In this episode of Young People to the Front, hosts Tonny, Fatime and Robin welcome Ben Kay, a dedicated leader in Los Angeles’ homeless services sector and co-creator of the Homeland Podcast. 

Ben shares his personal journey from moving to LA for graduate school to volunteering on Skid Row just two days after arriving — a transformative experience that sparked his lifelong commitment to addressing homelessness. Together, Tonny and Ben dive into the complexities of working within the homeless services system, balancing frontline realities with funder expectations, and the importance of storytelling in shifting public narratives around housing insecurity. 

Ben also opens up about navigating burnout, maintaining personal wellness, and the critical role of community support in sustaining this challenging work. This conversation highlights the importance of elevating authentic voices — from people with lived experience to frontline workers — in efforts to build more compassionate and effective solutions to the housing crisis in Los Angeles and beyond. 

Along the way, they also discuss the power of storytelling, the nuances of disaster response in the wake of recent California wildfires, and how frontline staff often face housing insecurity themselves.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Ben Kay’s personal journey into homelessness advocacy, starting with volunteering on Skid Row.
• The creation of Homeland Podcast and the importance of centering authentic stories from people experiencing homelessness.
• Navigating relationships with funders, policymakers, and frontline workers to better align policy with community needs.
• The impact of the 2025 California wildfires on housing insecurity and disaster response.
• Mental health, burnout, and the importance of finding personal and professional balance in nonprofit and advocacy work.

Connect with Ben:

https://ourhomeland.us 

@thehomelandpodcast