The seaside city of Ventura, California is crowded with folks down on their luck, sleeping on benches, and begging for money. This is a sad nuisance that troubles nearly every city in the world. But what if the homeless of Ventura were given an alternative in life? In the art Mecca that is Ventura, an eclectic group of artists offer their space and instruction to the unfortunate in hopes of diverting their efforts from panhandling to creating art and music. This local artistic community provides a nearly endless array of mediums, allowing the homeless to express themselves through art in whichever way they choose, believing creativity and self-expression to be the best forms of therapy for stimulating their lives for a better future. - - -If you would like more information, or are interested in helping to advance this project, please contact info@theartshelter.com.