UnHoused & UnFiltered | MCAH's Podcast on Homelessness & Housing

HUD Watch: Faith, Funding, and the Future of Homeless Services

This episode of UnHoused and UnFiltered takes a hard look at the increasingly alarming statements and policy signals emerging from HUD surrounding the delayed Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process and what many providers fear could become a dramatic reshaping of federal homelessness response systems. Hosts unpack recent rhetoric questioning long-standing evidence-based practices like Housing First, alongside growing emphasis on faith-based service delivery providers and new priorities that could fundamentally alter how homelessness services are funded and delivered.

Budget Battles: Defense Dollars and Domestic Cuts

This episode breaks down the latest federal budget proposals and what they could mean for communities across the country. Director of Public Policy Nick Cook unpacks the unprecedented increase in defense spending alongside the proposed 10% reductions across nearly every other area of federal funding, exploring how these shifts reflect changing national priorities. The conversation reviews the housing related line items expected and examines what these cuts could mean for local governments, nonprofits, and everyday people already navigating economic instability.

Surviving Outside: Street Outreach, Injury, and Isolation

What does unsheltered homelessness look like right now on the ground? In this episode, Khadja Erickson (https://trcmm.org) [https://trcmm.org/] joins the pod to discuss direct street outreach, the changing landscape of encampments, the growing health risks and other challenges facing people surviving outdoors. From chronic injuries and untreated medical conditions, Khadja explains how street outreach teams are responding to increasingly isolated situations with limited resources. The conversation also highlights the rise in young families and children experiencing homelessness and the growing challenges communities face in meeting their needs via street outreach (with very limited funding). This episode offers an honest look at the realities many communities never see — and why the need for housing, outreach support, and coordinated solutions continues to grow.

From Support to Surveillance: The Expanding Role of Veteran Guardianship in Homelessness Response System

This episode unpacks a controversial new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Veterans Affairs—and what it signals for the future of homelessness policy, particularly for veterans. At the heart of this conversation is a fundamental policy question: should homelessness and disability-related vulnerability be met with expanded systems of care and housing support, or with increased legal control over individuals’ lives? Director of Public Policy (and former Army Major Nick Cook) uses his 13 years of active duty to share his unique military perspective. Senior Director of Advocacy and Engagement (and attorney) also maps out the legal implications and clarifications. Summary of Memo of Understanding from the National Low Income Housing Coalition [https://nlihc.org/resource/va-doj-memorandum-understanding-guardianship-threatens-strip-rights-homeless-veterans]

No Safe Place to Stay: How Abuse Drives Women and Children Into Homelessness

In this episode, guest Johanna Kononen (Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence) explores the critical link between domestic abuse and sexual assault and the disproportionate rates of homelessness among women and children. She discusses how unsafe home environments often force individuals to flee with little to no resources, leaving them vulnerable to housing instability. The conversation highlights the systemic gaps in support services, the challenges survivors face in securing safe and stable housing, and the importance of trauma-informed approaches. Johanna also underscores the need for stronger community responses and policy solutions to prevent homelessness before it begins.