A series of canvases created by Edmonton's homeless is on display at city hall. (CBC)Edmonton's city hall is home to a new art project called Street Speak. It's a collection of nine paintings that represent the voices of the homeless in words, doodles, pictures and symbols.

"The project is special to all of us as a group in I-Pulse because it helps us to view life in a different form," said Josh Nisar, a member of the youth group that organized the exhibit.

"There's people out there who have absolutely nothing, they're homeless yet they're happy, they have talent, they have certain talents, they have certain personalities that go unnoticed."

Youth behind the project say the paintings changed people's perspective on homelessness. (CBC)The group took the canvases to different community agencies, where clients were invited to add their perspectives to the mix. The project was supported by the City of Edmonton Youth Council.

"Learn from the young," said Mayor Stephen Mandel. "That will without question teach you that homelessness is not a disease, it's a product of society that we have to work with and change."

For the young people involved, the art project was an opportunity to connect personally with the homeless and begin to understand.

"I really met these people and I thought, 'you know what? It's not their fault,'" said Tiffany Dang. "It's the circumstance, they're just victims of their own circumstances."

The murals will be on display in the main level of city hall until Feb. 27.