These Artists Hand-Paint Beautiful Signs For Homeless People

Boston-based artists Kenji Nakayama and Christopher Hope conduct interviews and make signs as part of their Signs for the Homeless project.

Signs for the Homeless is "an exchange project...a sign in exchange for donations and a hand painted sign."

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Angela Douyon-Previlon

Kenji Nakayama and Christopher Hope trade old signs for reimagined ones in bright, clean colors. They preserve the signs' original wording.

They also conduct interviews and give each subject a chance to tell his or her story.

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Susan, 46, describes the struggle that is facing the stigma of homelessness: "One of my sisters saw me out in the streets in Harvard Square three times and did not say anything to me. It hurts a lot because I have always looked out for my family and no one is helping us."

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Alberto, who came from Providence, says, "Boston is a better place for homeless."

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"I sleep outside because the shelters are nothing but stomping grounds for predators and thieves," says Bobbi, 52. "I get attacked in the shelter. My things get stolen in the shelters in Boston. So I’ve decided to stay outside."

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Jimmy Sunshine, 31

Follow or contribute to the project at Signs for the Homeless.

h/t Neatorama