Posts by Paul Asplund
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