Posts by Paul Asplund
A Powerful Movement
A Powerful Movement

The homelessness crisis has persisted—and often worsened—regardless of which political party controls Washington. This sobering reality has revealed an important truth: effective, lasting solutions begin at the community level. When engaged citizens, local businesses, nonprofits, and neighborhood networks collaborate, transformation becomes possible despite the political climate.

As one community organizer shared, "We stopped waiting for permission from Washington to make a difference. Instead, we started asking: What can we do together, right now, to help our unhoused neighbors reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives?"

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CommunityPaul AsplundUnhousedNeighbors, community-based, HomelessnessAwareness, faith communities, academia solutions, coalitionsComment
A Challenging Political Environment
A Challenging Political Environment

In an era where political divides often stall progress on our most pressing social challenges, a powerful movement is emerging across America's communities. This grassroots approach to addressing homelessness doesn't wait for federal solutions or political consensus—it harnesses the collective power of neighbors, businesses, faith communities, and local institutions to create meaningful change from the ground up.

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Paul AsplundComment
Peaceful Resistance for LGBTQIA+
Peaceful Resistance for LGBTQIA+

Now is the time to unify in the spirit of determined, organized, peaceful yet radical resistance.

We will not back down on our rights nor our dignity. Instead, we will harness the stress (fear, anxiety, anger, malaise) into affecting positive change and lovingly, firmly, persistently setting and maintaining our boundaries. We will not succumb to fear.

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InstructionalPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expense, peaceful resistance, immigration rights, LGBTQ rights, diversityComment
Being of Service Promotes Wellness
Being of Service Promotes Wellness

In these challenging times, it's more important than ever for our community to come together. By donating our time, connecting with one another, and finding ways to be of service, we can cultivate hope and positivity that has immediate and long-lasting benefits for our individual and collective wellbeing.

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InstructionalPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
MYTH: Affordable housing alone will solve homelessness.
MYTH: Affordable housing alone will solve homelessness.

MYTH: Affordable housing alone will solve homelessness.

REALITY: While increased access to affordable housing is crucial, it's only part of the solution. Many individuals facing homelessness require additional support to maintain stable housing and reintegrate into community life. Comprehensive approaches addressing underlying issues are essential for long-term success.

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Inspirational, Instructional, InterviewPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
Lessons from Skid Row: Innovations in Serving the Unhoused
Lessons from Skid Row: Innovations in Serving the Unhoused

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row, a neighborhood that has long been synonymous with homelessness, the unhoused outnumber the housed, and poverty and despair seem to permeate every corner. But amidst this landscape of struggle, something remarkable is happening. A vibrant community response is emerging, one that is challenging conventional wisdom about how to address homelessness and offering new models for change.

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Inspirational, Instructional, InterviewPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
SecondGrace.LA - Organizing Angelenos to End Homelessness
SecondGrace.LA - Organizing Angelenos to End Homelessness

But as the homelessness crisis has grown, so too has the realization that these scattered efforts, however heroic, are not enough. To truly make a dent in this issue, we need coordination.

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Inspirational, InstructionalPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
Housing First Isn't Enough—It Takes Us to End Homelessness
Housing First Isn't Enough—It Takes Us to End Homelessness

The concept of "Housing First" has been a guiding principle in the fight against homelessness for decades. It's a simple idea: provide permanent housing as quickly as possible, and then offer supportive services as needed. While this approach has proven effective in many contexts, the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles has revealed a troubling reality: Housing First isn't enough, especially when there's no housing available.

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Inspirational, InstructionalPaul AsplundHousingFirstIsntEnough, CommunityDrivenSolutions, EndHomelessnessLA, PowerOfCommunity, HousingFirstComment
Dignity and Potential: Shifting the Narrative on Homelessness
Dignity and Potential: Shifting the Narrative on Homelessness

In the struggle against homelessness in Los Angeles, the language we use and the stories we tell have a profound impact. The prevailing narrative often portrays the unhoused as helpless victims or societal burdens, focusing on their deficits and challenges rather than their inherent worth and capabilities. But a transformative shift is underway, led by advocates and community leaders who are challenging us to see the humanity, resilience, and potential in every person experiencing homelessness.

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Inspirational, InstructionalPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
Dear LA Times Editorial Staff re Homelessness: I have some thoughts.
Dear LA Times Editorial Staff re Homelessness: I have some thoughts.

Many years after recovering from homelessness and building a great life, I started working on the streets, first in SF and now in LA, bringing direct services, such as hygiene, laundry, haircuts, clothing, etc., to people who had lost their homes…

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HomelessnessPaul AsplundHomelessOutreach, CommunityResilience, EndHomelessness, DirectServices, SupportingTheUnhoused, BuildingCommunity, HomelessnessAwareness, CommunityUnity, HopeForAll, SecondGraceLAComment
The Affordable Housing Crisis: A Moral and Economic Imperative
The Affordable Housing Crisis: A Moral and Economic Imperative

affordable housing. Two recent studies determined that the U.S. has a total shortfall of 3.8 million market-rate homes, a number that doesn’t even include the shortfall of affordable housing. This shortage represents not just a market failure, but a moral one. It is a crisis that disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable members of society, including the poor, the disabled, the elderly, and communities of color.

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InstructionalPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
The Power of Community in Tackling Homelessness
The Power of Community in Tackling Homelessness

Amidst the staggering homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, with over 70,000 individuals without a home, it's understandable to feel overwhelmed. However, a powerful force for change is emerging: the community itself. Across the city, neighborhood organizations are harnessing the strength of grassroots action, uniting housed and unhoused residents, businesses, faith groups, and nonprofits to confront homelessness head-on. These collective efforts demonstrate that when a community comes together, real transformation is possible.

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CommunityPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities solving homelessness, business community solving homelessness, neighborhood groups solving homelessness, why housing first isn't working, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing expenseComment
Dear LA, We Can End Homelessness
Dear LA, We Can End Homelessness

Let me put my stake in the ground—homelessness can be eradicated, and it's up to us to choose whether we continue to let it persist or rise to the occasion and end it. This essay is a heartfelt exploration of the possibilities, challenges, and transformative power of community-driven solutions in our journey to end homelessness.

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Inspirational, CommunityPaul Asplund#Homelessness, #GetInvolved, #Solution, #LAHSA, #MutualAid, #CommunityBased, #OnePersonAtATime, #SolvingHomelessnessForever, #HumanCenteredDesign, #LivedExperience, #LoveIsTheOnlySolution, #FaithCommunitiesSolvingHomelessness, #BusinessCommunitySolvingHomelessness, #NeighborhoodGroupsSolvingHomelessness, #WhyHousingFirstIsntWorking, #HousingShortage, #AffordableHousing, #HousingExpense Comments
To End Homelessness in LA, We Need to Focus on Our Neighbor's Dignity and Potential
To End Homelessness in LA, We Need to Focus on Our Neighbor's Dignity and Potential

Walk through any neighborhood in LA, and you'll see fellow Angelenos without a place to call home. Mothers caring for children. Veterans who served our country. Hard workers who lost a job and couldn't find a new one. They are our neighbors, with dreams and aspirations, now struggling to survive.

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Informational, Community, InspirationalPaul AsplundSecondGraceLA, EndHomelessnessLA, HomelessnessInLA, LAHomelessCrisis, HouselessNoMoreLA, AffordableHousingLA, RentControlNowLA, MentalHealthMattersLA, JobsForAllLA, SeeTheirHumanity, CompassionNotStigma, UnhousedNeighbors, HousingIsAHumanRight, DignityNotDisdain, ShelterTheVulnerable, PovertyIsNotACrime, UnitedForSolutions, InvestInCommunities, ForwardTogetherLA, BuiltForAllLA, NoUsVsThem, EndHomelessnessWithDignity, DignityOverDespair, HelpThyNeighbor, LoveThyNeighbor, PeopleOverStatistics, PeopleFirstLanguageComment
Why SecondGrace.LA?
Why SecondGrace.LA?

I couldn't be happier to help create Second Grace LA, the online community committed to ending homelessness in Los Angeles County. You know, and I know, the only real solution is a massive community response - thousands of Angelenos rising together to help the people living outside at the end of their streets—our unhoused neighbors. 

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Inspirational, CommunityPaul Asplundhomelessness, LosAngeles, community, volunteering, advocacy, mentalhealth, addiction, affordablehousing, wages, love, compassion, neighbors, housing, skidrow, tenderloin, movement, empowerment, socialjustice, humanrights, equality, hope, change, solidarity, inclusion, belonging, care, humanityComment
The Best Stories
The Best Stories

I spend several hours a day steeped in this world and consume everything I can about the issues that create and sustain homelessness. I’m looking for hopeful, fair, and solution-oriented articles, essays, and interviews. It’s fascinating and a lot of work, so I thought it would be good to share some of the best articles I’ve found (and not behind paywalls when I can find them).

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InformationalPaul Asplundsolving homelessness, get involved, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, ending homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love, dignity, radical healing, faith communities, business communities, neighborhood groups, housing first, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing costsComment
It's Been a Minute
It's Been a Minute

When I first sat down to create this space, I didn’t think things would move this fast or go this well. I have no complaints, but it derailed my best-made plan for writing regularly, so apologies. It’s been a minute.

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CommunityPaul Asplundhomelessness, get involved, solution, LAHSA, mutual aid, community-based, one person at a time, solving homelessness, solving homelessness forever, human-centered design, lived experience, love is the only solution, faith communities, business communities, neighborhood groups, housing first but no housing, housing shortage, affordable housing, housing costs, miminum wage, fair pay, medicare for alllComment
Ending Homelessness Together, Once and for All
Ending Homelessness Together, Once and for All

As there are many paths to homelessness—job loss, health crisis, divorce, and domestic abuse, to name the four most significant—there are also many paths to reclaiming the dignity and agency required to move forward—maybe as many paths as there are people. These are four of the steps on that path that I think made the difference for me.

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InspirationalPaul Asplundhomelessness, solvinghomelessness, housing, mentalhealth, community, LAHSA, solution, get involvedComment