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Uprising: Housing Crisis

Eviction of the unhoused emergency tent encampments under the I-70 and I-44 overpasses.

As layoffs and furloughs continue through the coronavirus-induced recession and eviction moratoriums are being lifted, the U.S. is facing a major housing crisis. In St. Louis, people have been holding rallies and occupying City Hall to call for a moratorium on evictions for tenants and unhoused people alike, and framing this demand as a racial equity issue. So in this episode, we trace the story of two tent encampments: one occupied by people who are unhoused under an overpass and one occupied by activists and advocates at St. Louis City Hall. We also hear from the executive director and community engagement specialist of a fair housing enforcement agency about what racial equity means during a housing crisis.

From L to R: Lisa Winter, outreach volunteer; Will Jordan, Executive Director for Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council; Glenn Burleigh, Community Engagement Specialist for Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council; Not pictured: Jameel Atkins and Khalea Edwards
From L to R: Lisa Winter, outreach volunteer; Will Jordan, Executive Director for Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council; Glenn Burleigh, Community Engagement Specialist for Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council; Not pictured: Jameel Atkins and Khalea Edwards

Occupy City Hall STL tent encampment with reflections written by activists in marker on a large roll of butcher paper in front of St. Louis City Hall.

Jia Lian Yang holds a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary. She is the co-founder of the St. Louis-based Who Raised You? podcast, which explores culture and family with a focus on stories from people of color. The show won the Arts & Education Council of St. Louis’ 2018 stARTup competition and was named the best local podcast of 2019 in St. Louis Magazine. Jia brings her experience with LGBTQ advocacy, mental health, workers’ rights, mutual aid, anti-racism and the arts to her coverage.
Lauren Brown holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri where she also studied Social Justice. Lauren joined St. Louis Public Radio in June 2019 as an associate producer for the We Live Here podcast. In March 2020 she became the co-host and producer for We Live Here.