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Artwork for Homeless Unfiltered from Invisible People

Homeless Unfiltered from Invisible People

Invisible People
Homelessness
Housing First
Harm Reduction
Affordable Housing
Mental Health
Los Angeles
San Diego
Criminalization Of Homelessness
Substance Use
Supportive Housing
Housing
Healthcare
Housing Policy
Mental Illness
Community Engagement
Housing First Model
2SLGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness
Community Support
Veteran Homelessness
Canada

Welcome to the Homeless Unfiltered Podcast, hosted by Mark Horvath—the most raw, unfiltered podcast on homelessness you'll find. Get ready for real stories from people with lived and living experiences of homelessness, along with eye-opening insights from service providers, policymakers, and advocates. We dive deep into the hard truths, exposing both wins and failures in the fight against homeless... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes81Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Homeless Unfiltered from Invisible People

Latest Episodes

Justin and Denise both turned their pain into art, and their art into a way to help others. Justin, who performs as Surfing Sofas, spent over a decade bouncing between friends' couches, night shelters, and temporary housing before moving into his fir... more

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What does it actually take to end homelessness in America? And why is that progress getting erased right now? Julián Castro has been in this fight at the local and federal level: as Mayor of San Antonio, and as HUD Secretary under President Obama, wh... more

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Vijay Gupta was 19 years old when he became the youngest violinist ever to join the LA Philharmonic. On the night he turned 20, he was playing the Hollywood Bowl with John Williams in front of 18,000 people waving lightsabers. By every measure, he ha... more

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Rough sleeping in London and across the UK just hit a record high. Every measure of homelessness is at its worst level ever recorded. And yet during the COVID pandemic, the UK government got roughly 39,000 homeless people off the streets in a matter ... more

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Thirty years ago, Troy Vaughn was homeless, struggling with addiction, and trying to survive on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Today, he's a CEO, author, pastor, and nationally recognized leader helping others rebuild their lives.

In this powerful convers... more

Warehousing people in shelters is not a housing policy. But that's exactly what decades of misplaced investment have created.

In this episode of Homeless Unfiltered, we sit down with Gary P. Jenkins, CEO of Urban Pathways, and Pascale Leone, Executi... more

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Jessica Turtle was born into a community of homeless people in Cardiff, Wales, set up by her own parents. Her father had spent years sleeping rough on the streets of London. That's where this story begins.

But this isn't a story about poverty or pit... more

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Youth homelessness is growing. And most people have no idea how bad it really is.

Right now, young people are aging out of foster care with nowhere to go. They are couch surfing, sleeping in cars, and falling through cracks in a system that was supp... more

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Recent Guests

Justin (Surfing Sofas)
Poet and performer who lived homeless and now shares experiences through poetry and art
Surfing Sofas
Episode: Art From Surviving Homelessness
Julián Castro
Former HUD Secretary, former Mayor of San Antonio, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation
Latino Community Foundation
Episode: We're Reversing Homelessness Progress and Nobody's Talking About It
Vijay Gupta
Childhood prodigy, lead violinist of the LA Philharmonic, founder of Street Symphony
LA Philharmonic, Street Symphony
Episode: What a Psychiatric Ward Taught Vijay Gupta About Music
Matt Downie
Chief Executive of Crisis
Crisis (UK charity)
Episode: The UK Once Housed 39,000 in Days. Now Rough Sleeping Hits Record Highs.
Gary P. Jenkins
Former Commissioner of New York City's Department of Social Services; Interim CEO at Urban Pathways
Urban Pathways
Episode: Warehousing People Is Not a Housing Policy
Pascale Leone
Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHINNY)
Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHINNY)
Episode: Warehousing People Is Not a Housing Policy
Jessica Turtle
Co-director and co-founder of the Museum of Homelessness
Museum of Homelessness
Episode: More Than a Museum: How Love, Art, and Community Is Transforming Homelessnes
Marcella Middleton
CEO of Away Home America; policy advocate and leader focused on ending youth homelessness
Away Home America
Episode: Those Most Affected by Homelessness Should Be in Power
Samantha Batko
Senior Fellow at the Housing and Communities Division, Urban Institute
Urban Institute
Episode: Research, Messaging, and the Fight Over Homelessness Policy

Host

Mark Horvath
Host of Homeless Unfiltered, focused on lived experiences and advocacy

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Warehousing People Is Not a Housing Policy
Q: What pointers would you give people, both in organizing and again, what works and what doesn't?
Find fellowship with others going through similar situations, recognize the power of numbers, and remember elected officials work for you. Do not be afraid to tell your story or share experiences; however, you should only disclose your story if you want to, as ownership and choice are crucial. If you can't be there in person, support others who can and help fund advocacy efforts as needed.
Warehousing People Is Not a Housing Policy
Q: Can you explain some of those wins?
The state won a significant increase for the NYSHP, including an $18 million raise—the largest in 40 years—though it fell short of the asked-for $32 million. This was achieved through tenant-led advocacy and coordinated lobbying, demonstrating how organizing and partnerships can drive concrete funding gains.
Those Most Affected by Homelessness Should Be in Power
Q: How has the leadership of Away Home America evolved to shift power toward youth?
Marcella describes reorganizing the leadership to a majority-youth board, appointing two young co-directors, and embedding lived experience into governance and policy work to transform decision-making and funding toward youth-centered approaches.
How a Parking Lot Is Helping Solve Homelessness
Q: How does a community start a safe parking program in practice?
Start with a willing parking lot, then address logistics like bathrooms, staff or volunteers, and a simple, clear plan to connect residents with services while navigating local zoning and parking rules.
The Hidden Homeless: America’s Growing Family Crisis
Q: What makes the Keeping Families Together program effective and scalable?
KFT attaches a housing subsidy to supportive services, ensuring families have both a home and access to critical supports; the program has demonstrated high stability and family safety rates over two years, and it has scaled from a small pilot to hundreds of families across the state.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on homelessness as a social issue, featuring candid conversations with people who have lived experience, as well as policymakers, researchers, and service providers. Episodes frequently explore housing-first strategies, funding and policy reforms, and the tension between relief efforts (shelter, housing stability) and systemic change. Across installments, the host highlights practical solutions, community-driven approaches, and the role of storytelling in shaping public perception and policy. A standout pattern is bringing in practitioners and advocates with direct experience to discuss leadership, program design, and the politics of scale, making it a likely value for listeners in policy, philanthropy, and nonprofit sector... more

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3. Hidden Brain
4. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. Marketplace All-in-One

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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Justin (Surfing Sofas)
2. Julián Castro
3. Vijay Gupta
4. Matt Downie
5. Gary P. Jenkins
6. Pascale Leone
7. Jessica Turtle
8. Marcella Middleton

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