On this episode, Rabbi Joshua is joined by Tim Nistler for a conversation about the impending cuts to SNAP benefits and how it is affecting our food pantry community. Tim shares the staggering new record of households in one week, and speaks about how you can help us serve those most in need.

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Rabbi Joshua checks in on Day 22 of the government shutdown. On November 1st, without an agreement to reopen, millions of people, mostly children, will lose their SNAP benefits, which are commonly known as food stamps or EBT cards. Yet, there is apparently money for other things...

CBS News article referenced in the episode

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In this episode, Rabbi Joshua checks in on day 9 of the government shutdown to highlight how this will potentially begin to affect the most vulnerable in our country, and how the current budget proposal includes sweeping cuts to the Continuum of Care funding for housing. In addition, he shares some thoughts from recent books on homelessness and poverty, including a clip from scholar Matthew Desmond. Listen and share!

National Alliance to End Homelessness

Matthew Desmond on The Jon Stewart Show

Closing music: Eric Clapton

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Today Rabbi Joshua is joined by Pasadena Housing Department's Homelessness Coordinator, Jenni O-Reilly Jones, as they discuss the results from both the 2024 Annual Homeless Count and the 2025 Point in Time Count. There are some positives to report, and of course, many challenges to overcome.

Read the full presentations here:

https://www.pasadenahomelesscount.org/

Pasadena City Services Line (for resources)

626-744-7311

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Jennifer is a single mom of two children who all fled for their lives on January 7th. Along with her parents, sister and their families, who all lived together in Altadena, they lost home. Jennifer talks with Rabbi Joshua about her life pre-fire and what has happened since that harrowing night.

Jennifer and her kids, after 7 months of moving around from motels to airbnbs, are now settled in a new apartment in Pasadena, the first people in Friends In Deed's new time limited subsidy program (TLS), which offers families up to 12 months rent to help them get back on their feet, along with case management and ongoing support.

We are grateful to Jennifer for sharing her story with us.

Closing music: Eric Clapton

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Today, Rabbi Joshua speaks with the Director of Street Outreach and Housing, Tish Inong, LCSW, to hear about the ways her team has been supporting those impacted by the Eaton fire, as well as a few exciting partnerships that are offering new aspects to the program, including Kaiser School of Medicine and Grandview Foundation a local organization providing addiction recovery programs and sober living.

Grandview Foundation

Kaiser School of Medicine

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On this episode, Rabbi Joshua shares in depth about the new strategic plan that is guiding the work of Friends In Deed for the next three years. And, as a special addition, he is playing some music in between segments of the show, so look forward to that new feature!

Read the FID Strategic Plan:

https://friendsindeedpas.org/strategic-plan/

https://friendsindeedpas.org

Rabbi Joshua welcomes the new CEO of Union Station, Katie Hill, to the podcast to discuss her background, career and initial thoughts on the state of homelessness in Pasadena. They also discuss the recent turmoil taking place with LAHSA and the Board of Supervisors, and what that could mean for service providers in our sector.

Rabbi Joshua also shares an update on Eaton Fire funding and how FID has been helping the community in the aftermath.

Outro music: Eric Clapton

https://friendsindeedpas.org