Telling the Stories Behind Homelessness Through Art

On August 29, 2026, Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC) had the opportunity to bring the experiences and stories of local people experiencing homelessness into the spotlight through a special art show and film screening at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts.

The centerpiece of the evening was an art project that grew out of TCCC’s mobile shower and laundry programs. While clients waited for a shower or for their laundry, volunteer Lynne Millar encouraged them to create artwork and write down thoughts about their experiences. The project gave people a chance to be creative while also sharing perspectives that are often overlooked.

Local photographer Casey Goodall became involved in the project and photographed about 20 people who volunteered to have their portraits taken. Six of those portraits were displayed at the event alongside artwork and written statements created by people who participated in TCCC’s programs.

For TCCC Executive Director Carrie Grover, the project was about more than creating something beautiful. It was an opportunity for people to feel seen and valued.

“What it really did was give them a sense that they were important, that they matter, that people care about them.”

That message was reflected in the portraits themselves. Goodall described the experience of photographing people and talking with them as surprisingly familiar and positive, much like being at a family gathering and simply getting to know people through conversation.

The artwork also showed how creativity can provide a meaningful outlet during difficult circumstances. TCCC chaplain and shower attendant Nathan Arbuckle shared the story of a man who had recently been hit by a car while riding his bicycle. When invited to create something, he chose to draw a guitar, something he was passionate about. For someone going through a difficult period, that simple opportunity to create became an uplifting experience.

The evening also highlighted what can happen when people have access to support, compassion, and opportunities to move forward. Grover shared the story of one woman featured in the project who had experienced homelessness in Tracy and had stayed in contact with TCCC. About two years ago, she decided to get sober. Today, she has a home in Stockton with her partner, works full-time, and helps care for her children and grandchildren. She now encourages others to pursue sobriety, housing, and employment.

Her story is an important reminder that homelessness is not the entirety of someone’s story. People can experience homelessness and later find stability, reconnect with family, build careers, and become sources of encouragement for others.

The art show also included a screening of No Address, a 2025 film about people experiencing homelessness and the circumstances that led them there. TCCC was one of the homeless service providers selected to receive proceeds from screenings of the film, and the organization was also given permission to show it for free in a group setting.

At TCCC, our work begins with meeting people where they are. Sometimes that means providing a shower or a place to do laundry. Sometimes it means connecting someone with housing, employment, healthcare, or other resources. And sometimes, it means giving someone a camera, a pencil, or a piece of paper and the opportunity to tell their story.

The art show offered our community a chance to see homelessness through a different lens that recognizes the people behind the circumstances and the dignity, creativity, and potential that every person carries with them.