Description: We the Unhoused is nominated for a Signal Award, one of the most prestigious in podcasting, and your vote counts! Vote for WTU in the Activism, Public Service & Social Impact category before October 9th, and Theo will be back next week with a brand new episode.

Vote here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?fbclid=PARlRTSANKtG1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1QF2gTwcL-RtwGFolalwQqBkJK6ze8t3PwOwCPWyZ8OuvbsReVYEXZ5rFew_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5g#/2025/shows/genre/activism-public-service-social-impact?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadUBdoE8HC_kbcBhaJWpcEKgZCSus3vLdz8DsAj1smfDrr27EXlWBF2eaxXsA_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5g

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This week, Theo examines how violent language has not just become normalized and weaponized against the unhoused, but how its worst offenders are lauded as heroes. Then: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Crenshaw Farmer's Market, Theo speaks with organizers Laura, Ashley, Summer, and Jennifer about how community food justice is working to preserve and build community in South LA.
Learn more about the celebration on September 27th here:

https://www.crenshawfarmersmarket.com/

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This week, Theo speaks with Executive Director of the Institute of the Development for Human Arts Jessie Roth about healing and transforming society through accessible treatment for mental health that takes full account of the adverse affects of external conditions. In Unhoused News, Theo takes a closer look at the most recent policies at the national and state level targeting the unhoused and the undocumented, and how they seek to turn vulnerable people against one another.
Follow Jessie Roth here: https://www.jessie-roth.com/idha

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As ICE raids continue to escalate and target farm workers, many of whom as unhoused, revolutionary mutual aid efforts like Alianza Nacional De Campesinas are meeting the moment. Theo and the WTU crew head to the triple digits of Thermal, California, where farmers can access everything from fresh food to diapers and school supplies. Food justice organizers Melissa Acedera and Roxanna Chavez speak to Theo about how the needs of their community changed as racist, targeted violence has escalated; then, farmer and volunteer Sonia Baturoni shares her experience and concerns about the ripple effects ICE raids have on the farming community.

Alianza Nacional De Campesinas:

 https://www.alianzanacionaldecampesinas.org/

Lideres Campesinas:

https://liderescampesinas.org/

Polo's Pantry:

 https://www.polospantry.org/donate

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Theo speaks with activist Sequoyah Thiessen about their experience being body brokered at LA area rehab facilities, and how these same places are exploiting the community's most vulnerable -- including the unhoused. We also remember past guest Cindy McAllister, who passed away this month. Theo speaks with friends about her life, and how her memory will continue.

Follow Sequoyah's work here: 

https://www.instagram.com/sequoyahthiessen/?hl=en

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This week, Theo explores the reality of mental health complications while unhoused -- with parent to an unhoused Angeleno, Anita, and speaking about lived experience with attorney Clare Cortwright. Also, we remember Angeleno and Reclaimer activist Benito Flores.

More about Reclaimers and contribute to Benito's memorial fund here: 

https://reclaimingourhomes.org/support/

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This week, Theo speaks with returning guest, ACLU SoCal's Kath Rogers and immigration lawyer Pasquale Lombardo about the ICE raids in Los Angeles, and how to move forward with hope and pragmatism for the undocumented and unhoused communities. Also -- Theo covers the press conference of hospitalized victim of an ICE attack, Milagra Solis Portillo, including an interview with Senator Sasha Renee Perez and speaks on the top five ways that the unhoused are being devalued at a local, state, and federal level.

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As the heat picks up and Los Angeles continues to resist ICE, Theo speaks with Tanner Swanson of A New Leaf in Arizona to speak about the unique issues the state’s unhoused people face in increasingly lethal temperatures. While the year mark of the Grants Pass decision approaches and climate change’s consequences continues to spread, they speak on how the unhoused are being failed, and what needs to change.

Learn about A New Leaf: 

https://turnanewleaf.org/

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This week, Theo reports from Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, where necessary protest was met with violent retaliation from ICE, the LAPD, and the National Guard after the city was targeted for mass deportation. He reflects on the intersection of being unhoused and undocumented, and who gets left behind -- then, an interview with unhoused activist Secret.1Add reaction

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Theo is joined by author and journalist Claudia Rowe to discuss her latest book Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care and take a closer look at the ways that those in the foster system have faced discrimination and a complete lack of support for generations. The intersections and overlaps between systemics failure to those in (and out) of foster care are explored, and no stone is left unturned. Also: Theo discusses how the SNAP program rollbacks will affect the unhoused.

Buy Wards of the State here: 

https://bookshop.org/p/books/wards-of-the-state-the-long-shadow-of-american-foster-care-claudia-rowe/21706052

Follow Claudia here:

https://www.claudiarowejournalist.com/

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