UnHoused & UnFiltered | MCAH's Podcast on Homelessness & Housing

About UnHoused & UnFiltered | MCAH's Podcast on Homelessness & Housing

UnHoused and UnFiltered — Podcast Overview UnHoused and UnFiltered is a Michigan-based podcast that tackles the real issues surrounding housing insecurity and homelessness across the state. It brings together a range of voices — from policy experts and advocates to individuals who have lived through homelessness — to explore both systemic causes and practical responses. Episodes are frank, in-depth conversations that go beyond surface-level discussion to highlight nuanced perspectives and lived realities. Hosts & Perspective Hosted by Nick Cook, Director of Public Policy at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), and Sarah Prout-Rennie, Senior Director of Advocacy and Engagement at MCAH. These leaders bring a mix of: Public policy analysis Advocacy insights Community engagement strategies Their work with MCAH — a statewide organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Michigan — informs the show’s focus on housing justice, structural challenges, and supportive policies.

Publisher

Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Mar 2026

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Five Lives Lost: Does Lansing Have a Serial Killer Preying on the Homeless?

   Listen to this special episode of Un-Housed and Unfiltered. Hosts Nick Cook and Sarah Rennie discuss the tragic deaths of five unhoused individuals in Lansing and the growing fear gripping the community. Joined by Greg Pratt, a veteran, street outreach advocate, and co-founder of Michigan HOPE, they discuss the ongoing investigations, the realities of living unsheltered amid threats of violence, and the critical need for an immediate, compassionate community response. This l episode reminds listeners that homelessness does not diminish someone's humanity or right to safety—and that these five individuals were neighbors, family members, and valued members of our community. The call to action is clear: protect our unhoused neighbors, support local outreach organizations, share credible information, and demand solutions rooted in dignity rather than displacement. This is an essential listen- please like and share

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   The Right to Stay: How Legal Representation Prevents Homelessness

   What happens when a missed paycheck, unexpected medical bill, or temporary financial setback puts someone at risk of losing their home? In this episode of UnHoused & UnFiltered, hosts Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie welcome Jacob Fallman (https://www.sugarlaw.org/our-people), Economic Justice and Policy Attorney with the Sugar Law Center (https://www.sugarlaw.org/), to explore the critical connection between eviction prevention, legal representation, and homelessness. Together, they unpack the often-overwhelming eviction process, the legal protections tenants may not know they have, and why access to an attorney can mean the difference between housing stability and homelessness. The conversation highlights Detroit's groundbreaking Right to Counsel program, which provided legal representation to 94% of eligible tenants in 2025, according to figures shared in the episode. Jacob discusses the program's estimated $48.5 million in public fiscal benefits and why investing in legal representation can save communities money while protecting families from displacement. From expanding access to legal services across Michigan to addressing the lasting consequences of eviction records, this episode makes the case that preventing homelessness starts long before someone loses their home. Listeners will also learn practical steps to take when facing eviction and why protecting tenants' rights strengthens entire communities.

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Beyond the Tent: What Street Outreach Really Looks Like

   In this episode of UnHoused and UnFiltered, Sarah Prout-Rennie turns the spotlight on co-host Nick Cook and the work he does outside of the State Capitol—as a co-founder of Michigan HOPE, a veteran-led nonprofit providing street outreach in the Lansing area. Nick shares what it actually looks like to enter encampments with food, hygiene supplies, socks, blankets and other essentials, while building the trust that allows outreach workers to recognize when someone is sick, injured or in immediate danger. From untreated infections and frostbite to hypothermia, trench foot and dental problems, the conversation reveals how quickly living outdoors can become a health crisis—and how something as basic as a clean pair of socks, a hot meal or a cup of coffee can create both comfort and connection. Nick and Sarah also tackle one of the most common questions about unsheltered homelessness: Why don’t people just go to a shelter? They explore the complicated realities behind that decision, including shelters that are full, safety concerns, pets, separated couples, previous trauma and the simple challenge of getting to a shelter miles away in dangerous weather. Nick describes what happens when encampments are forcibly cleared—including the loss of medications, identification, housing paperwork and personal belongings—and why displacement can make an already difficult path to housing even harder. Ultimately, the episode asks listeners to look beyond the tent and remember the people inside: neighbors, veterans, workers, parents, friends and community members whose lives have the same value as anyone else’s

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact UnHoused & UnFiltered | MCAH's Podcast on Homelessness & Housing

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.