Unsheltered Conversations

Welcome to Unsheltered Conversations, the podcast from HomeAid America where we explore the human stories, partnerships, and solutions shaping the conversation around homelessness. This podcast is hosted by Scott Larson, CEO of HomeAid America. Five years after the Caldor Fire devastated Grizzly Flats, some families were still living in RVs on the properties where their homes once stood. Rebuilding after a disaster is far more complicated than simply replacing a house. Insurance gaps, escalating construction costs, building requirements, limited resources, and the loss of federal individual assistance left some longtime residents unable to return to permanent homes. El Dorado County began looking for another solution. That effort eventually brought together county government, HomeAid Sacramento, the building industry, nonprofit organizations, and the families themselves to create an innovative pathway home. On August 17, 2026, five years to the day after the fire swept through Grizzly Flats, the first two families received the keys to their newly completed homes. This episode explores what happened during those five years, why traditional systems weren’t enough for some families, how an unusual public-private-nonprofit partnership emerged, and what other communities can learn from Grizzly Flats. At its heart, this is a conversation about what it really means to rebuild home. Amber Robbins is Executive Director of HomeAid Sacramento. Karen Garner is Director of Planning and Building for El Dorado County and has been deeply involved in finding solutions for Grizzly Flats residents trying to rebuild. Christopher Brown is a longtime leader in the Sacramento homebuilding industry, Principal of NEXT New Homes Group and NEXT Crafted, and one of the building-industry leaders helping bring these homes to life. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HomeAid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to Unsheltered Conversations, the podcast from HomeAid America where we explore the human stories, partnerships, and solutions shaping the conversation around homelessness. This podcast is hosted by Scott Larson, CEO of HomeAid America. One of the beautiful things about HomeAid is that while we're known for building housing and shelter, sometimes one of the most meaningful things we can build is much simpler. A bed. For most of us, a bed is something we probably don't think twice about. But for a child whose family is experiencing financial hardship, housing instability, displacement, or another crisis, having their own bed can represent so much more than a place to sleep. Some of these children may be entering foster care or living with relatives through a kinship placement. Others may be able to remain safely at home with parents who love and care deeply for them but are simply going through a season when their resources don't match their needs. In either situation, a bed can represent: Stability. Safety. Comfort. Dignity. Belonging. And perhaps most importantly, it can tell a child: You matter. There is a place for you here. Today, we're joined by three people who have come together to help make that possible. Scott Sheppard, Executive Director of HomeAid North Texas. Doniqua Lewis, Regional Faith-Based and Community Engagement Specialist with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Tony Childress, Owner and President of ChildressEngineering Services. Together, we're going to talk about why these beds are needed, the children and families they serve, how the North Texas building industry has rallied around this effort, and what can happen when government, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers come together around a very practical need. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HomeAid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to Unsheltered Conversations, the podcast from HomeAid America where we explore the human stories, partnerships, and solutions shaping the conversation around homelessness. This podcast is hosted by Scott Larson, CEO of HomeAid America. This July, more than 1,600 advocates, service providers, and policymakers gathered in Washington, D.C. for the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference — three days of hard conversations, urgent calls to action, and a rallying cry to "Fight Like Hell" to bring people home. Today, Brenda Ketah joins us to share what she saw, heard, and felt while representing HomeAid America at the conference. From walking the halls of Congress on Capitol Hill Day, to sessions on the rising number of seniors experiencing homelessness, the growing intersection of housing and healthcare, and the innovative ways communities are working to prevent homelessness before it starts, Brenda brings back a national picture that is both sobering and full of hope. We talk about the funding fights facing service providers, why storytelling matters in the halls of power, and where HomeAid — as builders, conveners, and partners — fits into the movement to end homelessness. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HomeAid⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to Unsheltered Conversations, the podcast from HomeAid America where we explore the human stories, partnerships, and solutions shaping the conversation around homelessness. This podcast is hosted by Scott Larson, CEO of HomeAid America. Today's conversation is a little different. Many of you know today's guest as one of the nation's leading housing economists. Ali Wolf has spent years helping us understand housing markets, affordability, demographics, and the economic forces shaping our communities. But today we're not talking about mortgage rates, housing starts, or the economy. Instead, we're talking about something much more personal. Ali recently returned from Ethiopia, where she experienced a very different perspective on housing, poverty, community, and hope. Her reflections resonated with me because they reminded us that behind every statistic are real people, real families, and real stories. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HomeAid⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to Unsheltered Conversations, the podcast from HomeAid America where we explore the human stories, partnerships, and solutions shaping the conversation around homelessness. This podcast is hosted by Scott Larson, CEO of HomeAid America. One of the recurring themes on this podcast is that homelessness is not a simple problem with a single solution. It is complex, interconnected, and deeply tied to housing, economics, public policy, health, and community. But complexity cannot become an excuse for inaction. Today’s guest has spent much of his career helping communities think differently about homelessness and how to solve it. Joining me is Jeff Olivet, former Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and currently a consultant with the Urban Land Institute’s Homeless to Housed Initiative. Jeff has helped shape ULI’s newly released 10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness, a powerful framework calling on the real estate and development industries to become active participants in ending homelessness. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HomeAid⁠⁠⁠.