Shelter in Place Podcast Guide

🎙️ Series Title: “Shelter in Place: Housing, Homelessness, and the Fight for Dignity”

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmj5CDbtZ83aSOZv_jzwUOYsvsRDgs7Kn

Episode 1: “The Vacancy Illusion”

https://youtu.be/K-72c-eEnCc

Theme: Unpacking the myth of housing scarcity Focus:

• The difference between available housing and accessible housing

• Vacancy rates vs. affordability metrics

• Investor-owned properties, short-term rentals, and zoning barriers

• Local data from Laramie and broader national trends Narrative Hook: “If there are empty homes, why are people sleeping outside?”

📢 Intro (Short)

Welcome to Shelter in Place, a podcast about housing, homelessness, and the fight for dignity. I’m El Cameron, and today we’re diving into Episode 1: The Vacancy Illusion. If there are empty homes, why are people sleeping outside?

📝 Episode Description (For Podcast Platforms)

Episode 1: The Vacancy Illusion

We’re told there’s a housing shortage—but the numbers tell a different story. In this episode, El Cameron breaks down the difference between available housing and accessible housing, revealing how vacancy rates mask deeper issues of affordability, investor ownership, and exclusionary zoning. With local data from Laramie and national trends, this episode challenges the narrative and asks: who benefits from scarcity—and who pays the price?

📚 Companion Guide (PDF or Web Resource)

Title: The Vacancy Illusion: Companion Guide Purpose: Equip listeners with tools to deepen understanding and take action.

🔍 Key Concepts

• Available vs. Accessible Housing:

• Available: Units that exist and are technically unoccupied

• Accessible: Units that are affordable, safe, and attainable for people with low or no income

• Vacancy Rates vs. Affordability Metrics:

• Laramie’s vacancy rate hovers around 6–8%, yet over 40% of renters are cost-burdened

• Nationally, millions of units sit empty while homelessness rises

• Investor-Owned Properties & Short-Term Rentals:

• Corporations and out-of-state investors hold properties for profit, not people

• Platforms like Airbnb reduce long-term rental stock

• Zoning Barriers:

• Single-family zoning restricts multi-unit development

• “Not in my backyard” (NIMBY) resistance blocks affordable housing projects

📈 Local Data Snapshot: Laramie, WY

• Over 500 vacant housing units (2020 Census)

• Median rent increased 18% since 2021

• No dedicated low-barrier shelter for year-round use

🛠️ Action Steps

• Attend city council meetings and advocate for inclusive zoning

• Support tenant unions and housing justice coalitions

• Share this episode with local policymakers and community groups

🎧 Reflective Questions

• What does “home” mean to you?

• Have you ever lived near a vacant property? What did it signal to you?

• How does scarcity shape our empathy—or our apathy?

📱 Facebook Post (Promotional)

🏠 New Episode Drop!

Shelter in Place is live with Episode 1: The Vacancy Illusion.

If there are empty homes, why are people sleeping outside?

Join El Cameron as they unpack the myth of housing scarcity—exploring how investor ownership, short-term rentals, and zoning laws keep homes out of reach. Featuring local data from Laramie and national trends, this episode challenges the status quo and calls for housing justice rooted in dignity.

🎧 Listen now: [Insert Link] 📚 Companion Guide: [Insert Link] 🗣️ Share your thoughts in the comments—what does housing justice look like in your community?

Episode 2: “Unhoused, Not Unworthy”

https://youtu.be/k-CQoZuJk1A

Theme: Humanizing homelessness and confronting stigma Focus:

• Personal stories from unhoused individuals (with consent and care)

• The criminalization of poverty and survival

• Mental health, addiction, and trauma-informed perspectives

• The role of shelters, transitional housing, and mutual aid Narrative Hook: “Homelessness isn’t a character flaw—it’s a policy failure.”

📢 Intro (Short)

“Welcome to Shelter in Place, a podcast about housing, homelessness, and the fight for dignity. I’m El Cameron, and today we’re diving into Episode 2: Unhoused, Not Unworthy. Because homelessness isn’t a character flaw—it’s a policy failure.”

📝 Episode Description (For Podcast Platforms)

Episode 2: Unhoused, Not Unworthy

In this episode, El Cameron confronts the stigma surrounding homelessness—sharing personal stories from unhoused individuals with consent and care. From the criminalization of poverty to trauma-informed perspectives on mental health and addiction, this episode challenges the narrative and uplifts the role of shelters, transitional housing, and mutual aid. Because homelessness isn’t a character flaw—it’s a policy failure.

📚 Companion Guide (PDF or Web Resource)

Title: Unhoused, Not Unworthy: Companion Guide Purpose: Equip listeners with tools to deepen empathy and take action.

🔍 Key Concepts

• Criminalization of Poverty:

• Laws that penalize sleeping in public, panhandling, or loitering

• Impact on survival strategies and mental health

• Trauma-Informed Perspectives:

• Many unhoused individuals live with untreated trauma, addiction, or mental illness

• Homelessness can be both a cause and consequence of systemic neglect

• Shelters & Transitional Housing:

• Importance of low-barrier, year-round options

• Waitlists, capacity limits, and gaps in services

• Mutual Aid Networks:

• Community-led support systems

• Food, clothing, emotional care, and advocacy

📈 Local Data Snapshot: Laramie, WY

• No permanent low-barrier shelter

• Seasonal warming centers operate with limited hours

• Mutual aid groups provide meals, tents, and hygiene kits

🛠️ Action Steps

• Support local mutual aid and shelter initiatives

• Advocate for trauma-informed housing policies

• Challenge stigmatizing language in media and public discourse

• Share this episode with educators, health workers, and city leaders

🎧 Reflective Questions

• What assumptions do I hold about homelessness?

• How do I respond when I see someone unhoused?

• What does dignity look like in housing policy?

📱 Facebook Post (Promotional)

🛏️ New Episode Drop!

Shelter in Place is live with Episode 2: Unhoused, Not Unworthy.

Homelessness isn’t a character flaw—it’s a policy failure.

Join El Cameron as they share personal stories from unhoused individuals, explore the criminalization of poverty, and uplift trauma-informed perspectives on addiction, mental health, and survival. With local data from Laramie and a focus on mutual aid, this episode calls for empathy, action, and systemic change.

🎧 Listen now: [Insert Link] 📚 Companion Guide: [Insert Link] 🗣️ Share your thoughts—what does dignity look like in your community?

Episode 3: “Solutions We’ve Tried—and What’s Working”

https://youtu.be/WK_oK2b7h78

Theme: Evaluating interventions and innovations Focus:

• Housing First models and permanent supportive housing

• Rent control, tenant protections, and eviction moratoriums

• Community land trusts, tiny home villages, and co-housing

• Success stories from cities like Houston, Salt Lake City, and Missoula 

Narrative Hook: “What if the solution isn’t more charity—but more power?”

📢 Intro (Short)

“Welcome to Shelter in Place, a podcast about housing, homelessness, and the fight for dignity. I’m El Cameron, and today we’re diving into Episode 3: Solutions We’ve Tried—and What’s Working. Because what if the solution isn’t more charity—but more power?”

📝 Episode Description (For Podcast Platforms)

Episode 3: Solutions We’ve Tried—and What’s Working

In this episode, El Cameron evaluates housing interventions and innovations—from Housing First models and eviction moratoriums to community land trusts and co-housing. With success stories from cities like Houston, Salt Lake City, and Missoula, this episode highlights what’s working—and why redistributing power matters more than offering charity. Because solving homelessness isn’t just about compassion. It’s about structural change.

📚 Companion Guide: Solutions We’ve Tried—and What’s Working

Purpose: Equip listeners with evidence-based insights and replicable models for housing justice.

🔍 Key Concepts

Housing First & Permanent Supportive Housing

• Prioritizes stable housing without preconditions

• Proven to reduce chronic homelessness and improve health outcomes

• Wraparound services include mental health care, addiction support, and case management

Rent Control & Tenant Protections

• Prevent displacement and stabilize communities

• Eviction moratoriums offer emergency relief during crises

• Legal aid and rent forgiveness programs reduce long-term harm

Community Land Trusts & Co-Housing Models

• Remove land from speculative markets

• Promote shared ownership, affordability, and democratic governance

• Tiny home villages offer dignity, privacy, and community

📈 Success Stories

• Houston, TX: Housed 25,000+ people through coordinated Housing First efforts

• Salt Lake City, UT: Reduced chronic homelessness with permanent supportive housing

• Missoula, MT: Building tiny home villages with trauma-informed design and services

• Laramie, WY: Emerging mutual aid networks and zoning reform advocacy

🛠️ Action Steps

• Advocate for Housing First funding and implementation

• Support tenant unions and rent stabilization policies

• Explore land trust models and co-housing initiatives in your region

• Share this episode with policymakers, planners, and housing advocates

🎧 Reflective Questions

• What does “power” mean in the context of housing?

• Which solutions feel most replicable in your community?

• How do we move from emergency response to long-term change?

📱 Facebook Post (Promotional)

🏘️ New Episode Drop!

Shelter in Place is live with Episode 3: Solutions We’ve Tried—and What’s Working.

What if the solution isn’t more charity—but more power?

Join El Cameron as they explore Housing First models, tenant protections, and community-led housing innovations. With success stories from Houston, Salt Lake City, and Missoula, this episode highlights what’s working—and how we can replicate it.

🎧 Listen now: [Insert Link] 📚 Companion Guide: [Insert Link] 🗣️ Share your thoughts—what housing solutions are working in your community?

Episode 4: “The Blueprint Forward”

Theme: Reimagining housing justice as a human right Focus:

https://youtu.be/dhycmmUeJ_M

• Policy demands: universal housing, reparative zoning, public housing expansion

• Coalition-building across labor, disability, and immigrant rights

• Local organizing in Wyoming—what’s possible here?

• Calls to action for listeners: advocacy, storytelling, and solidarity Narrative Hook: “Housing justice is climate justice, racial justice, and economic justice.”

📢 Intro (Short)

“Welcome to Shelter in Place, a podcast about housing, homelessness, and the fight for dignity. I’m El Cameron, and today we’re diving into Episode 4: The Blueprint Forward. Because housing justice is climate justice, racial justice, and economic justice.”

📝 Episode Description (For Podcast Platforms)

Episode 4: The Blueprint Forward

In this episode, El Cameron reimagines housing justice as a human right—exploring bold policy demands like universal housing, reparative zoning, and public housing expansion. With a focus on coalition-building across labor, disability, and immigrant rights, El highlights what’s possible in Wyoming and beyond. This episode is a call to action for advocacy, storytelling, and solidarity. Because housing justice is climate justice, racial justice, and economic justice.

📚 Companion Guide: The Blueprint Forward

Purpose: Equip listeners with visionary frameworks and actionable strategies for housing justice.

🔍 Key Concepts

Universal Housing as a Human Right

• Housing is not a privilege—it’s a foundation for health, safety, and belonging

• Policy frameworks must guarantee access, not just availability

Reparative Zoning & Public Housing Expansion

• Reform exclusionary zoning laws that block affordable housing

• Invest in publicly owned, community-controlled housing

• Prioritize accessibility, sustainability, and racial equity

Coalition-Building Across Movements

• Labor: fair wages, worker housing, union-led development

• Disability: accessible design, supportive services, autonomy

• Immigrant Rights: language access, legal protections, anti-displacement policies

📈 Local Organizing Snapshot: Wyoming

• Zoning reform campaigns gaining traction in Laramie and Cheyenne

• Mutual aid networks bridging gaps in shelter and services

• Opportunities for rural land trusts and cooperative housing models

• Cross-sector coalitions emerging around housing, labor, and disability justice

🛠️ Action Steps

• Join or start a housing justice coalition in your area

• Advocate for reparative zoning and public housing investment

• Share your housing story with local media or elected officials

• Support cross-movement organizing—labor, disability, immigrant rights

• Host a teach-in or community forum using this podcast episode

🎧 Reflective Questions

• What does housing justice mean to me?

• How does my identity shape my experience of housing?

• What coalitions exist in my community—and how can I strengthen them?

• What would a reparative housing policy look like in Wyoming?

📱 Facebook Post (Promotional)

🏗️ New Episode Drop!

Shelter in Place is live with Episode 4: The Blueprint Forward.

Housing justice is climate justice, racial justice, and economic justice.

Join El Cameron as they reimagine housing as a human right—exploring universal housing, reparative zoning, and coalition-building across labor, disability, and immigrant rights. With a spotlight on local organizing in Wyoming, this episode offers a bold vision and a clear call to action.

🎧 Listen now: [Insert Link] 📚 Companion Guide: [Insert Link] 🗣️ What does housing justice look like in your community?