"What really sticks with me is how close a lot of people are in our society to being homeless and how little it takes to put somebody over the edge."

In this episode, Senior Attorney Jeff Brown of the Legal Aid Society shares how he and his team meet people where they are. In a world where access to justice often feels out of reach for many, Legal Aid Society provides free civil legal services for low-income Kentuckians, helping them navigate a complex federal benefits system.

As of July, Jeff secured more than $329,000 for Louisville’s unhoused population. He talks about the long, hard road many clients face in securing disability benefits and its close connection to stable housing.

“I love the hunt.”

In this episode, Lauren Williams, an art teacher and local influencer with nearly 140,000 social media followers, shares her love for treasure hunting and her top tips for thrifting successfully.

Lauren is joined by our very own, Patrick Watts, Director of Stores, who talks about our newest store opening in Shively and how our stores support the community through affordable shopping (check out our loyalty rewards program), sustainability, and second-chance employment opportunities.

Patrick also highlights how every purchase helps families facing hardship, supporting our programs to fight homelessness and food insecurity.

"Empathy is not about politics, it's about being human."

In this episode, Liz McQuillen, Chief Policy Officer at Metro United Way, and George Eklund, Director of Education and Advocacy at the Coalition for the Homeless, explore how housing advocacy and public policy can help shift people’s perspectives from apathy to empathy when addressing homelessness.

Liz and George discuss how housing organizations and community partners have collaborated more in recent years to create pathways to end homelessness through the “Safe & Stable: Housing for All” coalition. The conversation also covers Louisville’s latest homelessness data, recent progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness, and key housing investments included in the FY2027 Louisville Metro budget.

Learn more about “Safe & Stable: Housing for All” at: https://metrounitedway.org/safe-and-stable-housing-for-all/

“I’m inspired.”

Anticipation has been building for the launch of the Community Care Campus in Smoketown. This is a gamechanger in the city of Louisville and fills a void for those in need.

Matt Reed, Director of the Community Care Campus of the Volunteers of America Mid-States, talks about the story and planning behind this $58 million project, which is in partnership with Louisville Metro Government.

Matt shares how the campus will serve as a centralized, coordinated hub where up to 500 individuals experiencing homelessness annually can access support in one place. He talks about the excitement to complete phase one of the project, Unity House, which is an emergency family shelter with 29 units and opens July 30.

On any given day, there are about 1,500 households waiting for housing in our community. On a good week, only a dozen are placed in housing. That’s less than 1%, or a 1/125 chance, of getting housed that week.

“Unfortunately, we're rationing something that I really hate we have to ration as a society and that's housing because the demand always far outpaces the supply that we have available. So, we're ranking and prioritizing people. And to me, that's kind of sad when I operate from the premise that housing should be a fundamental human right.”

In our 50th podcast episode, Family Health Centers-Phoenix celebrates 50 years as a primary care provider for the unhoused population in our community. Carey Addison, Health Care for the Homeless Supervisor, talks about the harsh reality of securing affordable housing in our community, his extensive experience in housing policy, and the backstory to the Common Assessment Street Outreach Team.

Hope is not simply wishful thinking—it’s about expectation. It believes the best about God, the best about people, and the best about our circumstances.

In this podcast episode, Choose Hope founder and businesswomen Britney Smith bravely shares her story about breaking generational cycles of addiction and instability.

A former SVDP resident, Britney opens up about experiencing homelessness, losing custody of her children, relational poverty, and overcoming substance abuse. She reflects on how resilience was built over time and how those experiences led her to launch Choose Hope, which is an organization that helps those struggling with addiction and mental health to reclaim their self-worth. Britney now uses her experiences to encourage others.

Why access to affordable child care changes a community?

Finding accessible, high‑quality child care can feel overwhelming for many families across Jefferson County. With annual costs exceeding $11,000 per child, child care can consume 10–20% of a household’s budget—placing pressure on parents with young children (according to the Kentucky Lantern).

In this episode, Reylene Robinson, Executive Director of Thrive by Five, joins the conversation to unpack why child care is more than a family issue—it’s an essential infrastructure for housing stability and Kentucky’s economic future. Reylene shares about Thrive by Five, one of the community’s newest nonprofits, and some innovative solutions to the child care system.

Did you know that nearly half of Louisville's renters are cost burdened—spending more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities?

In this podcast episode, Tony Curtis, the Executive Director of Metropolitan Housing Coalition, breaks down what happens when there’s a lack of affordable and accessible housing. Every day, families struggle to keep a roof over their heads while wages stagnate.

In MHC’s 2025 Report, Tony shares the drivers behind an increase in housing instability shaping our city, the latest trends in housing and wages, and three keys to housing success moving forward.

Check out MHC’s latest initiative, www.roofoverourhead.org/