The charity fashion show planned and designed by homeless people

Sonya Levin, 51, lives in Barnet, from where she likes to “shul-hop” around north London. She works as a projects coordinator for Homeless Action in Barnet (HAB), a charity which provides practical day centre services and supported accommodation to people experiencing homelessness in Barnet.

This weekend, HAB is running a fashion show, called “Off The Street”, featuring more than 40 outfits designed by people currently supported by HAB. The show, which will include a clothes sale and a raffle, aims to tell the story of what it means to be homeless in Barnet.

1. What inspired you to get involved with HAB?

When I was growing up, my father was a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, and he really brought his work home with him. We lived alongside lodgers, who, while not his own patients, were just out of rehab. They helped me with my homework and took me swimming before coming home to debate with my father whether Freud had stolen his ideas from the Kabbalah or not.

The spirit and passion for supporting vulnerable people and living in a way that saw no differences between people became natural to me, and I started volunteering at HAB in 2013, setting up an art group, which ran weekly for seven years and where I used ideas which were influenced by my mother, who was an artist.

2. How have the people supported by HAB benefited from helping to organise the fashion show?

They look so energised and proud. I can see the increased confidence and self-esteem which comes from that sense of participation. The fashion show really will showcase the HAB community spirit. Clients often say to us that HAB is not like other places – and we like it like that.

Sonya (centre) with HAB employees Kate Jack (left) and Marcin Nocek (right), looking at some of the outfits for the fashion show (photo: courtesy)

[Missing Credit]Sonya (centre) with HAB employees Kate Jack (left) and Marcin Nocek (right), looking at some of the outfits for the fashion show (photo: courtesy)

3. What should the audience at the fashion show expect to see?

We will have 15 models on the catwalk wearing garments designed and created by people who are supported by the charity, and our CEO will also be participating as a model! All the materials we used for the items are reclaimed and repurposed – nothing was allowed to be purchased. We are showcasing a poncho made from a blow-up mattress and a dress from a silver emergency blanket, for example. We even have a longstanding client selling greeting cards he has designed, using watercolours, and then printed.

4. Does being Jewish influence your work at all?

My Jewish identity and values inform my work each day, like the importance of the family, the community, and giving tzedakah. I’m lucky enough to know what it’s like to come from a large warm family and a close-knit community whom I can rely upon in times of need, and I try to recreate that each day for our clients, who may have lost this or not have been so lucky.

5. How can people get involved with HAB?

As well as donations from the community, which we couldn’t run without, there are many ways to become involved with HAB as a volunteer, whatever your skills.

To find out more about HAB and how you can volunteer there, go to habcentre.org or click here

The fashion show is on May 17 at 3pm. For more details and to book tickets, go to: tickettailor.com/events/homelessactioninbarnet/2063128 or click here

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