Today’s episode is one that goes back to a core motivation for starting this podcast in the first place. One of the reasons I love housing is because it is so complex. Never in a million years could someone be a true expert on the full housing system, in part because there will always be new wrinkles. This doesn’t mean it can’t be a goal to learn as much as possible about all the corners of housing, and this podcast has always been about giving me as the host and you as the listener a chance to dig deeper into a part of housing you may be aware of but don’t fully grasp.

Our focus here is on the growing connection between the health system and housing, in particular, creative ways in which housing and social services agencies are using healthcare dollars and programs to provide housing services and improve housing outcomes. This isn’t just housing as healthcare. It’s a recognition by the healthcare system of how our systems can and must become better linked.

My guests today are two leaders from the North Bay whose organizations have helped pushed this work forward. Chris Cabral is the CEO of COTS, an organization that has worked with people facing homelessness in Sonoma County for more than 35 years. Erin Hawkins is the VP of Programs for Community Action Marin, an organization who has been working to support often invisible low income people in one of the wealthiest communities in America since the Johnson Administration. It’s an honor to have them both here on the show, and to reflect on their work in a part of the Bay Area that means so much to me personally.

I hope you enjoy today’s show, which also marks the end of the brilliant tenure of Tina Lee as our editor and my partner in crime on this podcast. After 24 fantastic episodes, we’re going to take a pause for a bit to figure out a pathway to a more sustainable podcast future and focus in the meantime on getting words on paper the old fashioned way.

Thanks for tuning in, and thanks to all of you who’ve subscribed, paid money, given likes or otherwise supported the show.

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