WE THE UNHOUSED IS NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY!

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This week, Theo speaks with Amanda Nicholson and Max Flower about the pressing issue of harm reduction. We discuss how misinformation about harm reduction is weaponized against the unhoused and humane solutions for those struggling with addictions on the street are completely ignored. Amanda and Max share more about their work in building community and working with unhoused people, as well as their respective experience with houselessness and housing insecurity.

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This week, Theo welcomes returning guest and activist Curtis Howard and academic Kevin Smith to contrast the ways that the unhoused are presented by unhoused and housed media, respectively. Curtis was unhoused for three decades and was incarcerated multiple times, and shares not just his own history, but the history of why Black men are particularly vulnerable to being forced into this cycle. Then, Theo contrasts this talk with Kevin, whose new book around unhoused issues repeats a lot of common misconceptions around the unhoused. Who gets the bigger platform to tell their story? Take a closer took, and get educated, liberated, and motivated.

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This week, Theo looks to the future for the unhoused in America, and how to know your rights in an increasingly uncertain and hostile environment. He speaks with ACLU staff attorney Kath Rogers and Supervising Attorney for Tenants Rights at Inner City Law Kaimi Wenger about what you can do to protect yourself, and to remain educated, liberated, and motivated to move forward.

Learn more about Kath: https://www.aclusocal.org/en/biographies/kath-rogers

Learn more about Kaimi: https://innercitylaw.org/staff/

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In our final installment on the LA fires (for now), Theo speaks to Alex, a survivor of the Altadena Eaton fire about his recent experience, and his previous experience being unhoused years ago. Then, we check in with Rachel Sanoff, volunteer coordinator of the SELAH unhoused coalition in LA about the efforts they've done to assist with those newly unhoused by fire while continuing to support unhoused residents on the east side of the city.

Learn more about SELAH here: https://www.selahnhc.org/

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In the second part of We the Unhoused's LA fire coverage, Theo speaks with JTown Action and Solidarity co-founder Mario Correa about the mutual aid response to the fires, both with the existing unhoused community and newly displaced people. Then, he checks in with longtime unhoused veteran activist in West LA Ryan Thompson, who speaks on how the unhoused vets living outside the VA were nearly permanently displaced during evacuation.

Follow and donate to JTown Action and Solidarity here:

 https://jtownaction.com/

Learn more about Ryan's work here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/4K1fO1yDjV4

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Theo takes a closer look at how the recent fires in Los Angeles affected the city's unhoused community, who the mainstream media and the city continued to ignore. He speaks with returning guest Roof Lesser about her experience being unhoused close to the fires, and with restaurateur and activist Philip Hirose, co-owner of Azay in Little Tokyo. 

Follow Roof Lesser here: https://www.instagram.com/rooflessr/

Follow Azay Restaurant here: https://www.azaylittletokyo.com/

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Welcome to 2025 at We the Unhoused! Theo is starting the year on a high note, interviewing former Black Panthers, Lorenzo Ervin and JoNina Abron-Ervin. They share their experiences and insights on what a more just world can still look like. In Unhoused News, Theo takes a look at the persistent struggles faced by people transitioning from temporary to permanent housing, and the real dangers of hypothermia in Los Angeles among the unhoused.

Stay tuned for We the Unhoused's ongoing reporting on the fire impacts on the unhoused in Southern California -- stay safe.

More of JoNina Abron-Ervin's work here:

https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/books/45/#:~:text=Description,decade%20of%201965%20to%201975.

More of Lorenzo Ervin's work here:

https://www.plutobooks.com/author/lorenzo-komboa-ervin/

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In our last episode of 2024, Theo reflects on how 2024 has affected the unhoused community, and how to look forward to 2025. Then, he speaks with two returning guests -- Peoples City Council cofounder Albert Corrado about his journey toward mutual aid and building a better world in the wake of his sister Mely's murder at the hands of the LAPD, and Azoy, who speaks to the struggle to remain housed with the prejudice that exists in employment.

Follow Albert here: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDlBRnBy9sO/?img_index=1

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Theo returns to the field to continue exploring SELAH, the Los Angeles mutual aid organization working to educate their participants and volunteers on Grants Pass and provide necessary services. He speaks with volunteer coordinator Rachel Sanoff, participant Cindy, and longtime outreach volunteer Suzy to learn more. Also: Theo reflects on the horrific Daniel Penny decision, memorializes Jordan Neely, and looks at how the media covers violence against the unhoused.
Learn more about SELAH here: https://www.selahnhc.org/

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This week Theo provides updates on the Jordan Neely murder trial before exploring how one Los Angeles mutual aid organization is working to educate their participants and volunteers on the Grants Pass decision, and how they plan to continue providing services during a second Trump administration. We speak with new volunteer Max, current volunteer site lead Raquel, operations manager/local advocate Maebe A. Girl, and frequent participant Yruz about their experiences with SELAH, and how they’re looking to the future. 

Learn about SELAH here: 

www.selahnhc.org 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.