Conversation with Corina Gamma, Los Angeles, 2002

The conversation with Corina Gamma centers on her experiences working at the Downtown Women's Center, which provides help for unhoused women. The center prioritizes immediate needs such as showers and laundry, but it also has an art program. Gamma describes how the program has evolved to include photography: “Involving the women’s photographs and poetry was a great way to integrate their lives.”

Gamma reflects on the diverse talents of the women artists involved, noting that many choose unconventional paths because of limited resources: “Every year, we have an open house where we sell various artworks created by the women.” Gamma explains that many of the women have experienced trauma, including abuse, and some prefer living outside shelters due to restrictive rules and a lack of personal space. “They have a strong community here, a bond that keeps people together.” She explains how The Downtown Women's Center was established with input from unhoused women to provide a safe and welcoming environment.

Gamma shares how she first came to the center thanks to a friend’s invitation and gradually became more involved through various printmaking workshops. The nomadic lifestyle of the women she works with demands resilience and strength. “What if you’re constantly pushed and have to move on all the time?” Gamma highlights the inadequacy of government support for those facing mental health challenges, noting that many women receive only $225 monthly, far below the $2,000 typically needed for rent. While single-room occupancy hotels are somewhat affordable, they remain insufficient for long-term stability. This reality contributes to a broader housing crisis fueled by exploitative landlords.

Gamma explains how her video project aims to give a voice to unhoused women: “The women participating in the video are thrilled because there’s not enough being done in this area... Homelessness alone is a problem, and being a woman in that environment is very challenging... Mainstream TV would never provide a voice for homeless women… There’s a lot of censorship, so I thought about doing a video project that’s totally unedited… I try to keep it [as] their voice, not my own interpretation.” Gamma emphasizes the importance of trust in her work to avoid exploitation. “And I think that's where the feminism comes in. Because there's a lot of things I wouldn't share with a man… That’s what I see, that there's a lot of bonding going on here.”