For nearly a year, many cities across the U.S. have been housing people experiencing homelessness in motels and hotels with money officials received from the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Now, city officials are evicting people, just as the pandemic is hitting deadly records. In New York City, Shams DaBaron is an advocate known as “Da Homeless Hero.” He’s currently waiting for a court ruling to decide how long he’ll be able to stay at the Lucerne Hotel in Manhattan.

In this episode, DaBaron tells us how he started fighting to protect and uplift other people experiencing homelessness, while also struggling with poor mental health and alcohol use.

To read the full story by USA TODAY housing and social services reporter Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, click here.