Letters to the Housed by Paul Asplund of SecondGrace.LA
Publishing every Tuesday in April 2026
At Second Grace LA, we believe ending homelessness requires all of us working together. We're not just another organization – we're a community movement powered by neighbors helping neighbors.
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.
Join Us Building Community to End Homelessness in LA
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.
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…
Who This Is For: Social workers, healthcare professionals, therapists, nurses, first responders, nonprofit workers, teachers, caregivers, and anyone whose work involves caring for others in crisis.
The Problem: Burnout isn't a personal failing—it's a systemic issue affecting service workers worldwide. Traditional self-care advice often falls short when you're dealing with trauma, crisis, and the weight of others' suffering daily.
The Solution: Evidence-based tools that honor both your compassion and your humanity. This isn't about doing more—it's about doing differently.
