Hobo Salon

Lisa Donato is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hobo Salon is a street-based, pop-up hair salon that provides haircuts and beard trims for Austin's homeless community. A play on the word 'salon', the project invites conversation about the accelerated growth of Austin and collects personal experiences through filmed interviews. (*Interviews are optional.)

On January 12th, 2018, our team of stylists and filmmakers will focus on the homeless & queer population of Austin and surrounding areas. We invite members of the queer community who are currently homeless or have experienced homelessness in the past to get a free haircut and share their personal stories. We will be presenting their stories as part of a performanc art installation for the popular Outsider Fest on February 17th, 2018.

Hobo Salon is working to reclaim the origin of the word 'Hobo' by bringing it back to its roots, meaning Homeward Bound. The Salon explores the complexities of class relations while moving often hidden narratives into the public sphere. It is a place for personal reflection, community discourse, and haircuts.

We need to raise $6,000 for filmmaking expenses, hair stylist equipment and product, homelessness grooming kits, and street permit costs.

ANTHONY - loves listening to nature sound scapes

BRIANA - works with women on the streets with PTSD

FRED - will negotiate any deal for a hot cheeseburger

JOSÉ "You can't put a price tag on good friendship."

JACOB "We are responsible for ourselves and nothing more and nothing less."

This project was inspired by Austin local and hair stylist, Tanya Fleming, when she experienced homelessness in 2015-2016. After a series of medical problems and misfortunate events, Tanya was forced to live on the streets and eventually the Salvation Army. To make ends meet, she carried a basic grooming kit in her fanny pack and gave haircuts on the streets for $10. When her three-month stay at the Salvation Army expired, she found herself trapped by a system loophole that made her apartment search nearly impossible. She didn't have a mental illness, physical disability, or addiction; therefore, she couldn't get shortlisted for low-income housing. Instead, she was put on a waitlist that could take up to two years. For most people, this would put them back on the streets. For people without family and resources, this could be any of us. Luckily, she reunited with family and received just enough help needed to get herself into an affordable apartment. She's been off the street for almost one year and currently works full-time as a Hair Stylist for Ulta Salon.**

TANYA "There are a lot of survivors out here."

The project is led by filmmaker and activist, Lisa Donato and community activists, Heather Nevill and Kate Proietti. The goal is to bring the work to more festivals around the U.S. and raise money for local organizations.