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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Christine Curtiss lived on LA’s streets for years. Now she has her own apartment

KCRW ran a four-part series called “Samaritans” last year, in which reporter Anna Scott followed Christine Curtiss, who had been living on the streets in Mid City for about eight years.

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By Madeleine Brand • Apr 2, 2021 • 11m Listen

KCRW ran a four-part series called “Samaritans” last year, in which reporter Anna Scott followed Christine Curtiss, who had been living on the streets in Mid City for about eight years. Then a group of neighbors started working with Curtiss and called on the county to help get her housed.

For a whole year, Scott followed Curtiss as she tried to navigate LA’s needlessly complicated homeless services system. Over the course of four episodes, listeners learned how Curtiss was able to move to a group shelter in Hollywood. Her story showed why it’s been difficult to get people housed, even after voters approved measures that earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars for homeless housing and services.

Curtiss’ story ended with a promise of permanent housing, which finally came through nearly a year later. Reporter Anna Scott gives this update.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Anna Scott

    Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Angie Perrin

    Producer, Press Play

  • KCRW placeholder

    Michell Eloy

    Line Editor, Press Play

    NewsHomelessnessHousing & DevelopmentLos AngelesCalifornia
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand