Doing What Works: Innovations in Homeless Services
Each episode will engage with experts, policymakers, and educators to uncover the
history, explore effective policies, and highlight the efforts of those working to
create change.
Podcast Episode Guide Coming Soon
Episode 1
Celia Alvarez
Celina Alvarez is the Executive Director of Housing Works, a nonprofit organization
focused on providing sustainable, affordable housing options for individuals with
limited resources. Alvarez shares her 31-year journey in the homeless services field,
from her early days working on Skid Row in Los Angeles to her current leadership role.
Throughout the episode, Alvarez discusses how her background and frontline experiences
shaped her approach to homeless services and led her to prioritize human connection
and relationship-building in addressing homelessness.
Episode 2Becky Denison
Becky Denison is the Executive Director of Venice Community Housing. With over 20 years of experience in the homeless services sector, Denison offers her perspective on the root causes of homelessness in Los Angeles County, focusing on housing unaffordability, income inequality, and systemic issues such as institutional racism. She also discusses how Venice Community Housing adopts an innovative, equity-centered approach emphasizing community-led design and inclusion.
Episode 3Nancy Greenstein
Dr. Nancy Greenstein is a long-serving board trustee at Santa Monica College and a passionate advocate for marginalized communities. Dr. Greenstein shares how her education and social work background, including early experiences teaching in a Navajo Nation community, shaped her perspective on social disparities and inspired her lifelong commitment to social justice. The conversation focuses on the launch of Santa Monica College's new Homeless Services Program, set to begin in fall 2024.