WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Hey, everyone. Welcome to the show. Glad to be 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:06.879 here. So think about this for a second. Working 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:09.740 your fingers to the bone, playing by all the 00:00:09.740 --> 00:00:13.060 rules society sets out, and still, maybe tonight, 00:00:13.259 --> 00:00:15.800 you don't have a safe place to actually sleep. 00:00:15.980 --> 00:00:18.120 Yeah, it's a really tough thought. And it's not 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:21.800 some dystopian fantasy. It's the quiet, often 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:24.420 unseen reality for, well, a growing number of 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:26.679 people right here in America. What's particularly 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:29.339 unsettling, I think, is how this struggle is 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:31.960 happening in our own communities, often hidden 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.020 right in plain sight. It really forces us to 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:39.060 rethink what we thought we knew about who experiences 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:42.929 homelessness and why. Absolutely. And this deep 00:00:42.929 --> 00:00:45.009 dive into Brian Goldstone's There's No Place 00:00:45.009 --> 00:00:47.170 for Us, it actually comes as a direct request 00:00:47.170 --> 00:00:49.810 from our friend Celestial Circle Dance over on 00:00:49.810 --> 00:00:52.189 YouTube. So shout out to you. Oh, cool. Yeah, 00:00:52.289 --> 00:00:54.509 it's a great suggestion. It really is. This book, 00:00:54.549 --> 00:00:57.490 it's a powerful piece of contemporary social 00:00:57.490 --> 00:01:00.329 commentary, really ethical journalism. It dives 00:01:00.329 --> 00:01:02.570 deep into those hidden realities of working homelessness 00:01:02.570 --> 00:01:05.939 in America. And hey. If this topic sparks your 00:01:05.939 --> 00:01:08.319 interest, if it resonates, please hit that like 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.579 button and subscribe for more in -depth analyses 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:13.540 like this one. We'd really appreciate it. Goldstone 00:01:13.540 --> 00:01:15.680 has definitely crafted something impactful here. 00:01:15.939 --> 00:01:19.079 Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove mentions in the foreword, 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.400 you know, that it's a book really poised to shift 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.659 the national conversation. Yeah, I felt that, 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:26.150 too. And you can find a link to grab your own 00:01:26.150 --> 00:01:29.010 copy of There Is No Place For Us on Amazon. It's 00:01:29.010 --> 00:01:31.329 right there in the description below. Good. What's 00:01:31.329 --> 00:01:33.230 so compelling, I think, about Goldstone's work 00:01:33.230 --> 00:01:35.569 is how it peels back the layers of the stories 00:01:35.569 --> 00:01:38.450 we tell ourselves, you know, about work, about 00:01:38.450 --> 00:01:41.209 housing. It pushes us to really examine what 00:01:41.209 --> 00:01:43.849 homelessness even means today. Exactly. We'll 00:01:43.849 --> 00:01:47.189 be pulling directly from his. compelling journalistic 00:01:47.189 --> 00:01:49.849 accounts and his insightful analysis, looking 00:01:49.849 --> 00:01:52.450 at individuals and families grappling with housing 00:01:52.450 --> 00:01:55.569 insecurity, with homelessness. And Rachel Aviv 00:01:55.569 --> 00:01:58.090 notes this in her forward, too, how his approach 00:01:58.090 --> 00:02:03.489 embodies this really deeply empathetic and ethical 00:02:03.489 --> 00:02:06.250 way of bearing witness to these struggles. It's 00:02:06.250 --> 00:02:08.169 not just about the numbers. Not at all. And the 00:02:08.169 --> 00:02:09.909 way Goldstone structured the book is also quite 00:02:09.909 --> 00:02:12.169 telling, I found. The progression through those 00:02:12.169 --> 00:02:15.780 sections. equilibrium storm possibility rupture 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:19.060 and then the new american homeless it really 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:21.599 guides you through understanding how these seemingly 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:24.860 stable situations can just unravel right how 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:28.520 you get from equilibrium to well rupture. Precisely 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:30.919 how people end up in such precarious circumstances. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:33.520 Exactly. So our goal, our mission in this deep 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.659 dive is to really get under the skin of this 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:39.039 issue of working homelessness, just as Goldstone 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:41.560 presents it. OK. We want to unpack those underlying 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:44.379 systemic factors at play and maybe most importantly, 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:46.819 bring to the forefront the very human stories 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:48.979 that so often get lost behind the statistics. 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:52.259 OK, let's really get into this then. The core 00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:54.680 argument that just jumps out from Goldstone's 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:58.259 work is this significant and growing number of 00:02:58.259 --> 00:03:00.539 individuals and families who are actively working 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:04.300 but still find themselves without a stable home. 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:07.000 This isn't about a lack of effort or, you know, 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:08.979 some detachment from the world of work. It's 00:03:08.979 --> 00:03:11.180 different. That's such a crucial point, isn't 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:13.719 it? Goldstone is really challenging that older, 00:03:13.900 --> 00:03:16.520 maybe outdated understanding of homelessness. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:18.759 You know, that Peter Rossi model from the late 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:21.860 80s, which often framed it as something separate 00:03:21.860 --> 00:03:24.599 from work. Right. Unconnected. Yeah. But what 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:26.879 we're seeing now, what Goldstone documents, it 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:28.900 paints a very different picture. And what makes 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:32.419 this even more jarring is where this rise in 00:03:32.419 --> 00:03:35.530 working homelessness is concentrated. It's in 00:03:35.530 --> 00:03:37.770 many of our wealthiest and most rapidly developing 00:03:37.770 --> 00:03:41.150 cities. Yeah. Places like New York, D .C., Seattle, 00:03:41.370 --> 00:03:45.509 Austin, Phoenix, Denver, Nashville. These are 00:03:45.509 --> 00:03:47.930 booning economies, right? Low unemployment, lots 00:03:47.930 --> 00:03:50.030 of corporate growth. It creates this really disturbing 00:03:50.030 --> 00:03:52.590 paradox. Totally. It completely flips the script. 00:03:52.729 --> 00:03:54.789 You'd expect that in areas with such economic 00:03:54.789 --> 00:03:58.210 vitality, people would be, well, thriving or 00:03:58.210 --> 00:04:00.330 at least secure. But Goldstone makes a powerful 00:04:00.330 --> 00:04:03.090 paste that it's often these very forces of prosperity 00:04:03.090 --> 00:04:05.629 that are pushing people out. It's less about 00:04:05.629 --> 00:04:07.729 them falling into homelessness and more about 00:04:07.729 --> 00:04:10.710 being actively displaced. Exactly. It really 00:04:10.710 --> 00:04:13.830 forces us to confront the widening chasm between 00:04:13.830 --> 00:04:16.550 what people are actually earning and the truly 00:04:16.550 --> 00:04:19.310 exorbitant cost of housing in these so -called 00:04:19.310 --> 00:04:21.629 thriving areas. And the numbers Goldstone lays 00:04:21.629 --> 00:04:24.600 out are just. Staggering. I mean, consider this. 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:27.839 There is not a single state, not one metropolitan 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:30.839 area, not even a single county anywhere in the 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:33.439 U .S. where someone working full time at the 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.779 local minimum wage can afford a basic two bedroom 00:04:36.779 --> 00:04:39.879 apartment. Wow. Let that sink in. Just. Yeah. 00:04:40.410 --> 00:04:42.509 What does that say about the fundamental relationship 00:04:42.509 --> 00:04:45.129 between work and survival in our country? It 00:04:45.129 --> 00:04:47.850 really highlights the sheer depth of this unaffordability 00:04:47.850 --> 00:04:50.410 crisis. And then you have the term Goldstone 00:04:50.410 --> 00:04:53.569 uses severely cost burdened households. Right. 00:04:53.649 --> 00:04:56.589 He points out that over 11 .4 million low income 00:04:56.589 --> 00:04:58.930 households are in this situation. That means 00:04:58.930 --> 00:05:01.329 more than 78 percent of their entire income is 00:05:01.329 --> 00:05:03.230 going just to keep a roof over their heads. 78 00:05:03.230 --> 00:05:06.709 percent. Yeah. What kind of. stability or opportunity 00:05:06.709 --> 00:05:09.509 can possibly exist when that's the reality. You're 00:05:09.509 --> 00:05:11.629 just constantly on the brink. And it's not like 00:05:11.629 --> 00:05:13.730 incomes have kept pace with this, right? I mean, 00:05:13.750 --> 00:05:17.189 since 1985, rent prices across the nation have 00:05:17.189 --> 00:05:20.389 just skyrocketed. They've outpaced income growth 00:05:20.389 --> 00:05:24.290 by an unbelievable 325 percent. 325 percent. 00:05:24.430 --> 00:05:26.350 It's like trying to climb a ladder that's constantly 00:05:26.350 --> 00:05:28.170 getting taller while the rungs stay the same 00:05:28.170 --> 00:05:30.449 distance apart. It feels impossible. It really 00:05:30.449 --> 00:05:32.389 compels us to ask some tough questions about 00:05:32.389 --> 00:05:34.529 the sustainability of our economic models, doesn't 00:05:34.529 --> 00:05:36.819 it? Definitely. Goldstone highlights that nearly 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:39.879 half of American workers earn a median hourly 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:45.339 wage of just $10 .22. And 22. Which, to put that 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:47.240 in perspective, that's below the federal poverty 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.800 line for a family of three. How can we expect 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:52.939 people to maintain housing security on wages 00:05:52.939 --> 00:05:55.379 like that? You can't. And for individuals on 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:58.779 fixed incomes, like folks receiving supplemental 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:02.860 security income, SSI, it's even more bleak. Goldstone 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:05.100 points out that the average rent now consumes 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:08.980 about 142 % of their already meager monthly income 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:14.500 of $943. 142%. It's literally impossible. It's 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:16.759 a mathematical impossibility to secure stable 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:18.639 housing under those circumstances. There's just 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:21.750 no way. And the specific examples Goldstone provides, 00:06:22.110 --> 00:06:23.610 they really bring the weight of these statistics 00:06:23.610 --> 00:06:27.250 to life. This concept of a housing wage, the 00:06:27.250 --> 00:06:30.879 hourly wage needed to afford basic rent. That 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.259 was striking. It's particularly telling. In Atlanta, 00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:36.660 he says it's nearly $30 an hour. Meanwhile, the 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:39.360 state minimum wage is still hovering around $7 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:44.019 .25. $30 versus $7 .25. Right. And the sheer 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:46.439 number of hours someone in Boston or San Francisco 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:48.980 would have to work at minimum wage, he calculates 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:52.819 141 and 160 hours per week, respectively, just 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:55.060 to afford a modest two -bedroom apartment. Per 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:57.060 week. That's more than full -time. That's like... 00:06:58.219 --> 00:07:00.540 Multiple full -time jobs. It paints a picture 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:02.839 of utter exhaustion and relentless struggle. 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:05.779 It really makes you wonder about the value we 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:08.620 place on people's time and well -being, you know? 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:11.519 Absolutely. And what makes There Is No Place 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.699 for us so powerful, I think, is that it doesn't 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:17.399 just present these overwhelming numbers. Goldstone 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:20.839 masterfully weaves in the human element. He chronicles 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:23.160 the experiences of various families right there 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.740 in metro Atlanta. And he does it in a way that, 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:28.420 you know, respects their privacy, avoids unnecessary 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:32.660 detail, but still conveys the profound precariousness 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:35.980 of their lives. What struck me was how Goldstone 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:39.259 illustrated the razor thin margins these families 00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:41.939 are operating on. Yeah. He shares the story of 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:44.519 a mother, right? Someone who had dedicated her 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:47.339 life. to caring for others through her work yeah 00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:49.819 now facing homelessness with her own children 00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:53.339 and her just bewildered question how does that 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:56.699 even happen it speaks volumes about the erosion 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:59.959 of the social safety net it really does and the 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:01.860 imagery paints of working families forced to 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:04.199 live in their cars seeking just a sliver of security 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.959 in designated safe parking lots It's just heartbreaking. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.339 Then you have the fact that over half of the 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:12.259 individuals seeking assistance from homeless 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.660 shelters are actually employed, often in low 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:17.139 wage jobs, but employed nonetheless. It completely 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:19.480 shatters that old stereotype of who experiences 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:22.560 homelessness. Goldstone really underscores how 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.470 a minor, unexpected setback, something. many 00:08:26.470 --> 00:08:29.230 of us might just consider a temporary inconvenience, 00:08:29.290 --> 00:08:32.370 like a car repair or a child needing extra care. 00:08:32.509 --> 00:08:35.309 Yeah, just life happening. Exactly. How that 00:08:35.309 --> 00:08:37.330 can become a complete catastrophe when you're 00:08:37.330 --> 00:08:39.250 already teetering on the edge because of these 00:08:39.250 --> 00:08:42.049 outrageous housing costs. It just highlights 00:08:42.049 --> 00:08:44.590 the lack of any real financial buffer for so 00:08:44.590 --> 00:08:47.169 many working families. We get these brief but 00:08:47.169 --> 00:08:50.190 really impactful glimpses into the lives of individuals 00:08:50.190 --> 00:08:53.230 like Britt and her mother Cass. It underscored 00:08:53.230 --> 00:08:55.899 these multi -generational cycles of hardship 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:58.620 and the crucial role that community support networks 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:01.960 play. Often they're the only lifeline these folks 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:04.679 have. And Carr's experience is trying to juggle 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:07.100 the immense responsibilities of work and motherhood 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:09.480 under the constant cloud of housing insecurity. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:12.820 That really brings home how these pressures don't 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:15.340 just deplete financial resources. They deplete 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:17.759 those absolutely vital emotional resources like 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.799 patience, affection, the ability to nurture. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.220 That's such a good point. The invisible toll. 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:24.779 Yeah, it makes you think about that invisible 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:27.580 toll this takes on families, on kids. Then there 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:30.940 are stories like Maurice and Natalia's, a couple 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:32.919 who might seem stable from the outside, you know, 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:35.340 but their vulnerability to the volatile housing 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:37.940 market just shows how widespread this crisis 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:41.759 can be. It's not confined to one specific demographic 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:44.480 or situation. No, it cuts across different lines. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.639 And Michelle's ongoing struggle trying to maintain 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.360 housing while dealing with the everyday challenges 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:53.559 of work and personal life, it just further reinforces 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:55.779 that these aren't isolated incidents. Right. 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:58.919 They are symptoms of a much larger, deeply ingrained 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:02.120 problem. It's so important to recognize, as Goldstone 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.100 emphasizes, that these aren't just unfortunate 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:07.000 anomalies. They are representative of a significant 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.559 and growing trend across the country. And this 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:11.720 naturally leads us to look at the deeper systemic 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.179 issues and, well, the policy failures that are 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:17.899 fueling this crisis. Exactly. Goldstone doesn't 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:20.580 shy away from examining the inadequacy of current. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.399 tenant protections, which leaves so many working 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:26.600 families incredibly vulnerable to eviction with 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:29.200 very little recourse and the impact of gentrification. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.139 While it's often framed as a sign of economic 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:35.039 progress, it clearly has a devastating effect 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:37.639 on long -term residents and the availability 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.210 of genuinely affordable housing options. pushing 00:10:41.210 --> 00:10:43.769 people out. He uses these really stark examples 00:10:43.769 --> 00:10:46.250 of the overwhelming demand for housing assistance. 00:10:46.649 --> 00:10:49.509 You see these events in places like East Point, 00:10:49.649 --> 00:10:53.080 Georgia or Dallas. Thousands of people lining 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.480 up, sometimes overnight. Just for a chance. Just 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:57.940 for the slim chance to apply for a limited number 00:10:57.940 --> 00:11:00.659 of housing vouchers. It's such a powerful visual 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:04.039 representation of the immense unmet need out 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:06.259 there. And when we think about urban redevelopment, 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:09.399 the story of Techwood's demolition and the creation 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.679 of Centennial Place in Atlanta is particularly 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.120 instructive, isn't it? It really is. Because 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:15.879 while it brought significant pride and investment, 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:18.320 the number of original residents who were actually 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.299 able to return was incredibly small. It forces 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:23.899 us to question who truly benefits from this kind 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:26.299 of so -called revitalization. Yeah, who is the 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:28.639 progress for? Then there's the complex issue 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:30.919 of the low -income housing tax credit properties, 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:34.399 the LIHTC ones. Right, LIHTC. While these are 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:37.019 crucial for creating affordable housing, Goldstone 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:40.080 points out a significant challenge. The affordability 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.940 of these units is often temporary, usually for 00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:45.419 about a 30 -year period. Okay. And as many of 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:47.740 these properties reach that milestone, there's 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:50.120 this looming crisis where these units could just 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:53.059 revert to market rate rents, which would further 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:55.659 shrink the already limited affordable housing 00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:57.860 stock. Wow. So the problem could actually get 00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:00.299 worse soon? Exactly. And Atlanta's projections 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:03.460 in this area are particularly concerning, according 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:05.519 to the book. What's also critical to understand, 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:07.700 and he touches on this, is how the very definition 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:11.580 of homeless used by many agencies can inadvertently 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:15.759 exclude families. So? Well, families living in 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.379 really precarious situations, like extended stay 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:21.080 hotels or maybe doubled up with other families 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:24.720 in overcrowded conditions. they might not fit 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.580 the strict definition. Ah, so they fall through 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:29.419 the cracks. Exactly. This definitional barrier 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:32.259 can prevent them from accessing crucial aid and 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:35.139 support services they desperately need. And Goldstone 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:38.679 also sheds light on the role that private equity 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:42.919 firms and large corporate landlords play in making 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:45.759 this crisis worse. Yeah, that was eye opening. 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.919 Their business model often involves acquiring 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.059 properties and aggressively increasing rents, 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:53.019 essentially treating housing as just a purely 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:56.139 profit driven commodity rather than, you know, 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.940 a fundamental human need. Right. It shifts the 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:01.309 dynamic completely. Amidst all these significant 00:13:01.309 --> 00:13:03.509 challenges, though, Goldstone also makes sure 00:13:03.509 --> 00:13:06.009 to highlight the inspiring examples of community 00:13:06.009 --> 00:13:08.370 support and resilience that he witnessed. Which 00:13:08.370 --> 00:13:11.269 is important. Yeah, it is. We see instances like 00:13:11.269 --> 00:13:13.350 Britt, who we mentioned earlier, offering shelter 00:13:13.350 --> 00:13:16.350 to friends in need. It demonstrates that powerful 00:13:16.350 --> 00:13:19.210 spirit of mutual aid that often emerges in times 00:13:19.210 --> 00:13:22.169 of crisis. And the emergence of tenant advocacy 00:13:22.169 --> 00:13:24.450 groups like the Housing Justice League he mentions. 00:13:24.570 --> 00:13:27.090 It shows that people aren't just passive victims 00:13:27.090 --> 00:13:30.080 of these systemic forces. They're fighting back. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:32.159 They're organizing. They're fighting for their 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:35.019 rights. Even though Goldstone's focus in this 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:38.059 book is maybe more on documenting the individual 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:40.980 experiences than the organizing itself. Right. 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:44.120 And individuals like Laquana L .A. Pink Alexander, 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:46.779 who work tirelessly on the ground providing direct 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:49.659 support and advocacy for those experiencing homelessness, 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:53.100 they really embody the crucial role of community 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:55.519 -based solutions, people helping people. Definitely. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:58.559 So as we begin to bring this deep dive to a close, 00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:01.120 the key takeaways from Brian Goldstone's There 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.480 Is No Place For Us are Well, they're undeniably 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:07.220 clear, I think. We are facing a significant and 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:09.200 often healing crisis of working homelessness. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:12.200 It's driven by these deeply rooted systemic issues 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.779 that are making housing increasingly unaffordable 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:17.000 for a large and growing segment of our population. 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:19.240 And it's vital that we remember the profound 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:22.519 human impact. Right. So powerfully conveyed through 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.919 the individual stories. Goldstone shares. These 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:27.379 aren't just abstract data points. They are real 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.840 people, families, communities facing incredibly 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:32.820 difficult and often destabilized. circumstances 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:36.720 every single day. Ultimately, there is no place 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.799 for us serves as a powerful challenge to our 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:42.580 assumptions about homelessness. It compels us 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:45.100 to confront a reality that often remains unseen, 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:48.360 but has these huge far reaching consequences 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:51.340 for individuals and really for the very fabric 00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:53.700 of our society. This leaves us with a really 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:55.940 important question for you, the listener, to 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:59.259 consider. After taking this deep dive into these 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:03.090 realities. What does the concept of home truly 00:15:03.090 --> 00:15:06.330 signify in America today? And what fundamental 00:15:06.330 --> 00:15:08.769 shifts in our thinking and maybe in our policies 00:15:08.769 --> 00:15:11.570 are truly necessary to ensure that a safe and 00:15:11.570 --> 00:15:14.090 stable home is a possibility for everyone who 00:15:14.090 --> 00:15:16.129 contributes their labor to our communities? Yeah. 00:15:16.389 --> 00:15:18.549 It really makes you reflect on the ethics of 00:15:18.549 --> 00:15:20.850 economic growth when its benefits aren't shared 00:15:20.850 --> 00:15:23.450 equitably. And our collective responsibility 00:15:23.450 --> 00:15:26.250 to assure basic human needs are met. That's a 00:15:26.250 --> 00:15:28.090 powerful thought to end on. For those of you 00:15:28.090 --> 00:15:29.850 who want to delve much deeper into these critical 00:15:29.850 --> 00:15:32.470 issues and the incredibly moving individual stories 00:15:32.470 --> 00:15:35.009 within, we strongly encourage you to purchase 00:15:35.009 --> 00:15:37.669 Brian Goldstone's There Is No Place For Us. Highly 00:15:37.669 --> 00:15:40.370 recommend it. Yeah, absolutely. You'll find that 00:15:40.370 --> 00:15:42.710 Amazon link conveniently located in the description 00:15:42.710 --> 00:15:46.950 below. And we also urge you to maybe seek out 00:15:46.950 --> 00:15:49.909 and support local organizations in your own communities 00:15:49.909 --> 00:15:52.169 that are working on the front lines of addressing 00:15:52.169 --> 00:15:54.710 housing insecurity. Yeah. See what's happening 00:15:54.710 --> 00:15:56.629 locally. You might be surprised by the opportunities 00:15:56.629 --> 00:15:58.629 to get involved and make a difference, even in 00:15:58.629 --> 00:16:01.009 small ways. Thanks for joining us on this deep 00:16:01.009 --> 00:16:01.809 dive. Thanks, everyone.