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

In Episode 10 of UnHoused & UnFiltered , hosts Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie take an in-depth look at the newly released federal Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and why they believe it represents one of the most significant threats to Michigan's homeless response system in decades. They explain how the proposed changes could fundamentally reshape how homelessnes...

Episode Summary: A single legal mistake, unpaid fine, missed court date, or minor offense can create barriers that follow someone for years—impacting employment, housing, transportation, and stability. In this episode of UnHoused & UnFiltered , we sit down with Felicity Tyll from Street Democracy to explore how a dedicated team of attorneys and legal advocates is working to change that reality...

In Episode 8 of UnHoused and UnFiltered , we sit down with youth homelessness advocate and leader Azaria Terrell to explore the realities facing young people experiencing homelessness in Michigan and beyond. Drawing from both her lived experience and her extensive work on youth advisory boards and advocacy initiatives, Azaria offers a powerful perspective on the barriers young people face while na...

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-bas...

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 hous...

What does unsheltered homelessness look like right now on the ground? In this episode, Khadja Erickson ( 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 respon...

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 car...

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 conver...

Join attorney Elly Jordon from the Michigan Poverty Law Center as she outlines the public benefits changes as a result of the 2025 H.R. 1 (formerly the Big Beautiful Bill) and how these changes impacts you and your clients.

Meet hosts Sarah Prout Rennie, Director of Advocacy and Engagement and Nick Cook, Director of Public Policy. They will introduce themselves and their vision for this podcast. And why the time is NOW for MCAH's newest offering!