A Conversation with Murray Edmondson, Volunteer at New Futures
September 12, 2023
In this episode of Housing for Huntsvillians, we have a conversation with Murray Edmondson, a friend of the podcast and volunteer with New Futures, the only
Housing for Huntsvillians | Episode 7
About This Episode
In this episode of Housing for Huntsvillians, we have a conversation with Murray Edmondson, a friend of the podcast and volunteer with New Futures, the only family homeless shelter in the Huntsville area. The shelter allows whole families to stay together and […]
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In this episode of Housing for Huntsvillians, we have a conversation with Murray Edmondson, a friend of the podcast and volunteer with New Futures, the only family homeless shelter in the Huntsville area.
The shelter allows whole families to stay together and provides support for transitioning into permanent housing. Murray got connected to New Futures through his church, which serves meals and gives financial support. He has been passionate about homelessness since childhood and believes it should be a higher priority in society.
Our conversation also touches on systemic approaches to solving homelessness but acknowledges that most efforts focus on direct services rather than addressing root causes. We’re all frustrated that so many see homelessness as a fact of life when it’s a policy choice. There’s no reason it has to exist. Homelessness is a human rights issue and an extremely inefficient use of resources.
Researchers have found that while factors like mental illness and job loss make individuals more vulnerable to homelessness, the main driver of homelessness is the high cost of housing. We use the analogy of musical chairs to explain that the focus should be on increasing the number of available chairs (affordable housing) rather than solely on individual circumstances. However, addressing this issue is challenging because those with the power to implement the policies that can end homelessness are often not concerned about homelessness. And those who care about the issue tend to not have enough resources or time to advocate for affordable housing.
We also discuss the fact that we need to change Huntsville’s zoning and legalize modular homes and apartments. We must prioritize access to affordable housing over aesthetic preferences and addresses potential strategies for raising awareness and persuading individuals who hold opposing views.
