"It's Your Call: Homelessness in Our Community" Debuts on CityTV

The issue of homelessness is the latest topic to be covered in a live call-in show that debuted this week on CityTV cable channel 16 in Santa Monica and LA36 cable channel 36 in Los Angeles.

Hosted by Stephen Solomon and Ralph Saltsman, "It's Your Call: Homelessness in Our Community" will feature phone calls from viewers and interviews with local experts on the issue of homelessness. The series will run until June 13.

"Homelessness is the number one issue in the Santa Monica community," said CityTV station manager Robin Gee. "In response to this, CityTV is presenting a program that will allow viewers to call in to express their concerns and viewpoints while providing valuable background information and insights into the issue of homelessness."

Topics and guests will change each week as the hosts take calls and the guests answer questions.

The first show will cover the topic of stereotypes of people who are homeless; guests will delve into the systemic causes of homelessness while addressing a few of the subpopulations of the homeless that live on the streets of Los Angeles County.

Future show topics include panhandling, housing issues and how to explain homelessness to your children.

It's Your Call: Homelessness in Our Community will replay on CityTV weekdays at 12 noon and Fridays at 8 p.m. The program is presented in partnership with the Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition (WSHC) and the Los Angeles Central Providers Collaborative (LACPC).

"We hope people will tune in and call in," said Gee. "While educational in nature, we want the program to feature lively discussion and debate."

CityTV is the government access cable channel for the City of Santa Monica and is seen on cable channel 16 in Santa Monica. LA36 is the educational access channel for the City of Los Angeles and is seen on cable channel 36 in Los Angeles.