What do you picture when you think of a fashion show?
If you’re anything like us, what probably comes to mind are expensive clothes, supermodels and celebrity guests. Although the general stereotype of fashion shows is that they are only for the culturally elite or the wealthy, these events can also be a way to raise awareness or money for important events. That’s exactly what one fashion show in New York City set out to do, with an added twist.
Instead of just raising money for homeless women, the show actually put the women themselves on the runway as models.
The event was the 5th Annual Health Empowered Beauty Fashion Show hosted by Care for the Homeless, a non-profit organization.
The fashion show was thrown in conjunction with Susan’s Place, a 200-bed homeless shelter in the Bronx. Organizers found sponsors for the event and put it on at The Mezzanine, a high-end event space in the city’s financial district. This year’s show was a huge success, raising more than $16,000 for the girls—though next year they’re hoping to increase that number to $60,000.
Still, the event wouldn’t have been possible without the women themselves as models.
In addition to transforming these women’s live through the counseling and housing services at the charity, the event was designed to literally transform them as well. According to Kristina Reed, a former Susan’s Place resident, the show is a way of painting homeless women in a new light:
“What I hope is gained from the fashion show is that more people take homelessness as a really important issue, because nobody asks for this.”
For at least one day, 16 homeless women were able to show off on the runway for the cameras—with the help of some professional stylists.
To date, Susan’s Place has helped more than 900 women find permanent housing and get back on their feet. All the funds from the fashion show and events like it go to getting these women medical and mental healthcare to get them stable once again. While this event was a success, homelessness in major city remains a serious problem in many major cities across America.
If you were inspired by this story, consider donating to Care for the Homeless so that all of their clients can get the help they need.
Congratulations to all the women who participated!
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