who is mitch schneider? >> mitch schneider is the most famous and almost certainly the most influential homelessness advocate in american history. the advocacy organizations play a really outsized role in shaping homelessness policy. if it seems to you that a city where we as a nation are doing something different with homelessness than what most people would support, that is because most people don't follow the issue as intensely as certain advocacy organizations, for whom it's their job. just to follow homelessness policy. they're broadly supportive of accommodating encampments, certainly has been first policies. they're critical of any sort of behavioral requirements exchange for the result of housing benefits. mitch schneider was the most important advocate in history. he was active in the d.c. scene in the 19 80s. he's staged a lot of spectacular protests in lafayette square and elsewhere in d.c.. i would say that one major impact he had, although he had a number, was to federalize the issue very quickl

mitch snyder -- schneider was an advocate. in the d.c.e 1980's, he states a lot of spectacular protests -- staged a lot of spectacular protests in washington square and elsewhere in d.c.. a major impact he had, although he had a number, was he federalized the issue quickly. it was not obvious it needed to become a response ability of the federal government as soon as it did. there are a lot of reasons as i alluded to early -- earlier for thinking this was for the states. but because he was so active on the d.c. scene and aggressive i would sayn nvincing federal lawmakers to pass legislation on funding and as a result, ronald reagan left office with what was in place and remains the most important federal program on homelessness. that is what i would say his name might do. host: in washington, on the line for those with experience with homelessness. good morning. caller: good morning. host: you are on with stephen eide. caller: hi. i want to share my experience with homelessness. my homelessness started from when i was 14, i was removed fr