healing sessions.

People experiencing housing insecurity rarely have access to healing programs created to meet them where they are. Substance use disorder and other mental health challenges can make it difficult to find and maintain stable housing.

​

By building trusting relationships, we learned that providing more than food and care kits can help support the next step in recovery. Our Street Edition program is a little different. We use quick art techniques inspired by street art. Because many participants are often on the move, we give them a safe space to slow down, breathe, rest, and create a small tag or drawing that helps them reflect and recharge.

​

These sessions have led to more open conversations about participants’ challenges, improved moods, and greater curiosity about moving forward in recovery. Art as Healing Street Edition also gives our volunteers an opportunity to connect more closely with participants while creating their own healing art.