Brian Greenberg, PhD, manager of Life Moves, joins host Robert Strock to discuss the current and growing needs among the unsheltered population. Life Moves is the largest comprehensive homelessness program in Northern California. It focuses on providing amenities like private/public showers and toilets along with connecting participants with job opportunities, housing support, and health services. When less expensive housing options have basic privacy, it provides incentives that bring people off of the streets. Organizations like Life Moves work to provide a maximum amount of services at a minimal cost. Greenberg's program works with psychology masters and PhD interns to provide needed mental health services at a fraction of ordinary cost for these mental health services. The program also views people as people. People can go through the program multiple times even if they relapse or make a bad choice. As long as they're trying to move forward in their lives and follow the rules that leave everyone in the community feeling safe, they can continue to work within the Life Moves program. However, expanding affordable housing requires broadening the scope of housing options. Tiny homes, travel trailers, and shipping containers all offer shelter at a more affordable cost. Creating a community for the unsheltered also centers around support from peers, the local community, and law enforcement. There's a great need for society to view the unsheltered as people who need and deserve compassion and opportunities
Listen to the episode and find out more at: The Global Bridge Foundation
