Chapter 1: Tulicia

03/17/21 • 33 min

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When we think about homelessness, we often have a certain image in our mind—people pushing shopping carts, or big sprawling tent encampments. But for the vast majority of homeless people, the experience is far less visible. Many people who are unable to afford a place to live end up sleeping on a friend’s floor or inside their car. This is what Tulicia did for years, until finally, she reached out to the system for help

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According to Need: Prologue

Last year, reporter Katie Mingle moved into a new apartment in a gentrifying neighborhood in north Oakland. As she settled into the new place and started meeting neighbors, it didn’t take long before she realized that some were homeless.

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Chapter 2: The Hotline

Katie heard a lot about 211 doing this reporting—from homeless people and service providers and advocates. In her mind, it was the 911 of homelessness. Only, more often than not, it seemed like when people called 211, the metaphorical ambulance never came. That was true for Tulicia Lee, and it was true for lots of other people she met.

If everyone starts at 211, why is it a dead-end for so many people? What is happening at 211? At the beginning of March, right before everything shut down for the pandemic, Katie spent a day in the 211 call center.