Kensington, Philadelphia, is at the epicenter of America’s addiction and homelessness crises, and Melanie Beddis’s story reveals the harsh realities behind the headlines. A former Program Manager for Savage Sisters Recovery, Melanie opens up about how addiction took over her life, leading to 17 attempts at rehab, homelessness, and struggles with xylazine (tranq). Her journey is a powerful testament to the gaps in traditional recovery and the critical role harm reduction plays in saving lives.
This episode dives deep into the human toll of addiction and makes a compelling case for why we need both treatment and harm reduction to address the addiction crisis in this country. With raw honesty and hope, Melanie’s story challenges stigma and highlights real solutions to help those still suffering.
Watch our documentary on Savage Sisters Recovery [ Ссылка ] and to learn more and support their important work, click here: [ Ссылка ]
More stories:
America Can End Homelessness: Hennepin County Shows How [ Ссылка ]
Can Supervised Drug Use Save Lives? Inside OnPoint NYC’s Radical Approach [ Ссылка ]
Finland Solved Homelessness: Here's How (Spoiler: It's More Than Housing First) [ Ссылка ]
Executive producer: Mark Horvath
Producer/editor/cinematographer: Alex Gasaway [ Ссылка ]
Associate producer: Erin McGinnis
Created by: Alex Gasaway and Erin McGinnis
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About Invisible People
There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.
We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.
This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.
However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.
Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.
