Meaningful Movies at First Church: Root Causes of Homelessness in Seattle
  • Meeting online

Meaningful Movies at First Church: Root Causes of Homelessness in Seattle

Register for the event and to receive a link to watch the film Us&Them.

The Seattle metropolitan area ranks third in the nation for homeless population by metro area, with an estimated 11,751 individuals living homeless in 2020, only outnumbered by the New York City and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, visible homelessness in our region has only intensified. 

There is no shortage of spirited debate in our community on how to tackle this growing local epidemic. To reach meaningful and sustainable solutions, we must begin by gaining some understanding of why individuals become homeless and why homelessness is so prevalent in our region. 

The Church and Society/Social Justice Committee invites you to watch the fantastic documentary Us&Them at your convenience any time from September 20 through October 3 (see registration details below), and join us Sunday, October 3 via Zoom for a look at the complex paths that lead to homelessness, with a deep dive into the root causes of homelessness specific to our Seattle region. 

US&THEM is a thoughtful, deeply personal documentary made by filmmaker Krista Loughton. The film follows the lives of four individuals over 10 years while they are living on the streets of Victoria, BC, with an authentic lens to challenge stereotypes about homelessness and addiction. Watch the documentary trailer.

At the October 3 virtual event, we will watch a pre-recorded lecture by Dr. Gregg Colburn, University of Washington College of Built Environments, to learn about connections between housing policy, housing markets, housing affordability, and homelessness, and to gain insights into how these connections create the unique environment we see in our region. After the lecture, we will discuss the lecture and the film in breakout groups. 

Register for the October 3 virtual event and to receive a link to the film.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link to join the October 3 event.  Then, on September 20, you will receive an email with a link to watch the film at no cost to you and at your convenience any time from September 20 through October 3. 

Dr. Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate in the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments, is the author of the forthcoming book Homelessness is a Housing Problem (University of California Press). 

Gregg entered academia after spending the first seventeen years of his professional life in the private sector. During this time, Gregg worked as an investment banker and private equity professional for leading firms such as Goldman Sachs and Citadel Investment Group. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Affairs at Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. Gregg’s additional academic training includes an M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota, an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a B.A. in Economics and Management from Albion College. Gregg enjoys teaching courses in housing, economics, and finance at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.