Post 22. Housing Note 02
Lessons from a Senior advisor on the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
This evening, I had the pleasure of speaking with and learning from Dr. Joe Savage, a senior advisor on the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and former member of the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services. Our discussion was eye-opening and inspiring.
Key Takeaways:
Homelessness has to be understood as a system. Too often, it’s framed as a housing issue with downstream effects, as if things like health, employment, or incarceration are just consequences of losing housing. But that’s not quite right, according to Dr. Savage. While affordable housing is absolutely at the center, it’s one part of a much bigger picture. Homelessness is shaped by the interaction of multiple systems: healthcare, criminal justice, education, employment, and more. When they fail, they create the conditions that make homelessness possible. We can’t fix the issue without seeing how all of these moving parts connect.
Awareness matters. There are still so many misconceptions—about who becomes unhoused and why. And a lot of people still hold beliefs that are just flat-out wrong. Raising awareness is part of the work and an area he felt college students like me can help. It’s important for people to understand how easy it is for someone to fall into a downward spiral. Maybe you didn’t have sick days, lost your weekly salary, missed rent, and lost your home.
He also helped me brainstorm some ideas. I’m excited to start putting together a new project at school—focused on education, service, and community partnerships. I’ll be talking to administrators and two of my professors in the coming weeks to get it moving.
If you’re interested in being part of the group, drop a comment below. I’d love for your to join.
Best,
Jack
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