Hi, I’m Paul.
After several years leading operations for direct service organizations serving the unhoused in Los Angeles and San Francisco, two cities where homelessness continues to grow out of control, I’ve seen what does and doesn’t work.
Moral of the Story: A podcast by Max Chopovsky
Max on IG: @maxchopovsky
And I have some thoughts…
I will shed light on why our institutions can’t end homelessness without us and introduce you to some of the most effective programs I’ve found on the streets. Programs addressing the issues around housing, hygiene, community, health, mental health and opportunity—programs that need our help.
Ending homelessness is possible… if we all work together.
In my experience…
In the thirty-five years since I began my return from homelessness, I've seen thousands of people recover and rejoin the ranks of happy, fulfilled humans.
But as this crisis has grown out of control in the past few years, I've witnessed more and more people languishing in homelessness, underserved by the institutions created to try and help them.
Why? Because our institutions can't end homelessness alone. We've spent billions of dollars over the years, but that hasn't stopped homelessness from growing. In 2019, 130 people lost their housing every day in LA County. By 2022, that number had grown to 230 people a day. We were promised a solution, but obviously, that has yet to work out.
And the reason seems clear.
Providing the love, acceptance, and community essential to healing the trauma that keeps people on the streets is something only we can do—it's that simple.
The solutions to homelessness lie within us. You and me, along with our friends and neighbors—housed and unhoused—local businesses, faith communities, neighborhood groups, all of us. We are the only ones who can end homelessness—together, now and for good.
We are the only real solution…
Items of Interest…
Featured
California voters narrowly passed a ballot measure that will fund billions of dollars to help the state tackle its homelessness crisis. Gov. Newsom celebrated the victory, but opponents say it doesn’t do enough to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place and gives the state too much control over mental health spending. William Brangham discussed the initiative with Christine Mai-Duc.