A Politician Who Gets It: Real Solutions to Homelessness
In this special episode, we bring you a compelling interview with Commissioner Irene Fernando, a trailblazing leader from Hennepin County, Minnesota. While filming our documentary on how Hennepin County is reducing homelessness, we had an eye-opening conversation with Irene about the county's innovative and compassionate approach to solving homelessness. From eviction prevention to affordable housing and supportive services, Irene discusses the importance of building a community-wide system that addresses homelessness at every level.
This episode dives deep into why criminalizing homelessness doesn’t work and why long-term investments in housing and support systems are not only more humane but also more economically viable. Commissioner Fernando shares the county’s success in reducing homelessness and offers insight into how other communities can follow their lead.
Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, or just someone interested in real-world solutions to homelessness, this episode is a must-listen.
America Can End Homelessness: Hennepin County Proves It's Possible • Can We End Homelessness? Hennepin County S...
Executive producer: Mark Horvath
Producer/editor/cinematographer: Alex Gasaway / alexgasaway
Associate producer: Erin McGinnis
Created by: Alex Gasaway and Erin McGinnis
YouTube Podcast https://bit.ly/4bHgCEu
Apple Podcast https://apple.co/4cckQ86
Spotify https://spoti.fi/3XyM98c
Amazon Music https://amzn.to/3zbPu39
iHeartRadio https://bit.ly/4cciTZy
More:
Illegal to Sleep: Grants Pass’ Cruel War on Homelessness • Illegal to Sleep: Grants Pass’ Cruel War o...
Finland Solved Homelessness: Here's How (Spoiler: It's More Than Housing First) • Finland Solved Homelessness: Here's How (S...
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About Invisible People
There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.
We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.
This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.
However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.
Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.