Check out how the non-profit, Lava Mae, converts old public transportation buses into mobile showers for San Francisco's homeless.

The city of Philadelphia has one of the United State's highest poverty rates, but still manages to have one of the lowest rates of people experiencing homelessness; in part, this is possible because of the number of shelters operating 24/7, rather than offering shelter and services only at night. Daytime housing is also being offered in other cities across the country as people realize the benefit of providing a safe place for sleep and services at every hour.

There are about 67,000 homeless veterans in the United States today, and at least a third are chronically homeless. The 100,000 Homes Campaign, which aims to get 100,000 chronically homeless or otherwise particularly vulnerable people into housing, supercharged the housing process this summer using Rapid Results — a strategy that helps communities jump-start projects by breaking off a 100-day chunk, setting wildly ambitious goals and using any (legal) means necessary to achieve them.

In Fort Worth, Texas, the Clean Slate program is run through the Presbyterian Night Shelter and provides shelter residents with jobs as janitors and street sweepers at night. The successful employment program is paired with other services and helps prepare people for long-term jobs and moving into their own places.

An Albuquerque program pays panhandlers to clean up city trash—and gets them needed help, pairing city services with a jobs program.

America has the largest number of homeless women and children in the industrialized world - it’s a depressing statistic exacerbated by a housing crisis that forced thousands of families out onto the street. The first-ever large-scale study on the topic finds that permanent, stable housing can be more cost-effective than shelters.

Chris Finlay, who manages a real estate company in Washington, D.C., decided to try hiring homeless people to work in his buildings. His goal was to provide a job alongside significantly discounted housing as a benefit of the job. Seeing the concept’s success, he started a nonprofit called Shelters to Shutters to help spread the idea around the country. The organization has helped hire people in 15 cities, and 93% of those hired are still employed in these jobs.

Public libraries are increasingly using their positions as accessible centers for information to address homelessness and mental health issues - in San Francisco, a team of Health and Safety Associates have helped place at least 130 patrons in stable housing. While adding social workers to their staff has helped libraries provide social services, the libraries have also focused on hiring people who have experiences homelessness or financial instability to fill those roles and act as peer mentors as well.

While Los Angeles works to build permanent housing for the homeless community, trailers have popped up around the city offering free showers and restrooms to homeless folks in LA County. The showers offer a sense of dignity as well as a gateway to longer-term resources, like substance abuse support.

The city of Medicine Hat in Canada ended homelessness by giving every person living in the streets a home. The Inquiry looks into whether this "Housing First" approach could work in other cities.

Homelessness can make an individual feel alienated and disconnected from society. Street Soccer USA is an annual tournament in which homeless and underprivileged people from the street are invited to participate. Some participants have been inspired to turn their lives around through the team relationships and support.

Just outside of Austin, Texas, Community First! Village lives up to its name, emphasizing personal connections and stable relationships while also providing people experiencing homelessness with affordable rents in tiny homes and RVs. The retention rate in the community is 86%, and the Village plans to expand and double its occupancy.

Reno, Nevada, like many other cities in America, is facing a rise in homelessness and a lack of affordable housing. This podcast discusses various solutions implemented by Reno officials, including Washoe County's Crossroads program and other non-profit programs to provide comprehensive services for the homeless.