Why Art Therapy Matters for the Men We Serve

This Spring, we launched a new partnership with the Open Studio Project, an Evanston-based art therapy group that has worked with people experiencing homelessness for many years. What they set out to create at North Side Housing was simple but powerful: a space where men can make art, build trust, and feel seen.

“You do not have to have any connection to art to get meaning out of it. That is what makes it so effective for people who have experienced trauma,” said Rob Lentz, Executive Director. “It gets people in the same room doing the same thing, and that builds connection.”

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Art therapy sessions at the shelter are intentionally casual. Participation is voluntary, the atmosphere is welcoming, and there is no pressure to create a “finished” product. One of our regular facilitators, Erik, shared, “One of the men started talking as soon as he picked up a paintbrush. He just opened up. They are around people all the time, but rarely does someone sit with them, talk with them, and get to know them.”

Emma, an Art Therapist and Program Manager at the Open Studio Project, reflected on her experience thus far, “No matter what was going on in the shelter, clients are able to be in their own world creating art. One client even drew a portrait of me and signed it. It is hanging in my home.”

Rob Lentz creating art with clients and staff at our Rogers Park Shelter

The magic of these sessions is not simply the artwork. It is the trust that builds over time. It is the shared laughter. It is the feeling of being treated like a whole person. It is a reminder that healing does not always start with words.

“Art gives people a way to express things they do not have words for, especially when trauma is part of the story,” Rob explained. “We work with whoever shows up, no matter where they are coming from physically or emotionally.” Over the next year, The Open Studio Project hopes to deepen this partnership, build more consistency, and create even more opportunities for men to explore art as a tool for stability and well-being.

As we head into the GivingTuesday season, we are reminded of how important community partnerships like this are to the men we serve.

Every donation from now through Giving Tuesday will be doubled up to $20,000. Your gift helps sustain programs like art therapy, provides shelter and meals, and helps men find stability and housing.

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