By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — To fight the stigma associated with homelessness, students at University of the Arts teamed up with artists from a nearby shelter to create an exhibit titled “Our Voice, Our Art, Our Home.”

“We have included acrylic paintings and oil paintings, one sculpture piece, photography work,” says student artist Camille Sassano.

Sassano says the exhibit tells the story of homelessness in Center City. She says artists from the University of the Arts spent time with individuals at Breaking Bread, a weekly meal program provided by Broad Street Ministries.

“On Thursdays, individuals come in to share their stories.”

University of the Arts student Claire Kalala painted one of the pieces titled, “Ms Betty’s Shoes,” which was inspired by a homeless woman named Betty, who spoke about her botanist aunt.

“She said when her father passed away, his shoes were mailed to the aunt’s house. And she planted flowers in the shoes sort of in his honor, to commemorate his life.  To me, that was beautiful and inspiring.”

The free exhibit is on display at Gershman Hall in Center City through Friday.