In this episode, we sit down with Brent Crane, Executive Director of the Food & Care Coalition in Provo, who has spent 36 years serving Utah’s homeless population. Brent shares raw, real stories that break common stereotypes — from mental health struggles to generational poverty, addiction, deinstitutionalization, and the everyday barriers most people never see.

Together, we explore what homelessness actually looks like, why so many fall through the cracks, and how community connection—not judgment—creates real change. Brent opens up about heartbreaking failures, inspiring recovery stories, and the moments that shaped him personally, including lessons learned the hard way.

If you care about poverty, service, or simply want to understand people better, this conversation will shift the way you see homelessness forever.

⏱️ Key Moments

0:00 — The Early Days
1:20 — Brent’s Origin Story
4:49 — The Deinstitutionalization Fallout
6:30 — Why Connection Changes Lives
11:32 — When Dialogue Stops, We Lose
14:13 — The Misunderstood Realities
15:39 — Hidden Disabilities & Schizophrenia
17:23 — Cycling In and Out of Homelessness
19:14 — Who Actually Becomes Homeless
20:16 — Eric’s Story & System Reform
24:26 — Common Gateways Into Homelessness
29:00 — Lessons in Humanity