Apple News In Conversation Rebroadcast: They work full-time jobs. Why are they homeless?
May 7, 2026
Brian Goldstone, a journalist and anthropologist who wrote There Is No Place For Us, explores working homelessness in America. He discusses hidden scales of homelessness, how rents outpace wages, and eviction schemes. He describes extended-stay hotels, private equity landlord tactics, and practical policy fixes alongside social housing ideas.
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Official Homeless Counts Miss Most Working Homeless
- Official homeless counts (point-in-time) miss millions; Goldstone estimates the true number is about six times the official 740,000.
- Families living in cars, hotels, or doubled-up are omitted, so the scale of housing insecurity is dramatically underreported.
Rents Have Outpaced Incomes Nationwide
- Since 1985 rents have outpaced incomes by 325%, creating a nationwide affordability gap.
- No state or metro allows a full-time minimum wage worker to afford a two-bedroom, and SSI maximums (about $967) don't cover average rents anywhere.
Vouchers Won In Lottery Often Go Unused
- Britt won a Section 8 voucher lottery but lost it because no landlords would accept vouchers before it expired.
- Landlords avoid voucher tenants to skip safety inspections and perceived stigma, so many vouchers go unused despite demand.
