Where Home Never Was

Rain Herbert, Aline Argeta, Arielle Busby | United States | 2024 | 08:41 mins

 

 

About Where Home Never Was

SYNOPSIS

“Where Home Never Was” chronicles the lived experiences of Arielle Busby and her mother, whose lives are upended by homelessness. As mother and daughter confront the systemic barriers and personal challenges of homelessness, their story unfolds with raw honesty and emotional depth. 

After losing their home, they struggle to maintain their bond while navigating the harsh realities of life on the streets. The film follows their journey as they seek stability and support from a network of dedicated professionals—social workers, counselors, and advocates—who provide crucial assistance and hope. Through their struggles and the tireless efforts of those who stand by them, “Where Home Never Was” offers a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative impact of compassion and community support.

 

CREDITS
Director: Rain Herbert
Audio: Aline Argueta
Lighting: Arielle Busby
Producer: Nakisha Celistan
Editor: Rasheena J. Nash

 


MISSION

By showcasing the resilience of those affected and the critical role of dedicated professionals, “Where Home Never Was” aims to inspire systemic change and build a society where everyone can find a place to call home. Through our film, we strive to ignite a movement towards equity, empathy, and effective solutions for homelessness.

 

VISION

Our vision for “Where Home Never Was” is to contribute to the compassion we need in the world so that every individual and family has access to the stability and support they need to thrive. We envision a future where the human stories behind homelessness are understood and addressed with a narrative of resilience, the importance of community support, and the pursuit of a place to call home. The film shines a light on the human side of homelessness, fostering understanding and inspiring action for change and urgency. 

 

 

About the Filmmakers

Rain Herbert
Rain Herbert - Where Home Never Was

Rain is a 16-year-old student living in South Central LA. She is a rising senior at Viewpoint School, where over the years of her high school career she has learned the art and power of what it means to use our voices as women. Before this program, she never realized how her experience as a woman impacted the amount of spaces that were available to her, and how people would try to undermine her power because it was never previously claimed. From being a Girl Scout for the past nine years, volunteering at UniCorps, joining Speech & Debate, and learning how to express herself confidently through dancing, she has become passionate about expression and confidence as a part of who she is.

 

Aline Argueta
Aline Argueta - Where Home Never Was

Aline is a rising junior at the Seed School of Los Angeles County. She has always been interested in social justice and advocacy. She loves to cook and listen to music. She is a student ambassador for her school, so she’s always on the move leading tours for her school, especially for parents who only speak Spanish. She is also on the leadership team where she helps the teachers and advocates for the changes that the student body hopes to see. She volunteers at a non-profit called LATU (Los Angeles Tenant Union) and does outreach and community cleanup with the Westlake neighbor council. She chose to do Girls’ Voices Now to help her use her voice to advocate for social issues she believes in through the medium of filmmaking. She plans to pursue a degree in neuroscience because she has always wanted to accomplish that and have a career as a neuroscientist. Not only does she want to help people individually, she hopes to solve problems on a wider scale.

 

Nick Busby
Nick Busby - Where Home Never Was

Nick is a sophomore at Alexander Hamilton Senior High School. She grew up in a African-American household of eight and film has always been a big part of their self expression. Through film, she has been able to connect with characters and understand how they feel. She plans to go to a four-year college, majoring in film and minoring in women’s studies. After college, they want to pursue directing. As an African-American, they hope to encourage not only more women to join the film industry but more women of color to change the effects media has on Black women. She joined Girls’ Voices Now because she believes that it will help her grow out of her reserved shell and help her gain experience.

 

 

Action Kit

Questions to ask before screening the film:

  • What are some key areas where minority communities often face systemic denial or lack of access, and how do these issues impact their overall well-being?

 

In “Where Home Never Was”, minority communities, particularly in areas like Skid Row, are often denied access to basic necessities such as affordable housing, quality healthcare, and adequate social services. They may also face barriers to educational opportunities, employment, and legal support. These denials are compounded by systemic inequalities that perpetuate cycles of poverty and instability. The film highlights how these denied resources impact individuals and families, underscoring the urgent need for equitable access and support.

  • How do our societal structures allow for the continuous denial of resources for minority communities?

Through a combination of systemic neglect and policy shortcomings, our societal structure perpetuates and reinforces systems of oppression that disproportionately harm minority groups. Structural issues such as inadequate funding for social programs, discriminatory practices, and a lack of political will contribute to the ongoing marginalization of these communities. Additionally, societal attitudes and stigmas can perpetuate the invisibility of their struggles, making it easier for systemic issues to remain unaddressed. The film aims to expose these systemic failures and challenge viewers to confront and address the root causes of these inequities.

  • Have you seen examples in which minority individuals/communities have been denied access to resources or opportunities?

“Where Home Never Was” provides a poignant example of how women of color face significant barriers to access. Their experiences as brown women underscore their struggle with homelessness in Skid Row, illustrating the broader issue of inaccessible stable housing, healthcare, and other critical services. The film also highlights the role of professionals working to bridge these gaps and provide support, emphasizing both the challenges and the efforts to address denied accessibility. This personal story exemplifies the systemic issues and the need for more comprehensive solutions.

 

Questions to ask after screening the film:

  • How did the film’s portrayal of homelessness and the search for resources impact your understanding of the issues faced by the individuals featured?
  • Which aspect of the film resonated most with you, and why?
  • In the film, Arielle mentions feeling invisible while experiencing homelessness. How do societal structures of inaccessibility contribute to this feeling of invisibility, and how does showcasing personal stories, such as Arielle’s, combat this experience?
  • Which scene or element of the film had the most emotional impact on you, and what made it stand out?
  • What would our world look like if everybody had a place to call home?

 

Calls to Action:

 

  • Donate to the Midnight Mission, an organization included in our film and volunteer there!
  • Donate to Women’s LA Mission, another organization included in our film.
  • Share a link to our film on social media through Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube.
  • Sign this petition to alleviate unhousing in Los Angeles.
  • Humanize unhoused people and sympathize with them as more than lazy people. Dig deeper and realize the issue at hand. In no world should anyone fear for their safety or health because they don’t have a place to sleep at night.

 

NEWSLETTER / SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

SOCIAL MEDIA CAPTION:

Where Home Never Was is more than a film—it’s a powerful journey into the heart of homelessness, told through the eyes of a mother and daughter seeking stability. 🌟 Join us as we explore their story and the vital support from dedicated professionals that helps them find hope and resilience. Get a glimpse into their world and discover how we can all contribute to a future where everyone has a place to call home. 🏠✨ #WhereHomeNeverWas #DocumentaryFilm #EndHomelessness #SupportAndHope. A film by Rain Herbert, Aline Argueta, and Arielle Busby of the 2024 Girls’ Voices Now cohort. @womens_voices_now

 

Watch, learn, and discuss “Where Home Never Was” at our next screening with Women’s Voices Now on September 5th at Mount Saint Mary’s University. Register today: _________

 

Interested in screening the film? Reach out to

 

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