Today on A Public Affair, we bring you a special feature produced by Matvei Mozhaev who tells the story of Brian Deschane, a Madisonian who experienced homelessness for three years.
Brian was bright, capable, and passionate about helping others. Yet, he struggled to find stable housing. On May 20th, 2025, Brian was offered permanent housing through the Coordinated Entry program run by Dane County. The news did not reach Brian. He passed away the day before, on May 19th. Brian was 41 years old. We hear from Brian’s loved ones, community leaders, and other unhoused folks who tell the story of Brian’s life and the challenges of accessing stable housing in our community.
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