PHOENIX — Homelessness is a crisis few people want to look at. But a new film is humanizing the crisis, and shedding light on what life is like for people experiencing homelessness.
One Valley group who spends every week helping homeless people could soon be getting a big financial boost from the film.
The film is called ‘No Address,’ and its creator, Robert Craig, says its spotlighting the humanity behind homelessness. While producing the film, they set out across 20 major U.S. cities including Phoenix, and conducted more than 150 interviews.
Robert Craig Films partnered with Cloud Covered Streets, a local organization offering showers, laundry services and haircuts to homeless people at no cost.
As part of their "Big Five Giveback," the Craig is pledging one million dollars from his foundation and 50% of proceeds from the five productions associated with ‘No Address’ to non-profits around the country, including Cloud Covered Streets.
Cloud Covered Streets Founder, Robert Thornton, said the gift would help with his approximately $400,000 a year he spends in operating costs.
“Definitely the money receive from the Robert Craig Films, the ‘No Address’ movie, will take a lot of stress off of my head,” Thornton said.
Jennifer Stolo, the filmmaker's CEO, said they chose to partner with Robert Thornton’s organization because he’s providing more than showers to homeless. He’s giving them dignity and self-worth.
“He’s helping to show people they care,” Stolo said. “Many times we hear people that are experiencing homeless, they call themselves invisible. We walk by them, we don’t say hi, hello, how are you doing. They’re not there. I think what Robert’s doing is showing they are there. They are human beings. They are a part of our community.”
Thornton is not sure yet how much he and the other organizations like his across the country will receive, but he’s looking forward to finding out.
The film is set to be released summer of 2024 with an associated documentary in the spring. For more information about the project, you can visit their website here.
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