Introducing “Voices from the Street Sanctuary”

Last week, we shared that our community was recently featured in The Progressive. The response from readers and contributors alike was so thoughtful, powerful and deeply engaged that we knew the project could not end there.

We’re excited to announce that Blue Hollywood Street Sanctuary (BHSS) has received a grant from the California Department of Health Care Services via the Unshame California campaign to continue amplifying the voices and experiences of people at the heart of conversations surrounding substance use disorder and its associated challenges. 

“Voices from the Street Sanctuary” will spotlight personal narratives from individuals deeply rooted in the Skid Row neighborhood and BHSS family. Through a collaborative writing and editing process, community members will be empowered to author their own stories in their own words. As this work begins, we already see the potential for profound and lasting impact — not only within participants themselves, as storytelling and reflection create opportunities for processing, connection and catharsis, but also among broader audiences invited to engage in often-politicized issues through intimate and deeply human perspectives.

It is our hope that these narratives will illuminate the beauty, complexity and depth of our community, foster meaningful empathy and understanding, and challenge mainstream perspectives about what it means to have lived and living experience of substance use. We believe there are no better teachers than those who have walked the path themselves.

So stay tuned. We’re honored and excited to begin sharing this new series with you.

This project is supported by the Unshame CA campaign, funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) through a grant administered by Shatterproof.