Homelessness has been a significant problem in the United States since the years of Grinch Reagan -- or is it Scrooge Reagan? -- but the number of housing insecure adults and children has been increasing exponentially in recent years. A rich country like ours has no excuse for continuing to disregard the dire needs of homeless people when we know how to solve them. The state of Utah is on target to completely eradicate chronic homelessness by simply giving people apartments through its Housing First program. Simple yet effective, especially since it costs less than policing costs, hospital visits or jail beds. Only when someone has a stable housing situation can they begin to think about finding paid work.

Did you enjoy this inaugural mini-cast? Share it around and send your comments, questions and suggestions for future show topics and/or guests to feedback@politicized.org, leave a comment on this post or follow me on Twitter @Unconventionist or my Facebook page.

Next up, a fantastic interview with Georgetown University Associate Professor Karl Widerquist on the most comprehensive way to end poverty for good: a universal basic income.