Free Daily Podcast Summary
UnHoused & UnFiltered | MCAH's Podcast on Homelessness & Housing: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
UnHoused and UnFiltered is a Michigan-based podcast that tackles the real issues surrounding housing insecurity and homelessness across the state. It brings together a range of voices — from policy experts and advocates to individuals who have lived through homelessness — to explore both systemic causes and practical responses. Episodes are frank, in-depth conversations that go beyond surface-level discussion to highlight nuanced perspectives and lived realities. Hosted by Nick Cook, Director of Public Policy at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), and Sarah Prout-Rennie, Senior Director of Advocacy and Engagement at MCAH. These leaders bring a mix of: Public policy analysis, Advocacy insights, Community engagement strategies. Their work with MCAH — a statewide organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Michigan — informs the show’s focus on housing justice, structural challenges, and supportive policies.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago44 min
Caring Without Burning Out: Boundaries, Resilience and Joy in Advocacy
Following the response to Why We Keep Showing Up, Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie continue the conversation by asking an equally important question: How do we keep showing up without losing ourselves in the process? This episode moves beyond the typical idea of self-care and focuses instead on resilience built through boundaries, connection, community and joy. Nick and Sarah talk candidly about the exhaustion that comes with housing and homelessness work, the pressure to respond to every crisis, and the importance of recognizing that caring deeply does not mean being responsible for every outcome.From learning to say no and identifying what is truly ours to carry, to accepting that advocacy does not always produce an immediate win, the conversation explores how service providers and advocates can stay grounded for the long haul. Nick and Sarah discuss prioritizing the work where they can have the greatest impact, separating personal responsibility from outcomes beyond their control, and finding strength in relationships and shared values. The message is simple but essential: this work is a marathon, and sustaining it requires protecting your capacity, staying connected to your purpose, and making room for joy along the way.
- 1 weeks ago21 min
Caring Without Burning Out: Boundaries, Resilience and Joy in Advocacy
Following the response to Why We Keep Showing Up, Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie continue the conversation by asking an equally important question: How do we keep showing up without losing ourselves in the process? This episode moves beyond the typical idea of self-care and focuses instead on resilience built through boundaries, connection, community and joy. Nick and Sarah talk candidly about the exhaustion that comes with housing and homelessness work, the pressure to respond to every crisis, and the importance of recognizing that caring deeply does not mean being responsible for every outcome.From learning to say no and identifying what is truly ours to carry, to accepting that advocacy does not always produce an immediate win, the conversation explores how service providers and advocates can stay grounded for the long haul. Nick and Sarah discuss prioritizing the work where they can have the greatest impact, separating personal responsibility from outcomes beyond their control, and finding strength in relationships and shared values. The message is simple but essential: this work is a marathon, and sustaining it requires protecting your capacity, staying connected to your purpose, and making room for joy along the way.
- 1 weeks ago47 min
When Safety Disappears: LGBTQ+ Homelessness, Trust and the Cost of Being Turned Away
In this episode of UnHoused and UnFiltered, Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie are joined by longtime national LGBTQ+ advocate Eric Stiles for a candid conversation about the unique risks LGBTQ+ people—particularly youth—face when experiencing homelessness. The discussion explores family rejection, violence, sexual exploitation, substance use as a means of coping with trauma, and the additional barriers that can arise when someone seeking shelter or services is unsure whether an organization will treat them with dignity and respect. Stiles also explains how trust can quickly disappear when organizations that once publicly supported LGBTQ+ communities become less visible or welcoming during periods of political and funding uncertainty.The conversation also challenges housing and homelessness organizations to examine what inclusion looks like in practice—not simply in policies, signs, or statements. Stiles emphasizes the importance of internal accountability, trauma-informed services, meaningful community outreach, and knowing which local resources are genuinely safe for the people being referred to them. Nick and Sarah discuss current policy and funding pressures affecting service providers while returning to a central message: people experiencing homelessness should not have to overcome another layer of rejection simply to access food, shelter, safety, and support. The episode asks organizations to consider how the choices they make today will shape community trust for years to come.
- Sep 3, 202646 min
Why We Keep Showing Up: Courage, Community and the Work We Won’t Abandon
Why We Keep Showing Up: Courage, Community and the Work We Won’t AbandonHow do you keep doing the work when the ground beneath you keeps shifting? In this episode of UnHoused & UnFiltered, Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie talk candidly about the growing push toward criminalization, uncertainty surrounding federal homelessness funding, and the emotional toll these challenges are taking on Michigan’s homeless service providers. They explore what happens when policy moves away from housing and person-centered solutions—and why dignity, autonomy, and compassion must remain at the center of the response to homelessness.But this episode is also about why we keep showing up. Nick and Sarah reflect on resilience, community, and the importance of knowing your “why” and the values you are unwilling to surrender. From frontline workers and advocates to volunteers and people with lived experience, they celebrate the people who continue doing extraordinary work despite uncertainty and exhaustion—and remind us that taking care of our neighbors is something we do together.
- Aug 26, 202646 min
The NOFO Fight Isn’t Over: Funding, the Courts, and What’s at Stake for Michigan
In this episode of UnHoused & UnFiltered, hosts Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie break down the latest developments surrounding the FY2026 HUD Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)—and why recent court victories do not mean the fight is over. They explain how litigation challenging the FY2025 and FY2026 NOFOs centers on federal administrative procedures, constitutional concerns, states’ rights, and the limits of executive authority when changing congressionally established homeless programs. With HUD appealing the FY2026 ruling, Michigan providers now face continued uncertainty about when critical federal housing dollars will actually reach communities.Nick and Sarah examine what funding delays could mean on the ground, from people potentially losing housing to small nonprofits struggling to maintain services—particularly in rural communities where providers often serve as the primary safety net. They also discuss Michigan’s efforts to secure temporary state funding to help bridge a potential federal funding gap while litigation continues.The conversation goes beyond the courtroom to examine the larger debate over homelessness: whether communities will invest in housing and evidence-based services or increasingly rely on criminalization and institutionalization. Nick and Sarah connect that debate to rising housing costs, stagnant wages, and the reality that many people experiencing housing instability are working, aging, raising families, or living only one financial emergency away from homelessness.Most importantly, the episode is a call for collective action. Listeners are encouraged to contact members of Congress, educate local officials and community partners, challenge harmful narratives about homelessness, and explain how federal funding uncertainty affects real people and local organizations. The episode closes on a hopeful note by celebrating MCAH’s Breakfast of Champions honorees—recognizing extraordinary leadership in advocacy, community, data, volunteerism, youth engagement, and Homeless Awareness Month across Michigan.
- Aug 21, 202643 min
Get Involved: Why Michigan Needs a Strong Coalition Now More Than Ever
Join MCAH TODAYWhat does it take to build a statewide movement capable of responding to homelessness in a rapidly changing environment? In this episode of UnHoused and UnFiltered, host Nick Cook is joined by guest host Amy Stephenson, Director of Communications and Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness CEO Eric Hufnagel for a conversation about MCAH’s role, its growth, and why the work of a statewide coalition matters now more than ever.Eric discusses the federal policy and funding changes threatening Michigan’s homeless response system and why data remains one of the strongest tools for demonstrating which programs actually help people obtain and maintain housing. The conversation explores MCAH’s statewide HMIS work and its role in helping communities turn data into evidence, accountability, and a more accurate understanding of homelessness.The episode also goes behind the scenes of MCAH’s broader work—from advocacy and technical assistance to Homeless Service Provide Core Certification and statewide training that reaches more than 750 people annually. The team discusses how MCAH supports local providers so they can focus their limited capacity on what matters most: helping people find and maintain housing. But the central message is about collective power. Eric explains why membership isn't simply about paying dues; it's a commitment to being part of a coalition working together to end homelessness. With growing pressures on housing and homeless services, the episode challenges agencies, CoCs, individuals, and advocates to get involved, become members, educate their communities, and add their voices to the work. As Eric puts it: “Get involved.”
- Aug 11, 202648 min
UnHoused & UnFiltered | Criminalizing Homelessness: Do Camping Bans Solve Anything?
In this episode of UnHoused & UnFiltered, hosts Sarah Prout-Rennie and Nick Cook unpack one of the most consequential shifts in homelessness policy in decades: the growing movement to criminalize homelessness. They examine how the 2024 Grants Pass Supreme Court decision and subsequent federal policy changes have encouraged camping bans, expanded enforcement, and civil commitment proposals across the country, including right here in Michigan. Drawing from recent advocacy efforts in East Lansing and Jackson, they explain why these ordinances often fail to address the root causes of homelessness while placing greater burdens on law enforcement, local governments, and taxpayers. The conversation explores the human impact of policies that push people further from services and deeper into crisis rather than toward housing and stability. Sarah and Nick also discuss the role of well-funded national organizations influencing local policy and why evidence-based approaches continue to outperform punitive measures. Most importantly, they highlight what actually works: affordable housing, street outreach, wraparound services, strong community partnerships, and Housing First strategies that help people remain housed long-term. This episode challenges listeners to look beyond fear and misinformation and consider the real human and financial costs of criminalizing poverty. Whether you're a policymaker, service provider, advocate, or concerned community member, this conversation offers critical context for one of today's most pressing public policy debates.
- Aug 4, 202644 min
UnHoused & UnFiltered | Hidden Homelessness: The Rural Crisis Most People Never See
In this episode of UnHoused & UnFiltered, hosts Sarah Prout-Rennie and Nick Cook welcome Lisa Reinecke, Homeless Solutions Director at True North Community Services and a nationally recognized expert in rural homelessness, to explore the unique challenges facing Michigan's small towns and rural communities. While homelessness in urban areas is often visible, Lisa explains how rural homelessness is largely hidden in forests, abandoned campers, vehicles, and remote two-track roads—making outreach, trust-building, and service delivery far more difficult. Through powerful stories from northern Michigan, she illustrates how housing instability affects seniors, veterans, working families, people with disabilities, and individuals facing unexpected health crises, challenging the misconception that homelessness is a personal choice. The conversation highlights the extraordinary commitment required to build relationships with people living in isolated areas, sometimes taking months before someone feels safe enough to accept housing. Listeners will also learn about True North's innovative outreach model, including partnerships with libraries, forest rangers, and local law enforcement that replace enforcement with compassion, dignity, and connection. Sarah, Nick, and Lisa discuss why rural communities require flexible, locally driven solutions rather than one-size-fits-all policies, and why investments in affordable housing, transportation, and case management are essential to long-term success. They also examine how proposals to criminalize homelessness threaten to undo months of relationship-building while making it even harder for service providers to locate and support people in crisis. This episode is a compelling reminder that homelessness exists in every corner of Michigan—even when it cannot be seen—and that lasting solutions begin with community, trust, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
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About UnHoused & UnFiltered | MCAH's Podcast on Homelessness & Housing
UnHoused and UnFiltered is a Michigan-based podcast that tackles the real issues surrounding housing insecurity and homelessness across the state. It brings together a range of voices — from policy experts and advocates to individuals who have lived through homelessness — to explore both systemic causes and practical responses. Episodes are frank, in-depth conversations that go beyond surface-level discussion to highlight nuanced perspectives and lived realities. Hosted by Nick Cook, Director of Public Policy at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), and Sarah Prout-Rennie, Senior Director of Advocacy and Engagement at MCAH. These leaders bring a mix of: Public policy analysis, Advocacy insights, Community engagement strategies. Their work with MCAH — a statewide organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Michigan — informs the show’s focus on housing justice, structural challenges, and supportive policies.
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