Podcast appearances and mentions of margot kushel

Patti Tripathi talks with Margot Kushel, MD,  and Robynne Rose-Haymer ahead of their keynote presentation on providing care to the unhoused population on May 18 at ATS 2025. Dr. Kushel is chief of the Division of Health Equity and Society and director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Ms. Rose-Haymer is the director of the California Legislative Staff Education Institute at Capitol Impact Consulting.09:36 What can the VA's initiatives among the homeless population teach clinicians?13:25 How can we create solutions?Register for the ATS 2025 International Conference at conference.thoracic.org

I was very proud to use the word “apotheosis” on today's podcast.  See if you can pick out the moment.  I say something like, “Palliative care for people experiencing homelessness is, in many ways, the apotheosis of great palliative care.”  And I believe that to be true.  When you think about the early concepts that shaped the field, you can see how palliative care for persons experiencing homelessness fits like a hand in a glove: total pain envisioned by Cicely Saunders, which even its earliest sketches included social suffering like loneliness; or Balfour Mount, who coined the term “palliative care,” lamenting the cruel irony of our care for the dying, and the desperate need to create programs to reach more people experiencing suffering. Today we talk with Naheed Dosani, a palliative care physician at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, and health justice activist. His story, which he shares on today's podcast, is remarkable.  Just out of fellowship, Naheed built a palliative care program for homeless persons  called the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Program.  This podcast is a complement to our prior podcast on aging and homelessness with Margot Kushel. Today we discuss: What is the best terminology? Homeless? Homelessness? Houseless? Marginally housed? What makes palliative care for people experiencing homelessness challenging? What makes it rewarding?  What is unique about the practice of palliative care for people experiencing homelessness? We discuss the principles of harm reduction, social determinants of health, and trauma informed care.  Major overlap with substance use disorder issues, which we have covered recently (and frequently) on this podcast. How are the health systems designed or not designed to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness?  What are the equity issues at stake, and at risk of being cut, both in Canada and the US?   Many more links below.  And I had a blast playing Blinding Lights by that Toronto band The Weekend. Enjoy! -Alex   End Well Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG4QE-hfPQU Resources on the PEACH Program Program Review Paper – A recent publication in Longwoods Healthcare Quarterly reviewing the PEACH model. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37144698/ Promising Practice Recognition – PEACH was named a Promising Practice in equity-oriented palliative care as part of a national initiative funded by Health Canada, operated by Healthcare Excellence Canada & the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/media/z3jifqqd/pp-peach-en-2024-v2.pdf Toronto Star Feature https://www.thestar.com/life/together/people/dr-naheed-dosani-started-peach-to-provide-palliative-care-for-homeless-and-vulnerably-housed-populations/article_c56d8f45-cbe9-522e-9554-46778bf50407.html CityNews Toronto Feature https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/08/08/peach-team-palliative-health-care-homelessness/ Psychosocial Interventions at PEACH In addition to medical care, PEACH also runs two key psychosocial interventions for our clients: PEACH Grief Circles – Structured spaces for workers in the homelessness sector to process grief. CBC covered this a few years ago, including a radio segment feature on CBC White Coat, Black Art (which you can access at the below link). https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/palliative-care-team-helps-the-homeless-die-with-dignity-a-healing-circle-helps-them-grieve-1.5048409 PEACH Good Wishes Program – A program that provides meaningful gifts for unhoused individuals who are terminally ill. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-homeless-palliative-holidays-1.5407360 Kensington Hospice & 'Radical Love' Equity-Oriented Hospice Palliative Care Naheed Dosani also serves as the Medical Director of Kensington Hospice, Toronto's largest hospice. There, he helps run an innovative program called 'Radical Love' Equity-Oriented Hospice Palliative Care, which provides low-threshold, low-barrier access to hospice care for structurally vulnerable individuals (e.g., those experiencing homelessness). The program also operates via a partnership with the PEACH Program. As a result of the 'Radical Love' program at Kensington Hospice: At any given time, Kensington Hospice has evolved from caring for structurally vulnerable individuals

Homelessness is detrimental to health and clinicians can play an important role in mitigating the deleterious effects of homelessness. Margot Kushel, MD, University of California, San Francisco, discusses this and more with JAMA Senior Editor Karen E. Lasser, MD, MPH. Related Content: Health Care for People Experiencing Homelessness

Every other January, hundreds of volunteers hit the stress across the Bay Area and attempt to count the number of unhoused people and families. The point-in-time count offers a snapshot into the scope of homelessness in different communities, but most experts agree the methodology is often inaccurate and flawed. The preliminary data for this year's count is finally out and reveals jumps and declines in different cities across the Bay Area. We'll talk to experts to demystify the counting process, understand this year's numbers and discuss how data collection could be improved. Guests: Sydney Johnson, reporter, KQED News Elester Hubbard, outreach supervisor, San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SFHOT) Paul Boden, executive director, Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) Dr. Margot Kushel, professor of medicine, UCSF; director, UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative Christin Evans, vice chair, San Francisco's Homelessness Oversight Commission; owner, Booksmith; co-owner, the Alembic bar

Homelessness has reached a record high, with over 650,000 people experiencing it in the USA today. Despite this staggering number, many remain unaware of the true underlying causes of this crisis. Myths surrounding issues like drug use and immigration often serve as convenient scapegoats, deflecting attention from meaningful efforts to address the problem. This not only represents a moral failure towards those experiencing homelessness but also towards the communities affected by it. This week, Adam shares an illuminating conversation with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative and a leading authority on the causes and solutions to the homelessness crisis. Dr. Kushel and the BHHI recently conducted the largest study of the homeless population in decades, and speaks with Adam about her findings, including surprising information about who comprises the homeless population, what it is actually like to be unhoused, and possible solutions to the crisis that may be closer to hand than we realize.SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconoverSEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Factually! on:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factually-with-adam-conover/id1463460577» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw4ffMc2NWydBlDyJAbout Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.» SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1» FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum» FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/» FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum» Advertise on Factually! via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"There is a very evidence-based way to house people for people who are experiencing homelessness, it has been around a long time, it's been testing empirically, it's called housing first" - Dr Margot Kushel, Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative.In this episode, Dr Margot Kushel explores the moral injury of being a frontline clinician and having to discharge people back onto the streets. How her College told her that no medical school would ever accept her and her success has been to honor the commitment to others who face unfair treatment by our system. Dr Kushel elaborates on her landmark research into Homelessness in California, highlighting the moral, medical, social and economic impact that this issue has on those individuals, their families and society as a whole. She goes on to emphasise that homelessness is a housing problem and that this is one of the key areas that needs to be addressed. Dr Kushel outlines the less forgiving the structural and safety net factors are, the fewer individual factors it takes for people to end up homeless. Finally, she explains the types of activities that clinicians can get involved in to help solve this issue.Follow Dr Margot Kushel* Twitter/X* LinkedInAbout the guest:Margot Kushel, MD is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and Division Chief and Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, and Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. She is a practicing general internist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Margot's research focuses on the causes and consequences of homelessness and housing instability, with the goal of preventing and ending homelessness and ameliorating the effects of homelessness and housing instability on health. She speaks at a local, state, and national level about issues of homelessness, and frequently provides testimony to legislative bodies.Contact Information: If you have any feedback, questions or if you'd like to get in touch, reach out at: jono@clinicalchangemakers.comIntro and Out Music Attribution: Music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clinicalchangemakers.com

In My Place educates listeners on what cities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused. We talk to guests about everything from best practices to worst failures and hear from people who intimately know the complexities of having nowhere to go. This series, thanks in part to support from Pinnacle Financial Partners, highlights how affordable housing affects each of us — even when we think it doesn't. Guests: • Dr. Marybeth Shinn, Vanderbilt professor • Dr. Margot Kushel, USCF professor, Director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative • Vicky Batcher, Neighborhood Health board member • Jamie Villegas, Homelessness Planning Council member • Deirdre Nicole Childress director of communications, trauma services and case management for Gideon's Army • Liz Mallard, former outreach worker

Many people think they know about the lives of people experiencing homelessness, but those perceptions are often based on anecdote. Margot Kushel, MD joins us to talk about her work on the largest representative study of homelessness since the 1990s, and what it says about who experiences homelessness, why they become homeless, their experiences while living without housing, and barriers to re-entering stable housing.

We're in your podcast feed early this week with another Politifest 2023 drop: "What We Know About Homelessness" with Dr. Margot Kushel. Kushel, one of the nation's foremost experts on health and homelessness, sat down with Voice of San Diego senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt to break down an unprecedented study on homelessness Led by Kushel, the study included interviews of nearly 3,200 people across the state. Kushel summarized the study's findings for us in this interview, including demographic breakdowns, behavioral health, substance use and treatment, and supports the state needs. See all our videos, transcripts and reports from Politifest 2023 at politifest.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best of 5M: “This is a story of deep poverty in a state with incredibly high housing costs.” That's how Dr. Margot Kushel, director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, describes the takeaway from California's largest study of homeless adults in three decades. As Kushel, the study's lead investigator, tells host Cecilia Lei, the majority of respondents became homeless in California — and relatively small amounts of money could have prevented it for almost everyone. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America's homeless population is larger than in any other developed economy. On any given night, more than half a million people experience homelessness. One-third of them are in just one state—California. In this episode, Dr. Margot Kushel explains the country's rise in homelessness and the critical impact of housing on the health needs of vulnerable populations. Dr. Margot Kushel is the director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Her research focuses on reducing the burden of homelessness on health through examining efforts to prevent and end homelessness and mitigating the effects of housing instability on healthcare outcomes.Follow Dr. Kushel on TwitterFollow host Halle Tecco on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new study from the University of California San Francisco is the largest study of homelessness in the U.S. in several decades. The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness includes 3,200 administered questionnaires and 365 in-depth interviews with adults experiencing homelessness in urban, rural, and suburban areas. We talk to Margot Kushel, principal investigator on the study, about what researchers learned and how the data might be relevant outside of California.

Dr. Margot Kushel is the co-author of a recent groundbreaking report by the UC San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, which represents the largest study on homelessness since the 1990s. Offering a sobering portrait of societal failures, the study underscores homelessness as perhaps the state's most compelling and pervasive crisis. An authority on homelessness and health, Kushel discusses the mosaic of factors contributing to the struggles of roughly 171,000 individuals experiencing homelessness on California's streets.

Across the country, many Americans are staying indoors with air conditioning on to avoid the summer's heat and humidity. But that's not an option for thousands of Californians who are unsheltered and living outside. Dr. Margot Kushel, head of UCSF's Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, joins Ali Rogin to discuss a new study that offers insights into this population. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Across the country, many Americans are staying indoors with air conditioning on to avoid the summer's heat and humidity. But that's not an option for thousands of Californians who are unsheltered and living outside. Dr. Margot Kushel, head of UCSF's Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, joins Ali Rogin to discuss a new study that offers insights into this population. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

India's Controversial Leader Modi Gets the Royal Treatment at the White House But is an Alliance with the US in the Cards? | A Supreme Court Captured by Plutocrats Has Thomas and Alito Serving Their Billionaire Buddies | Homelessness is Caused by Loss of Income and Just $300 a Month Could Keep People Off the Streets backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

“This is a story of deep poverty in a state with incredibly high housing costs.” That's how Dr. Margot Kushel, director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, describes the takeaway from California's largest study of homeless adults in three decades. As Kushel, the study's lead investigator, tells host Cecilia Lei, the majority of respondents became homeless in California — and relatively small amounts of money could have prevented it for almost everyone. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon is speaking with Professor of Medicine and Division Chief at the Division of Vulnerable Populations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, Margot Kushel, MD. This episode focuses on the state of older adult homelessness in California, and together, the pair discuss the complex interactions between health and homelessness, and potential solutions to prevent and address the issue.Join us for this thoughtful episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California. Our goal is to empower you with the facts and information that will help make California more livable for people of all ages.      Please visit AARP.org/Livable and AARP.org/CA for more information!Follow UsTwitter @AARPCAFacebook @aarpcaliforniaInstagram @aarpcaPresented by AARP Californiawww.AARP.org/CA

In 1990 11% of homeless persons were older than 50.  Today half are over age 50.  Today we talk with Margot Kushel about how we got here, including: That sense of powerlessness as a clinician when you “fix up” a patient in the hospital, only to discharge them to the street knowing things will fall apart. Chronic vs acute homelessness What is the major driver of homelessness in general?   What is the major driver of the increase in older homeless persons? Why do we say “over 50” is “older” for homeless persons, why not 65?  To what extent is the rise of tech in San Francisco to blame for our local rise in homelessness?  What are the structural factors and individual factors that contribute to homelessness? How has the history of redlining and the federal tax subsidy of wealthy (mostly white) people in the form of a mortgage interest deduction contributed to racial inequalities in homelessness? What can we do about it?  What are the highest yield interventions and policy changes? What should we call it - homeless or unhoused? We were fortunate to make it to the end of this podcast before Margot lost power.  It's storming again in the Bay Area at the time we record this.  So much harder than for the older homeless people on the streets with no power to lose.  A mad world out there (song hint). Key references:  -Margot Kushel's UCSF Grand Rounds  -JAMA IM paper on mortality among older homeless persons -NEJM perspective arguing that interventions to address homelessness shouldn't be evaluated on cost savings.   -@AlexSmithMD  

What's California doing to address the issue of chronic homelessness? Some say nothing while others point to many efforts at the local and state levels. In this discussion, Dr. Margot Kushel, State Senator John Laird, and Dr. Toby Ewing explore the ways in which California is addressing the problem of the chronically unsheltered, what barriers remain, and how innovative solutions might restore some of the sheen to the state's golden reputation. [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38782]

What's California doing to address the issue of chronic homelessness? Some say nothing while others point to many efforts at the local and state levels. In this discussion, Dr. Margot Kushel, State Senator John Laird, and Dr. Toby Ewing explore the ways in which California is addressing the problem of the chronically unsheltered, what barriers remain, and how innovative solutions might restore some of the sheen to the state's golden reputation. [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38782]

What's California doing to address the issue of chronic homelessness? Some say nothing while others point to many efforts at the local and state levels. In this discussion, Dr. Margot Kushel, State Senator John Laird, and Dr. Toby Ewing explore the ways in which California is addressing the problem of the chronically unsheltered, what barriers remain, and how innovative solutions might restore some of the sheen to the state's golden reputation. [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38782]

What's California doing to address the issue of chronic homelessness? Some say nothing while others point to many efforts at the local and state levels. In this discussion, Dr. Margot Kushel, State Senator John Laird, and Dr. Toby Ewing explore the ways in which California is addressing the problem of the chronically unsheltered, what barriers remain, and how innovative solutions might restore some of the sheen to the state's golden reputation. [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38782]

In this series, we're taking a look at some of the real science, policy, economics, law and ethics that inspired the events of Vanguard Estates. Today: what even is dementia, and why can't we cure it?   Guests: Dr. Malú Gámez Tansey — professor of neuroscience and neurology at the University of Florida, and the co-director of the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease Dr. Tia Powell — psychiatrist and the director of the Center for Bioethics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, author of the book Dementia Reimagined: Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End. Charles Piller — investigative reporter at Science magazine Dr. Tanisha Hill-Jarrett — neuropsychologist and postdoctoral fellow at UCSF Dr. Margot Kushel — professor of medicine at UCSF and the director of the Center for Vulnerable Populations and the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative Kate Swaffer: activist & author, co-founder of Dementia Alliance International Nikki: care partner & founder of A Log Cabin in Brooklyn → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ←  Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Ozzy Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky. Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.com Support the show: Patreon // Donorbox Subscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify  Episode Sponsors: Purple Carrot: Purple Carrot is THE plant-based subscription meal kit that makes it easy to cook irresistible meals to fuel your body. Each week, choose from an expansive and delicious menu of dinners, lunches, breakfasts, and snacks! Get $30 off your first box by going to www.purplecarrot.com and entering code FLASH at checkout today! Purple Carrot, the easiest way to eat more plants!  Knowable: Learn today's most in-demand skills with actionable, podcast-style lessons from top experts. Download the Knowable app or visit Knowable.fyi and use the code FLASHFORWARD for an additional 20% off.  The proceeds from ads on this episode will be donated to Moms 4 Housing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. Margot Kushel explains the country's rise in homelessness and the critical impact of housing on the health needs of vulnerable populations. Dr. Margot Kushel is the director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations. Her research focuses on reducing the burden of homelessness on health through examining efforts to prevent and end homelessness and mitigating the effects of housing instability on health care outcomes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The majority of San Francisco residents have gotten vaccinated against the coronavirus. But a lack of trust in the healthcare system or trouble making an appointment or going to a vaccination site may still pose barriers for some, especially people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Margot Kushel, a physician and researcher who directs the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, is part of a collaborative multi-organizational effort to bring the vaccines to people out on the streets.

By Chris Nichols San Francisco’s early response to the coronavirus was considered a model for fighting the pandemic. But a California state lawmaker claimed this week the city experienced a drug overdose crisis that dwarfed its COVID-19 death count last year.  CapRadio’s PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols spoke with anchor Mike Hagerty about that claim in this week’s Can You Handle The Truth segment.  Interview Highlights On the facts of the claim Republican state Assemblyman Kevin Kiley of Rocklin made that claim on Twitter, and it was shared more than 2,000 times. For some context, Kiley has really made a name for himself by pushing back against former San Francisco mayor and current Gov. Gavin Newsom, especially on pandemic restrictions.  In this case, the numbers show Kiley is correct.  There has been a big increase in ‘drug overdose deaths’ in San Francisco. There were nearly 700 last year, much higher than in years past. That’s according to a recent medical examiner’s report. On factors that led to the increase Public health officials say it was fueled by the spread across the city of the powerful opioid fentanyl. They say it was made worse by the pandemic which isolated people and cut them off from drug treatment.  Margot Kushel is a professor of medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. “These deaths are preventable," Kushel said. "These deaths were on the uptick before the COVID pandemic. But much about the pandemic really impaired our ability to address it. There’s no question we are losing way too many people to this preventable cause of death.”  On how those 700 deaths compares with San Francisco’s deaths from COVID-19 last year It is more than twice the city’s COVID-19 deaths from last year, which totaled 257, according to data from city’s Department of Public Health. It’s important to note that San Francisco was praised for its early response and had one of the lowest ‘COVID-19 death rates’ of any major city in the country.  But in the end, Kiley’s statement is still correct. There were more than twice as many overdose fatalities in San Francisco than deaths due to the virus.  We rated his claim True.  On a widely-shared Facebook post that claimed Congresswoman Maxine Waters could be “sentenced” for jury tampering Our PolitiFact California contributor Sasha Hupka fact-checked that claim. This was connected to the Derek Chavin trial, he’s the police officer who was found guilty last week in the death of George Floyd.  Days before that verdict, Waters told protesters in Minnesota that if Chauvin wasn’t convicted they should “get more confrontational.”  Chauvin’s defense attorney brought them up at the trial and asked for a mistrial saying her words would influence the jury.  The judge in the case rejected that, saying the jury had been instructed not to watch the news. The judge, however, did say her words might be grounds for an appeal in the case.  Still, legal experts told us there is no evidence Waters tried to unduly influence the jury and that there’s no case to charge or sentence her for those actions.  We found the social media post misleading. We rated it Mostly False. 

We have a level of understanding on why there's a homeless crisis in the U.S., and we know what is and isn't being done. Here's a Quick Clip, where Dr. Margot Kushel, from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and the Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, shares what is needed from government agencies.

In the United States, a lot is spent on the homeless for healthcare, the criminal justice system, non-profit support and others programs. Many suggest it's cheaper to house a homeless person than to pay for those programs. Dr. Margot Kushel, from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and the Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, on addressing the homeless crisis, "It's not only the right thing to do, it's the economically sound thing to do.”

How does the U.S. homeless crisis impact the healthcare system and those in the medical community? Dr. Margot Kushel, from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and the Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, discusses her firsthand knowledge.

How extensive is the homeless crisis in the United States? Dr. Margot Kushel, from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and the Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, shared some facts and opinions on the problem.

As you listen to this episode, there are approximately 500,000 people who are homeless in the United States. As in, roughly half of the population for the state of Rhode Island! We wanted to know why and, as usual, we went right to ground zero for your expert.Dr. Margot Kushel, Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, is recognized as an authority on issues facing the homeless and, this is important, has spent a significant portion of her professional life tackling the problems head-on. Dr. Kushel covers the scope of the problem, the impact on the healthcare system, what she would like to see government agencies do (note: some are taking action), and more. Spoiler alert: Some of her points will possibly make people uncomfortable.In this edition of Crazy Bids, the state of Maryland is attempting to address the opioid crisis from the front.All of that and more. A lot more!Dr. Margot Kushel: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/margot.kushel#toc-id3Twitter: @MKushelReferences mentioned:National Alliance to End Homelessnesshttps://endhomelessness.org/National Low Income Housing Coalitionhttps://nlihc.org/