MyLondon homeless project goes global on World Homeless Day

Simultaneous photography exhibitions by people affected by homelessness are being held in London, Sydney, New Orleans and Budapest on World Homeless Day - Monday 10 October.

All the photos in the exhibitions come from single-use cameras given to people affected by homelessness. Around 100 people in each city were given single-use cameras and asked to take photos of their city. The results are personal and very beautiful. Each city is producing a 2017 calendar, featuring the photos and the stories from the people who took them.

Cafe Art in London launch the MyLondon 2017 calendar at Spitalfields Arts Market at 1pm on Monday. In the evening they will connect with the Budapest project by Skype, where the Budapest Bike Maffia, an organisation that give food to homeless people, are launching the MyBudapest 2017 calendar.

Paul Ryan from Cafe Art in London said the main focus of the project was to empower people affected by homelessness though photography. "People gain new skills - not only in photography but in connecting with the outside world. Many people have lost a lot of confidence because of their experience being homeless and this is an attempt to give them something positive to focus on."

The MySydney project is run by Cafe Art Australia and is now in it's second year. Like Cafe Art in London, they are working with local people. Michael Allwright says: "We're not here to 'change the world' but what we are here to do is to amplify voices of those people who are so often unheard from in society." The Sydney exhibition was launched a week ago at Lentil as Anything, Newtown, Sydney.

The MyNew Orleans project is also preparing to print a 2017 calendar to raise funds. They also have an event on Monday evening.

On Monday evening MyLondon at Qbic Hotel, 42 Adler Street, London E1 1EE (5.30-7.30) will link with MyNew Orleans by Skype as both of their city's calendars are launched on the same day, World Homeless Day. The Budapest event is at Fuga. The linkup will happen at 7pm.