Judy Branfman started taking pictures of the numerous homes, apartments, and bungalows that were being sold, refurbished, and then relisted at a price that was twice or three times higher than before as more and more of her friends and neighbors were unable to afford rental properties in Venice Beach.
At first, Branfman merely had the hazy notion that she ought to be recording the rising issue of housing insecurity and evictions in her cherished west Los Angeles area. The writer and activist bemoaned the gradual loss of Venice’s traditionally bohemian atmosphere in favor of another affluent enclave, as tourists flocked to the well-known boardwalk and Muscle Beach.
As word got out about her photo project, Branfman began holding community meetings earlier this year, allowing locals to talk about their experiences being forced to leave their homes due to evictions and, in some cases, ending up homeless. There were poets who performed. Others used art as a means of self-expression. And the more bookish ones started gathering data on housing and evictions.
“The intention was to highlight the issue and highlight our losses. Branfman stated this week at the exhibition, “You know, make it visual so people would walk in and be a little shocked, and want to do something about it.”
When camps appeared in residential areas and along the beaches during the coronavirus outbreak, Venice became the epicenter of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. In addition, 46,000 people live in the country’s second-largest city who are homeless out of a total population of 4 million, according to the most recent poll.
Being a well-known icon in the city, the boardwalk draws an estimated 10 million tourists annually, making it a flashpoint.
The artist Sumaya Evans refers to the paintings and mixed-media figures on the upstairs as “dignity dolls.” Before she just found shelter, Evans, who spent years living on the streets in Venice, said that making art gave her a sense of value.
As a homeless woman, you become accustomed to being overlooked. When you’re outside, people don’t see you,” the woman remarked. Therefore, taking part in a project like this and becoming a part of the community is really therapeutic.
Branfman and other housing advocates are optimistic that a ballot issue qualified for the 2024 election could bring about change. The ballot measure would increase municipal power by repealing a 28-year-old statute that forbids rent control on single-family homes.
