Hope Series Part 3: Radical Hope - Tools for Working in the Margins from Letters to the Housed by Paul Asplund

"Radical hope is hope that exists even when we are experiencing the destruction of our culture," writes Jonathan Lear. In times of authoritarianism, violence, and despair, how do we nurture hope? Through a deeply personal story of addiction recovery, spiritual awakening, and 30 years of practice, discover the prayers and tools that sustain radical hope when the world feels broken.

When Someone Lobs a Grenade At You… You Throw It Back - Letters to the Housed by Paul Asplund

Every day I see the most effective homelessness interventions happening at the community level. It's volunteer organizations providing essential services. It's faith communities opening their doors. It's neighbors who learn the names of people living on their streets and figure out what they actually need. These aren't the organizations getting the big federal grants. They're too small, too grassroots, too focused on relationships instead of metrics. But they're also the ones achieving real transformations because they understand something Washington never will: ending homelessness is about rebuilding human connection, not managing case loads.

When Fear Comes Knocking: Immigration Raids Push More LA Families Into Homelessness - Letters to the Housed

Over the past five years, anywhere from 127–230 Angelenos have lost their housing every day. But now, we're facing a perfect storm: immigration raids are pushing families into homelessness just as the January fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades have destroyed over 16,000 structures. California experienced a 3.1% drop in private-sector jobs within a single week after federal immigration raids—worse than the Great Recession or early COVID. With 600,000 people in LA County rent-burdened and 67% of undocumented households already struggling before the raids, fear itself has become a driver of homelessness. But solutions exist: direct cash assistance programs are proving effective, and LA's mansion tax has $14.6 million ready for deployment to help families stay housed.

Inching Forward Isn't Enough - Letters to the Housed

"We've lost the compassion to see these as real emergencies with life-altering complications." When almost seven people die daily from the effects of street life in LA, progress isn't enough. While Hollywood Forward proves that local organizing works—housing 50% of their neighbors—our emergency response systems still fail during the hours people need help most. From broken 2-1-1 systems to the promising new ECRC that closes at 5 PM, we're inching forward when lives demand we sprint. This is an emergency for all of us, housed and unhoused. We choose to let this continue. We can choose to end it.

Dear LA Times Editorial Staff re Homelessness: I have some thoughts.

Many years after recovering from homelessness and building a great life, I started working on the streets, first in SF and now in LA, bringing direct services, such as hygiene, laundry, haircuts, clothing, etc., to people who had lost their homes…