Voice: A Catholic Charities Podcast

In this episode of Voice, Lorna Schmidt and Mike Rios-Keating discuss Direct Cash Transfers which is the idea of the government giving cash to individuals with no strings attached as a possible intervention to end poverty and homelessness. 

We'd like to think that when we pause and reflect on the holidays, those things that bring us joy and comfort, it's an invitation to ask ourselves, how do we let that fuel us to give back or to do hard work or be in relationship with others? The team is going to share with each other some of our favorite holiday things but in a unique way.

Shawn Phillips, Lay Director of the Church of Gichitwaa Kateri and Office of Indian Ministry for the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis, shares stories from his ministry within our Native American communities, discusses the importance of learning about our interconnected histories, and reflects on this work within the context of Catholic Social Teaching. You can learn more about the Church of Gichitwaa Kateri here or contact Shawn at [email protected]. For a list of referenced resources for further learning, visit the podcast's blog page.

"Criminal." When you hear the word, what comes to mind? Do you envision someone of a certain age, gender, race, or place? Do you think of yourself, or those closest to you? Lorna and Mike speak with Emily Baxter, Executive Director of We Are All Criminals, a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging society's perception of what it means to be "criminal." 

Helping a household find alternative housing rather than entering shelter or experiencing unsheltered homelessness is less costly and more effective at preventing homelessness.  Lorna Schmidt talks with Alanna Hinz-Sweeney and Breana Guernsey about the practice of diversion and how it results in highly successful housing outcomes. 

Lorna Schmidt and Mike Rios-Keating talk with Jazz Hampton, Co-founder and CEO of TurnSignl, an innovative app for on-demand guidance from an attorney to get you home safe. Developed in the wake of the death of Philando Castile, TurnSignl aims to be one part of the ecosystem of justice through safer interactions between law enforcement and drivers. You can learn more at TurnSignl.com

Homeless. What comes to mind when you hear that word? The Housing and Urban Development definition to be homeless is to have stayed last night in one of four locations or situations.   That's a place not fit for human habitation, like under a bridge or a skyway or bus stop. An emergency shelter would be one of those, transitional housing or if you're exiting an institution like a prison or a hospital. There is a vast diversity of situations that exist in homelessness. Some may even challenge some assumptions you have about "homelessness."

Lorna Schmidt, Public policy manager with Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis offers some top tips and tricks for getting lawmakers to listen to you. Lorna is joined by Paul Slack, who is the vice president of Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.

The importance of stable housing is undeniable; it is one of the best-researched indicators of good health. Housing instability puts one at risk for poor health, and poor health increases the risk of housing instability. What are the individual, societal, and cultural impacts of this cycle? What are the underlying causes, and how can we address them?

Lorna Schmidt and Mike Rios-Keating take a look back at some of the key episodes and guests from the first year of the Voice podcast.