A monthly resource fair for homeless individuals includes organizations that connect people to housing, health care, employment or food assistance — all stepping stones in the path towards housing stability. 

Among those booths lies a tent enveloping two tables, foldable lawn chairs and a yard game. Instead of pamphlets and sign-up sheets, one table is covered with art supplies: paintbrushes, cups of water, a rainbow of Sharpies and markers. A sign beckons attendees with a surprising line for a homelessness-related gathering:

"Calling all artists!"

The monthslong effort to collect art pieces from people experiencing homelessness is led by the Alliance of Overlooked Neighbors (AON), a group of current and former homeless Wichitans and other advocates who believe lived experience is key to policymaking.

“There’s a lot of conversation about the stigma of homelessness,” said Melisandre Pope, co-chair of AON. “We’re talking about the trash that it creates. We’re talking about the crimes that occur. We’re not talking about the human beings out there.”

Richard Patterson, a member of AON who was homeless for several years, said the art collection has a message for viewers, but it also speaks to the artists themselves. 

“Just because you're on the streets doesn't mean you still don't have talents and other things that you can offer to the community,” Patterson said. “You're still part of a community.”

Shylee Johnson, AON treasurer, said attendees spend more time at their booth than at others, which leads to in-depth conversations.

One person created a piece and then sat with AON for the rest of the fair, eventually taking ownership of a bean bag toss and encouraging others to play. Another attendee talked to an AON co-chair for days prior about how excited he was to make art. One artist remembered how much he loves creating.

“It’s been so long since he drew something. He remembered how he wanted to be an art teacher one day,” Johnson said. 

While resource fairs are beneficial to those who need support, it can be overwhelming to find footing in a convoluted system with its many demands. AON gives artists-in-the-making a chance to take a breath and create  — no strings attached, no paperwork necessary.

The next Project HOPE resource fairs will take place from 9 a.m.-noon on August 21 and September 18 at Breakthrough, 1010 N. Main in Wichita. The last collection opportunity will likely be October 10 at the Homeless Stand Down, a large resource fair for the housing insecure hosted by the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. 

AON is in talks with different venues about making the project a traveling exhibition, and the group is looking for partners to showcase and preserve the work. AON can also collect donations of art supplies such as paint, markers or air-dry clay. Anyone interested in supporting this project can email AON at theaoncoalition@gmail.com.

This story was first shared in our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to get arts & culture news in your inbox.

Stefania Lugli is a reporter for The Journal, published by the Kansas Leadership Center. She focuses on covering issues related to homelessness in Wichita and across Kansas. Her honors include being a national finalist for a Nonprofit News Award in investigative reporting last year and a two-time fellow with the Solutions Journalism Network. The Kansas Press Association also recently named her one of 2025's journalists of the year. 

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