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SweptAwayLA

Welcome to SweptAwayLA

Welcome to Swept Away LA, the podcast that dives into the heart of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. Hosted by Nika, the founder and executive director of the Fund for Guaranteed Income, and co-host Ysenia, a communications strategist dedicated to raising awareness and driving change, this episode kicks off a powerful conversation about the stark reality behind LA’s homelessness crisis.

Nika and Ysenia share their personal journeys and why they’re passionate about shining a light on this issue. From Nika’s work on direct-cash relief programs like the Compton Pledge to Ysenia’s grassroots campaign experience, the duo provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by the unhoused community. They also reflect on their own eye-opening experiences with LA’s stark contrasts between wealth and inequality, setting the stage for deep discussions on policies, impacts, and real-world solutions—from guaranteed income to housing-first initiatives. Tune in as they explore the stories that often go untold, the solutions that are working, and the future of community care in LA.”

Episode 1: A System Built to Fail

Delve into the complex history of LA County’s supportive housing system. In conversation with Gary Blasi, professor emeritus at UCLA School of Law and longtime advocate for the rights of the unhoused.

Learn more about Gary.

Episode 2: Community Care vs. Care Court

Court, aimed at providing vital support for individuals grappling with mental health and substance use disorders. However, a shadow looms as special interest groups—like Walmart and Target—have poured millions into passing Proposition 36, which threatens to slash funding for treatment while toughening penalties for theft and drug-related offenses.

Join us as disability rights specialist Vanessa Ramos sheds light on the real-world implications of this proposition and exposes other costly scandals within the county that she could not overlook. Together, we’ll explore the critical need for genuine support and rehabilitation over punitive measures in addressing the root causes of these issues.  She will lay out the campaigns against forced treatment in Los Angeles including the campaigns against “CARE Court” forced treatment, conservatorship stripping people’s freedom, and forced institutionalization.

Support Disability Rights California

Episode 3: You Have to Move!

In this episode, we dive into the criminalization of homelessness in Los Angeles and the dangerous consequences of punitive policies aimed at unhoused individuals. Drawing from the Human Rights Watch report “You Have to Move!”, we explore how LA’s approach to homelessness, the harm of sweeping the streets, only worsens the situation, pushing people further into the margins and leaving them vulnerable to violence, arrest, and the lack of essential services.

Join us as we hear from John Raphling, an expert on criminalization and autonomous societies, who will provide a deeper understanding of why laws and policing targeting the unhoused are not only ineffective but actively harm those they are meant to address. John will explain the concept of autonomous societies and how some groups have navigated survival outside the traditional system, often in opposition to state control.

More from John Raphling

Episode 5: Who’s on the Front Line?

In this eye-opening episode, we tackle the dark side of California’s approach to homelessness: the notorious “sweeps.” These government-sanctioned operations don’t just clear encampments; they dismantle lives, confiscating the belongings of unhoused individuals and pushing them further into the shadows. With a recent Supreme Court ruling giving a green light to arresting unhoused folks, Governor Newsom has doubled down, even joining in on the sweeps himself.

Join us as we chat with Christine, a former unhoused individual who has turned her experience into a passionate advocacy for others. She opens up about what life on the streets was really like and how she’s developed her own approach to helping the unhoused community based on her personal journey. Christine also shares her firsthand experience witnessing sweeps and gives us an inside look at what the unhoused community thinks about the city’s interventions.

Support the Compton Homeless Outreach