Can we really end homelessness? One housing expert believes we can, and tells us how in this podcast!

New York University Silver School of Social Work professor Dr. Deborah Padgett teaches “Homelessness in Perspective," where she breaks down the assumptions that students come in with about the homeless. The coauthor of "Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Changing Systems and Transforming Lives," Padgett joins our podcast to talk with CEO and Executive Director Dave Calzi about what housing first is, the evidence to support it, and why it matters. She's also a UK graduate! 

They touch on these topics: 

• How closely linked having housing and mental health or substance abuse recovery are in a person’s growth  
• The difference between homelessness in America compared to other countries 
• The significance of having a safe space and privacy in a person’s success  
• Why the idea "we don’t want the homeless to get too comfortable so we want the shelters to be challenging" is false 
• Dave shares how nonprofit leaders can shift their thinking from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset 

To learn more about Housing First, Padgett recommends https://endhomelessness.org/resource/housing-first/ 

How does the game of musical chairs help explain homelessness? This podcast conversation breaks down that analogy! 

Author Gregg Colburn shares how a lack of affordable housing impacts homelessness from his recently released book, "Homelessness is a Housing Problem." He's an Assistant Professor of real estate at the University of Washington and studies affordable housing. Colburn joins our podcast to talk with CEO and Executive Director Dave Calzi about why homelessness isn't the same in every city and varies significantly by region—from Los Angeles and New York to Chicago and Charlotte. 

Here are some hot button issues raised during the podcast: 

• How low vacancy rates and high rental costs are a recipe for disaster when it comes to having enough housing in your city 
• What affordable housing is, how it's different than emergency shelters, and the red tape between developers and building affordable housing
• Why Louisville could have a homelessness crisis in the near future
• What you can do to influence change in a city that needs more affordable housing 

Here's a link to purchase Colburn's book, "Homelessness is a Housing Problem."

If you need purpose in your work, are unsure about your second act, or love a good story, then check out this conversation!

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville CEO Dave Calzi is a guest on the Catholic Education Foundation's podcast with CEF CEO Rich Lechleiter at Talgrace Studio. Dave was formerly CEF Board Chair. Both of our organizations are working hard to improve the lives of others, whether through the public school system or on the streets of Louisville. Our missions have a lot in common! 

You can also watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my32eq2KmFw 

Dave and Rich go way back, and their conversation is one of mutual admiration and respect for one another and the organizations they lead. 

Here are some topics raised during the podcast: 

• Dave and Rich talk about how their professional paths crossed and share their personal stories. 
• Dave talks about the rich history of education at SVDP that dates back to 1852. 
• Dave discusses the complexities at SVDP and living out its mission to save lives every day. 
• Dave shares the story that landed him at SVDP and Rich's role in all of that. 
• Dave talks about how stepping on as CEO has been the hardest thing he's ever done. 
• They offer advice on how to find purpose in your second act. 

CEF was founded in 1995 for the primary purpose of supporting the growth and vitality of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Louisville. To learn more, visit www.ceflou.org/. 

In this conversation, Lab Director Carl Gershenson at Eviction Lab opens our eyes to the eviction epidemic in America! With a Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University, Gershenson studies the causes and consequences of housing instability, with an emphasis on how eviction leads to further economic and residential insecurity.  

Gershenson joins CEO Dave Calzi via Zoom to talk about:

• The definition of eviction and the main reasons people are evicted 
• Why working parents are at an extremely high risk for eviction filings 
• Why the Southeast region of the United States has the highest eviction rates 
• What "the rent eats first" means, and why it matters
• How COVID changed rental prices across America, and why Louisville is similar to NYC, Chicago, and LA more today than ever before 
• The main ways we can prevent eviction locally 

The Eviction Lab at Princeton University is a team of researchers who believe a stable, affordable home is central to human flourishing and economic mobility. They believe that understanding the sudden, traumatic home loss through eviction is foundational to learning about poverty in America. This team has published the first-ever dataset of evictions in America with an interactive national map at https://evictionlab.org/map/. You can zoom in and find Jefferson County for specific statistics about our Louisville community. Eviction is often something our clients have faced, and in Kentucky, evictions can stay on someone's record for roughly seven years. 

In this conversation, Dare to Care's President and CEO Vincent James will inspire you to serve others! As a nonprofit partner of SVDP, James and his team help feed those in need. A ton of the food we cook for clients or hand out to them—try 27,000+ pounds of food last month to the Open Hand Kitchen and Food Pantry—comes from Dare to Care. 

CEO Dave Calzi talks to him about many exciting topics, and come to find out, they have a lot in common! They chat about their mutual love for Muhammad Ali, coming from financial backgrounds, and sharing the same mission. 

James opens up about:

• his upbringing, faith, and calling to serve others
• Dare to Care's compensation study and securing $10-15K raises for frontline employees who were working 2-3 jobs
• Dare to Care's desire to move to a plant-based diet to increase life expectancy 
• working as Metro's Chief of Community Building during the pandemic and summer of 2020 protests over the killing of Breonna Taylor 
• serving as the Senior Pastor of Elim Baptist Church, and even praying with one NFL quarterback before every game

Visit https://daretocare.org/ for more information about this local nonprofit. 

Donna Russell’s journey is one of perseverance. She had to expand her education and career as a single mother raising two children all the while ensuring they had a roof over their heads. As St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s newest Board Member,  Donna has lived experience with avoiding eviction and finding affordable housing. 

SVDP CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Donna to hear her story. She also talks about joining the SVDP Board of Directors and her frontline role as a Clinical Therapist at Volunteers of America's Freedom House.   

If you want to look behind-the-scenes and learn how clients receive help at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville, this is a don't miss discussion! SVDP CEO Dave Calzi talks to our very own Dominique Batts about housing and programs major shift to better serve those in need. Batts also shares about growing up in the Catholic school system, secondary trauma vs. secondary success, and balancing two jobs with two young children. By the way, she also loves ballet! 

If you need a good laugh, listen to this! St. Vincent de Paul CEO Dave Calzi talks to Quentin Childers about having empathy for clients and leading the daily operations of four major housing programs. "Q" also talks about starting out in dental school and ending up in social work. He even shares his love for gardening and cooking in his spare time. 

St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director/CEO Dave Calzi talks to Greer Hannan about the importance of a nonprofit securing accreditation and ensuring regulatory compliance with the government. Greer also shares an incredible story of how one homeless man, Danny, changed the trajectory of her life. Not to mention, she discusses her podcast, "Femammal," and her love for contra dancing. 

St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director/CEO Dave Calzi talks to Ra'Shann Martin about housing needs for the city and the St. John Center's role to help meet those needs. 

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville Executive Director and CEO Dave Calzi discusses policy and life with Metro Council Member Jecorey Arthur.

St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director/CEO Dave Calzi talks to Christie McCravy about housing needs for the city and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund's role in getting more affordable housing built.

Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Natalie Harris shares the work of the Coalition and explains how people in the Louisville community can help the Coalition serve those without homes.

Host Dave Calzi and Metro Council President David James discuss President James' experiences in public service and his hopes for the future.

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville host Dave Calzi talks about the Shelby Park neighborhood, its history and current developments, with former Shelby Park Neighborhood Association President Chip Rogalinski.  The development of the neighborhood, its rich diversity, and St. Vincent de Paul Louisville's role as a neighbor in Shelby Park are discussed.

Louisville Metro Homeless Services Director Susan Buchino discusses the current issues that are fueling houselessness in the community. Affordable housing, poverty, and her role as the new director are all covered. Join us for a fascinating look at houselessness in Louisville Kentucky.