Everyone seems to have a solution for homelessness but only those who are working in the field and who have experienced homelessness really know what will work and what will not. Join in for an open and frank discussion will address current headlines about criminalizing those that are unhoused, returning to old and antiquated systems that prefer fines and jail time to providing true solutions.

The upcoming Changing the Narrative Series: What Works to End Homelessness brings together four of the leading experts in the sector to share their insights and knowledge on Wednesday, October 26, 5:30 – 7:00 pm  Register to join the Zoom webinar here.

Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services will moderate a panel of three experts to explore the successes that have been achieved in the homeless sector and why reverting back to old harmful systems will not truly end homelessness.

Eric Ares, Senior Manager of Homeless Strategy and System Change with the United Way of Greater LA
Eric Ares is the Senior Manager of Homeless Strategy and System Change with the United Way of Greater LA Home Food Good Initiative (UWGLA). In this capacity he works with public agencies, service providers, community organizations, and people with lived expertise to create policy and system solutions that better serve the immediate service and long-term housing needs of people experiencing homelessness. Prior to joining UWGLA in 2018, he worked as a community organizer, service provider, and policy advocate alongside unhoused and/or extremely low-income residents in the Skid Row/DTLA community.

Gary Blasi, Professor of Law Emeritus, UCLA Law
Gary Blasi joined the UCLA faculty in 1991 with a distinguished 20-year record of public interest practice. He was one of the founding and core faculty of the law school’s unique David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy. He became a Professor of Law Emeritus in 2013. Since then, he has continued an active public interest practice, working with and for unhoused people, low-income tenants, children in substandard schools, low wage workers, veterans, victims of discrimination, and community organizations dedicated to social justice. Most recently, Professor Blasi co-directed a collaborative effort to create and maintain an on-line eviction defense tool that California tenants can use to prepare and file the court documents required to defend an unlawful detainer (eviction) case and to connect with other tenants.

Dorothy Edwards, Union Station Homeless Services LEAP; Enrichment Services Coordinator at Housing Works of California
Dorothy Edwards is a member of LEAP, Union Station Homeless Services’ Lived Expertise Advisory Panel and serves as the Enrichment Services Coordinator at Housing Works of California. Since 2015 Dorothy has been leading life skills and recovery groups as well as setting up activities and outings.  She also speaks at the national and local level changing how people see the unhoused and advocating for supportive housing as a CSH “Speak Up!” Advocate and a member of the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) National Board Member.

Shawn Morrissey, Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, Union Station Homeless Services
Shawn Morrissey brings extensive knowledge of the issues involved in addressing homelessness, with nearly 20 years of experience in the field of homeless advocacy, service provision and social justice with a focus on mental health and substance use disorders. As a practitioner of the Housing First model, Shawn brings to bear his experience and knowledge of the best practices and evidence-based models that are crucial to solving homelessness and creating stability and sustainability in these vulnerable populations.

“To truly meet the needs of the individual, we must also address and educate the public about social issues that are at the root of homelessness. Our call to action is encapsulated in the series name and is the goal of each session — Changing the Narrative,” stated Anne Miskey, CEO Union Station Homeless Services.

This is the ninth in the Changing the Narrative Series, a free educational series created by Union Station Homeless Services to deepen community understanding of homelessness and housing. Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Most Innovative Awareness Campaign within the Los Angeles community, recordings of past webinars and resource guides can be accessed at https://unionstationhs.org/changing-the-narrative-series/.

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Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to
providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in
Pasadena, CA, Union Station has been in existence for almost 50 years. Union Station is the San
Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and
families. Recently expanding into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, we are the lead county agency for
Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a
combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by
the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home.  For more
information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.