40 Years of Homelessness: Interview with Paul Boden of WRAP

Paul Boden is the executive director of the Western Regional Advocacy Group. We first interviewed Paul back in 2019. You can watch that interview here I consider Paul a leading expert on homelessness, and I highly respect him for always being brutally honest about homelessness, the homeless industry, and the criminalization of poverty in America. In 40 years of homelessness, the only noticeable change is the number of people unhoused keeps increasing while politicians continue to invest more in pushing homeless people out of sight over actually working to solve this crisis. In this interview, Paul talks about the government’s approach to the issue, arguing that there is a focus on addressing the visible symptoms of poverty and homelessness rather than the root causes. They also highlight the power imbalance between those with more power and the neoliberal apparatus of the government and corporate structure. Paul talks touches on the issue of intentional urban design contributing to homelessness, the demonization of homeless people, and the rise of businesses profiting from the crisis. Paul urges people to demand real change rather than thanking politicians for meetings. We also discuss the need to build alliances and accountability within the community without relying on self-identified leaders or token representation. Paul emphasizes the importance of building power for the community rather than personal or agency power, and the need for a shift in priorities away from charity and towards addressing the root causes of poverty, racism, and classism. For more information on WRAP, visit Where Do They Go? The Painful Reality of Seattle’s RV Homeless Sweeps Criminalization of Homelessness: San Diego’s Failed Response to a Homelessness ================================== Subscribe here: Invisible People’s website: Support Invisible People: On Patreon: Invisible People’s Social Media: @invisiblepeopletv Mark Horvath’s Twitter: About Invisible People There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness. We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness. This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you. However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now. Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.