Episode 145: Beth Silverman, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Lotus Campaign

Most solutions to homelessness focus on policy. Beth Silverman is taking a different approach.

On this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Beth Silverman, co-founder and executive director of the Lotus Campaign, to break down how private sector partnerships are creating real housing solutions.

Beth explains how her model connects landlords, developers, and social services to reduce risk, remove barriers, and create access to housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

You’ll hear why homelessness is often misunderstood, how small financial gaps keep people out of housing, and what it takes to build a system that actually works at scale.

If you care about affordable housing, real estate, or social impact, this conversation gives you a clear look at what works.

⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Beth Silverman
00:45 How Lotus Campaign started
03:00 The real problem behind homelessness
05:20 Why the private sector is missing from the solution
08:00 The Lotus model explained
11:30 Breaking myths about homelessness
15:00 How to get landlords to say yes
18:30 Risk, incentives, and real estate alignment
22:00 Tools that help people access housing
26:00 Real success stories (Mario’s journey)
30:00 Scaling the model across cities
34:00 Final thoughts on solving homelessness