The Last Invention

Street Fight Part II: Cruel & Unusual

September 17, 2026·38 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Homelessness today looks very different than it did in the 1980s, when American cities first woke up to this crisis. Today, we explore the legal battles that turned survival outside into a constitutional question. You can hear the full series right now when you become a Longview subscriber by visiting us⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠ THIS EPISODE FEATURES: Estela Lopez, Kevin Cope LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Estela Lopez’s organization⁠ ⁠Los Angeles magazine article that features Lopez⁠ ⁠Jones v. City of Los Angeles settlement⁠ ⁠Martin v. City of Boise initial opinion⁠ ⁠Martin v. City of Boise amended opinion⁠ ⁠NPR story that quotes Pam Hawkes and her lawyer⁠ ⁠Kevin Cope of the University of Virginia School of Law⁠ ⁠Kevin Cope’s paper⁠ ⁠Skid Row 2016 survey on violence against women⁠ For this series we also read, and recommend, the following books: ⁠Homelessness in America: The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem⁠ by Stephen Eide, ⁠Reckoning with Homelessness⁠ by Kim Hopper, ⁠The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man⁠ by Nels Anderson, and ⁠Down and Out, on the Road: The Homeless in American History⁠ by Kenneth L. Kusmer. CREDITS: This story was reported by Emma Pettit and produced by Andy Mills, Ethan Mannello, Matthew Boll, and Simon Adler. It was mixed by Emma Munger. Music for this episode was composed by Cobey Bienert and Simon Adler. Artwork for this episode is by ⁠Jacob Boll⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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