The City of Santa Ana is continuing its commitment to creativity and compassion with the HeART Link pilot arts program a collaborative effort between the Community Development Agency (Arts & Culture Office and Homeless Services Division) and Mercy House.

What is HeART Link?
HeART Link is a 6-month interactive art program hosted at The Link, a 24-hour emergency homeless shelter in Santa Ana. It offers weekly hands-on art workshops for individuals and families experiencing homelessness including men, women, children, and couples to explore creativity, share their stories, and express their humanity.

The program aims to help reduce public misunderstandings about homelessness by creating a space where residents can connect through art. These short-term workshops are designed to be accessible for all ages and skill levels, knowing that shelter residents may rotate in and out of the facility.

Over the past 6 months, The ARTbar/ARTstarters successfully led 24 workshops at The Link, using mindfulness drawing, acrylic painting, and fiber arts to help participants create meaningful individual and group artworks. These pieces are now proudly displayed inside the shelter.