In this special episode we take a deep dive into why homelessness is a systemic issue—one driven by decades of policy decisions, economic shifts, and social inequities rather than individual choices.

We hear from Don Burnes, co-founder of the Burnes Institute for Poverty Research at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. From deinstitutionalization and urban renewal to the failures of the housing market and the widening wage gap, Don lays out the systemic factors that have fueled the homelessness crisis in Denver and nationwide.

We also feature insights from Jeff Olivet, former director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, who argues that homelessness results from the breakdown of multiple systems—housing, healthcare, criminal justice, education, and social safety nets—not personal failures.

This episode challenges the stereotypes surrounding homelessness and calls for solutions that shift power to those with lived experience. We highlight Elevated Denver’s Collaboratory and the resultant community-driven solution to make services more accessible and responsive.

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