These Bay Area politicians bring a new perspective to the housing crisis: They were homeless
“’I have a very different vantage point of this district,’ he said. ‘That actually is a value add to the seat.’
Rading joins a small cadre of California politicians who are overcoming the social stigma and shame around homelessness, and casting their experiences living on the street, in cars, in motels and on acquaintances’ couches as a strength and asset in a region locked in a pitched debate over how best to address a growing crisis of unhoused residents. At least two City Council members in Oakland and one in Los Angeles have struggled with homelessness and now are drawing on that experience in their fights to improve access to housing and social services. An activist who is currently homeless is running for Oakland mayor in 2022, and another plans to throw his hat in the ring for Marin County supervisor.