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Aug 21·edited Aug 21Liked by Courtney Martin

Thank you Courtney. Relational Poverty resonates and speaks volumes. This really resonated with me: 'I was so sad to learn that homelessness is growing among those over 65 and that a quarter of people experiencing homelessness are under 25.'

Kevin Adler's presentation is inspiring—Pragmatic, actionable solutions with impact, but more importantly, a genuine human-to-human approach instead of a 'homelessness problem'. He and his team see the person and engage with empathy. Beautiful.

I came across a housing experiment in Sweden in 2020. Here's the July 2023 update: https://cooperativecity.org/2023/07/06/multigenerational-and-multicultural-co-housing-in-sweden/

'As the word spread in the media and through people, we started to get many interested youngsters. During the testing phase of SällBo youngsters had only temporary contracts but SällBo became more established, now they also get permanent contracts and can stay as long as they wish, without an age limit. But when a vacancy opens up in their apartments, we only admit people who are between 18 and 25 years old.'

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Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

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Aug 21Liked by Courtney Martin

For another vivid take on, and strategy for, establishing connection for people experiencing homelessness (or addiction or mental health challenges), may I offer any talk or book by Killian Noe of The Recovery Cafe. Or go to their website.

Recovery Cafe is like a community center for those living at these margins, started in Seattle but since expanded to a network. I cannot say enough about their work, which I had an opportunity to see and feel first hand as a volunteer for several years.

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Thanks! Hadn't heard of it.

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This ranks among our most urgent problems. I’ve ordered Kevin Adler’s book and pledge to work on the crucial need to address homelessness that it highlights. Thank you!

I’m profoundly disappointed that neither political party stresses it in their respective platforms or the myriad speeches given in the national conventions. I’d like to ask Adler about this: is the relative indifference because those without homes can’t vote? DD

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Aug 21Liked by Courtney Martin

I was thinking about this too and I cynically thought that maybe it isn’t brought up precisely due to what Courtney mentioned about the US being about rugged individualism. I almost think that people don’t expect/want the government to resolve the issue but expect instead that charities/churches would. Do you know what I mean?

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Great question DD! I always think of you teaching me that it dehumanizes the housed person to walk by the unhoused person and do nothing.

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