Jeff Meredith: The Stories Behind Homelessness

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum speaks with Jeff Meredith, Associate Creative Director at RKD Group and longtime writer for rescue missions across the U.S. Over the past two decades, Jeff has interviewed more than a thousand people who’ve experienced homelessness, addiction, and recovery—gaining rare insight into what drives collapse and what makes renewal possible.

Jeff shares what he’s learned from the front lines of homelessness: how family breakdown, trauma, and addiction often intersect; why accountability and forgiveness are essential to recovery; and what the most successful rescue missions do differently. This is a grounded, compassionate look at the human stories behind one of America’s most complex social challenges.

Topics Explored

The changing face of homelessness—and why women are now the fastest-growing group
What drives addiction and how recovery really works
How childhood trauma and family breakdown shape adult outcomes
The interplay of mental illness, accountability, and hope
Why recovery requires both compassion and structure
How faith-based missions rebuild lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually

Links

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn:   / jeff-meredith-ab97b34  
Episode with Andy Bales: https://unfoldingthought.com/20-andy-...
The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease: https://amzn.to/4nl7MTa
$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America: https://amzn.to/46yZPEk

For more episodes: https://unfoldingthought.com [https://unfoldingthought.com/]

Questions or guest ideas: [email protected]

00:00 Introduction to Jeff and Sonoya, Georgia
00:32 Jeff's Career in Writing and Nonprofits
02:33 Role and History of Rescue Missions
05:11 Causes of Homelessness: Trauma and Family Breakdown
10:20 Addiction's Root in Trauma and Pain
17:45 Do you have any thoughts about the claim that addiction is not a disease?
23:42 Intersection of Mental Illness and Addiction
28:46 Recovery Process at Rescue Missions
33:41 Impact of Meth and Fentanyl on Homelessness
36:10 Survival and Desperation: Trading Sex for Shelter
42:01 Accountability in Recovery
46:49 Faith and Spiritual Forgiveness in Recovery
49:43 Conclusion and Appreciation