Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the complex and pervasive issue of homelessness, a crisis projected to affect approximately 330 million people globally in 2025. We move beyond the stereotypes to define what it means to be unhoused, examining the spectrum from "primary homelessness" (living on the streets) to "secondary homelessness" (moving between temporary shelters and couch surfing).

Join us as we break down the systemic and personal causes driving this issue, including gentrification, eviction, economic inequality, and the "complex accumulation" of childhood trauma. We also discuss the severe health impacts of life without shelter, where individuals face exposure to extreme weather, "hostile architecture," and a life expectancy that can be 30 years lower than the general population.

Finally, we look at how the world responds, from the "Housing First" approach that prioritizes immediate accommodation without prerequisites, to the recent legal shifts in the United States permitting the criminalization of public camping. Whether in the streets of Mumbai, the parks of Tokyo, or the shelters of New York, we uncover the human stories and policy challenges behind the statistics.