We the Unhoused

The upcoming election in Los Angeles gives officials an opportunity to do right by the unhoused community and invest in real, structural solutions. So, who's stepping up? This week, Theo interviews two candidates on their plan to make Los Angeles a safe and equitable place for all as the Olympics loom over the city -- Aida Ashouri for City Attorney, and Reverend Rae Huang for the mayorship. We the Unhoused is nominated for a Webby! Vote for us here: https://wbby.co/57462N Learn more about Aida's campaign here:  https://aida4la.com/ Learn more about Rae's campaign here: https://www.raeforla.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're thrilled to announce that We the Unhoused is nominated for Best Public Service and Activism podcast at the Webbys for the second year running! You can vote for the show once a day, every day through April 16th. See you next week for a new episode! VOTE HERE:  https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/public-service-activismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Theo speaks with legendary historian, memoirist and educator W. Ralph Eubanks about his new book When It's Darkness on the Delta: How America's Richest Soil Became Its Poorest Land. Also, Theo heads to an El Monte action to learn how locals are fighting to make their home a sanctuary city for residents under attack from ICE. Buy Ralph's book here:  https://www.beacon.org/When-Its-Darkness-on-the-Delta-P2243.aspx   Follow the San Gabriel Progressive Alliance here:  https://www.instagram.com/sgvprogressiveaction/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Theo attends a mutual aid protest action demanding that DSA-endorsed Los Angeles city councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez finally repeal 41.18, legislation that enables the LAPFD to arrest the unhoused, from his district. Speaking with organizers like Gina Viola, the group speaks with Soto-Martinez directly and detail their demands to get rid of 41.18 for good. Also: Theo interviews disabled unhoused veteran George Fleishmann, and tours the new mutual aid popup Shirley's Free Food Hub, organized by Carlos Nietos and Allison Riley. More about the Soto-Martinez protest here: https://lataco.com/soto-martinez-41-18 More about Shirley's Free Food Hub here: https://www.instagram.com/shirleysfreefoodhub/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As SNAP benefits continue to be rolled back and the Trump regime makes food access for the unhoused harder than ever, we need community-based solutions and ingenuity.  Enter Arnali Ray of Hollywood Food Coalition and Sara Reyes of SELAH in Northeast LA -- Theo speaks with them about how their organizations are rising to the occasion by prioritizing collaboration, ensuring unhoused people receive holistic care across mutual aid and nonprofit services, and removing ego from the equation. Learn more about Hollywood Food Coalition: https://www.hofoco.org/ Learn more about SELAH: https://www.selahnhc.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone deserves animal companionship, but the unhoused community is too often forced to make difficult decisions to care for their pets while living in shelters or on the street. This week, Theo speaks with Jillian and Christine with nonprofit My Dog Is My Home about their important work advocating for the unhoused and their pets, from accessible veterinary care to advocacy work to allow pets in shelter systems. Also: Theo remembers community members Shirley Raines of Beauty 2 the Streetz. Learn more about My Dog Is My Home: https://www.mydogismyhome.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Theo rings in the new year by spotlighting another crucial, underreported segment of the unhoused — the Black unhoused community. We speak with Angela, Ted, and Jeremiah of the Los Angeles Black Worker Center about the crucial work, they’re doing to support Black Angelinos in not just job training and help finding housing, but political education.  Learn more about LABWC here:  https://linktr.ee/Labwc?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=d68e94b8-e500-4448-88a7-efefb26f8d75 Sign up for Ready 2 Work here:  https://secure.everyaction.com/NJkCBf_6yk2T3m95V9lqJA2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Theo is in the field with Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA) for their National Houseless Persons’ Memorial Day event. Organizers and neighbors gathered on December 21st, 2025, the longest night of the year, to memorialize those we lost. We also remember Cindy McAllister, Jessica 'Queen' Mendez, and Benito Flores.Follow Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid here:  https://www.instagram.com/palmsunhousedmutualaid/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To close out 2025, Theo speaks with Sam Luu and Hillary Cohen of Every Day Action. We learn how they scaled their pandemic-era mutual aid effort to feed the unhoused to where they are today, continuing that work by preventing food waste on film sets and helping out-of-work film industry professionals during the ongoing labor crisis.  Learn more about Every Day Action here:  https://www.youreverydayaction.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Theo speaks with Professor Dina Gilio-Whitaker, author of the new book Who Gets to Be Indian? Ethnic Fraud, Disenrollment, and Other Difficult Conversations about Native American Identity. We also take a look at the new ghoulish policies that stand to force people into houselessness in the new year, and revisit the story of Brendan Glenn, an unhoused man killed by an LAPD officer ten years ago. Buy Dina's book here:  https://bookshop.org/p/books/who-gets-to-be-indian-ethnic-fraud-disenrollment-and-other-difficult-conversations-about-native-american-identity-dina-gilio-whitaker/6e5512b39cdfe3a3 Follow Dina: https://www.instagram.com/dinagiliowhitaker/?hl=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longtime guest Caitlin Krenn returns to We the Unhoused to tell Theo about the upcoming documentary Outcast Nation: LGBTQIA. Homeless. Unseen. on PBS, along with collaborators and subjects Jen Liquori, Maddox Guerilla, and director Charlie Spickler. Watch the documentary here starting December 6th or on your local PBS affiliate! https://www.pbs.org/show/outcast-nation-lgbtqia-homeless-unseen-in-new-york-city/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Theo speaks with legendary activist and writer Dr. Gloria Browne-Marshall, author of the new book A Protest History of the United States. Dr. Browne-Marshall discusses the most effective ways to protest in the modern age, and what we can learn from the long tradition of sit-ins, street protests, and boycotts that have empowered people for centuries. Also, Theo returns to JTown Action and Solidarity in Los Angeles to speak with organizers Carlos and Zen the day that millions of Americans had SNAP benefits taken by the Trump regime. Follow Gloria's work here: https://www.instagram.com/gbrownemarshall/?hl=en Donate to JTown Action and Solidarity here: https://jtownaction.com/DonateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Theo heads to a protest organized by the unhoused residents of the Mountain View encampment after yet another violent sweep. Their question: why isn’t their DSA-endorsed councilperson, Eunisses Hernandez, showing up? Residents, organizers, and mutual aid workers share their perspectives.  If you’re in LA and lost your SNAP benefits:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DQP-y08EsjT/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Follow the All Power Free Clinic here:  https://www.instagram.com/apfreeclinic?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School is in session! This week, Theo speaks with Felicia Rangel-Samponaro of the Sidewalk School, an organization that provides services from food and necessities to policy advocacy to education to unhoused immigrants living on the Mexican border. Felicia's journey to this crucial work, and how the Sidewalk School has had to adapt to protect their participants during increased ICE kidnappings and violence, is not one to be missed. Follow Felicia and the Sidewalk School here: https://www.sidewalkschool.org https://www.instagram.com/thesidewalkschool/?hl=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Theo speaks with longtime activist Beth Green about how to push through moments of apathy in the organizing movement. Follow Beth's work here: https://www.heartcastmedia.com/beth-green/   Keep voting for us in the Signal Awards -- open til October 9th! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?fbclid=PARlRTSANKtG1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1QF2gTwcL-RtwGFolalwQqBkJK6ze8t3PwOwCPWyZ8OuvbsReVYEXZ5rFew_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5g#/2025/shows/genre/activism-public-service-social-impact?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadUBdoE8HC_kbcBhaJWpcEKgZCSus3vLdz8DsAj1smfDrr27EXlWBF2eaxXsA_aem_uvY1f3AzE-45Fiw4fdKc5gSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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-45Fiw4fdKc5gSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/idhaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.