When We Walk By

Praise

“Adler and Burnes, with their co-authors, offer fresh and hopeful solutions that could affect long-lasting change.” 
—Booklist, starred review

“A must-read for anyone interested in solving the problem of homelessness.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A persuasive book about a crucial subject”
—San Francisco Chronicle

“Books, when properly executed, pry back the veil and show readers a shared humanity. When We Walk By is one such book.”
—Shelf Awareness, starred review

“A compelling story of rediscovering our own humanity—and a roadmap on how we can make large-scale changes that improve everyone’s way of life. Read this book to understand how being connected can save us all.”
—Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and former 2020 presidential candidate

“A very accessible, yet powerful read. I highly recommend it. I was moved and touched while reading this book. My copy is filled with notes and dog-eared pages for future reference. This book is a lovely and much-needed contribution.”
—Gregg Colburn, associate professor at the University of Washington and coauthor of Homelessness Is a Housing Problem

“Captivating…People experiencing homelessness are humans like you and me, deserving of the same respect and dignity…. A must read!”
—Ellen Bassuk, MD, Founder of C4 Innovations and the National Center on Family Homelessness and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

“When We Walk By reminds us of our shared humanity, our shared needs, and how we should promote a political economy of sharing, especially with our neighbors who have little or nothing. Read this, heed the call. No more just walking by!”
—Dennis Culhane, Dana and Andrew Stone Professor of Social Policy, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania

“A masterclass in meeting folks where they are, listening first, and designing and delivering services informed by the experiences of our unhoused neighbors.”
—Dr. Michael K. Hole, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Population Health, and Public Policy at Dell Medical School and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin

“In a book that explores our national failures and points to common-sense fixes, the authors challenge us to see the humanity of our neighbors, and care more deeply…[it] should guide policy makers, and quickly, as they seek a cure to what ails our nation.”
—Tony Messenger, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author of Profit and Punishment

“Highly moving and profoundly enlightening.”
—Dr. Gloria Duffy, President, The Commonwealth Club of California

“Essential…Heart-opening…”
—Justin Baldoni, Actor and Filmmaker

“[Adler and Burnes] illuminate a system broken beyond repair and provide the hope that is required for all of us to shift gears, from the ground up, to solve one of the most distressing problems of our times…if only we cared. A remarkable read.”
—Heather Hay, Senior Consultant, Foundations for Social Change, creator of the New Leaf Project

“Social connection is a key element of human survival that often gets overlooked day to day. This book offers a fresh, integrated perspective about the importance of a human response to a complex social problem.”
—Benjamin Henwood, PhD, LCSW, Associate Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

“A must-read guide for navigating and fixing the broken status quo of homelessness in America…readers of this book will no longer ‘walk by’ feeling helpless.”
—Michael D. Tubbs, Mayor of Stockton, CA, and special advisor to CA Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility

“I’ve read many, many books about homelessness, and I think this is the best one I’ve ever read…. Well organized, well written, and easy to follow. When We Walk By gives concrete and specific suggestions for every person, regardless of how much or how little they know about the subject.” 
—David Miller, former president and CEO of the Denver Foundation