KRFC From Here to Home

David and Larry dive deeper into the systemic issues observed by Drs. Peña and Birnbaum of caring for patients who are experiencing homelessness within the American healthcare system.

David and Larry talk to two doctors on the rewards--and frustrations—of caring for patients who may have nowhere to store medicine, recover from illness or even find a ride to the clinic.

“Pick yourself up by your bootstraps.” “Give a hand up, not a handout.” These are just two of the many common expressions that drive David crazy.

David and Larry talk about the different ways individuals can make a difference -- as well as the pitfalls when good intentions aren't enough.

David and Larry talk to Lindsay Mason, Director of Off-Campus Life and Michael Buttram, Basic Needs Program Manager, both from Colorado State University, about homelessness on college campuses -- and the toll it takes on the students. College is hard enough. Now imagine not knowing where you'll be spending the night tomorrow or next week or next month.

David and Larry talk to David Autenrieth, Director of Language, Culture and Equity at Poudre School District, about the rising numbers of elementary- and high-school students facing housing insecurity. That child may not be falling asleep in class because he doesn't care or because he's rude. He's falling asleep because he's living in a car.

Our homelessness crisis is about to get a lot worse, as the number of older people who are unhoused -- those over 50 -- continues to grow. David and Larry talk about why that's happening, and how resources are sorely lacking for the specific needs of this demographic. 

A recent Supreme Court decision has made it a crime to be homeless. David and Larry discuss what's behind that decision--and the effort by so many communities to jail people for the simple fact that they have no place to live. They discuss why that doesn't work, how it creates a neverending loop to nowhere, and what's a better way to approach the issue.

Long-time advocate for people experiencing homelessness, Sister Mary Alice Murphy, talks with David and Larry about how she became a nun, as well as her motivations for working with the needy and poor. Learn about how her life's path lead her to Denver, Colorado, and ultimately Fort Collins, where she has helped create a support network for people experiencing homelessness.

Long-time advocate for people experiencing homelessness, Sister Mary Alice Murphy, talks with David and Larry about how she became a nun, as well as her motivations for working with the needy and poor. Learn about how her life's path lead her to Denver, Colorado, and ultimately Fort Collins, where she has helped create a support network for people experiencing homelessness.

Why do people experiencing homelessness often have nice smart phones or cool shoes? David and Larry talk about homelessness and buying stuff. It turns out, the cost of a pair of new kicks isn't enough to buy a house.

David and Larry invite Bryan Aptekar to talk about his experience supporting people experiencing homelessness through his work with the city of Portland. Specifically, they talk about Bryan's experience with the Portland Loo, and why public restroom access is so critical for people experiencing homelessness, as well as everyone who uses the bathroom on a daily basis.

Rhonda Merrick talks with David and Larry about her experience with homelessness in Fort Collins, the positives and the negatives of it. She shares her song, "My Catholic Charities Bed", and explains the themes within the song. Rhonda, Larry, and David discuss the variety of programs that Rhonda discovered and accessed through the staff at the Murphy Center and Catholic Charities.

Learn what people mean when they use the phrase "housing first", as it relates to homelessness. Larry and David discuss the uses and abuses of this term, as well as the various programs or projects intended by this phrase. Among other topics, learn how housing people experiencing homelessness improves the quality of life for this segment of the population and saves money for the communities where they live.

Larry and David discuss why and how people experiencing homelessness care for pets. You can also learn how people who are homeless care for their pets, and what life is like living with a pet while being homeless. Explore the motivations behind caring for a pet while homeless in the words of people living the experience, and how living with a pet while homeless is similar and different to living with a pet while housed.

David and Larry discuss why people experiencing homelessness sometimes don't stay in shelters. Explore the topics like health risks, social restrictions, pets, and other concerns. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic was a particularly challenging time to be a shelter provider, and David discusses some of the key lessons that shelter providers learned from that experience.

David and Larry talk about how mental health and homelessness affect each other. One of the stereotypes of people experiencing homelessness is a person who is talking to themselves on the street. David debunks this myth and highlights a surprising solution to help people who are struggling with homelessness and mental health issues.