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LEGO ramps could improve access for Philadelphians in wheelchairs

Michaela Haas

April 13, 2021 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Germany, Hanau

An ingenious use of LEGOs has resulted in colorful wheelchair ramps around the German town of Hanau. The ramps are constructed using thousands of tiny LEGOs that are glued together and are able to withstand the weight of electric wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers. Although the ramps don’t comply with official building and safety codes, they’ve proven to be helpful and have remained in use in Hanau.

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The secret ingredient in Paris' green public housing

Colin Kinniburgh

March 30, 2021 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Paris Habitat, the city’s main social housing agency, used hempcrete — a concrete-like mixture of hemp, lime, and water — as insulation in one of its apartment complexes. This material helps maintain temperature and reduces a building’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The cost of using hempcrete can be expensive but making the material is more environmentally friendly, and has shown that it can be implemented for affordable housing and not just for those who already have the means to pay for it.

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California job seekers found new careers with help from a rent relief program. Here's how

Jeong Park

March 09, 2021 |

Sacramento Bee |

Multi-Media |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Stockton, California

Rent relief payments in California are helping public housing residents pursue full-time employment. The Jobs-Plus initiative provides payments that are conditional on enrolling in job training and placement programs. An increased income often disqualifies public housing residents from benefits and subsidies such as food stamps, childcare, and discounted rent rates which can negate the increased income from higher wages or more hours. Rent relief empowers residents to build a security net for themselves in addition to pursing full-time employment without the strain of losing much-needed benefits.

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The Hottest Amenity From Developers? A Power Plant Made of Batteries.

Patrick Sisson

March 03, 2021 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

An apartment complex in Utah includes a solar battery in every apartment allowing the resident, power utility, and building developer to save costs for generating electricity. Through a unique partnership, the power systems can provide 12.6 megawatts of power for the building, which translates into residents saving up to 40 percent on the energy bills. This setup might not be easy to scale, but the developer plans to expand the model in other states.

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The Streets Are My Home: Evictions, Homelessness and COVID

Kolby Webster Arielle Davis

March 02, 2021 |

KOSU |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Restore Hope Ministries worked to prevent homelessness and evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic by using private donations, foundation grants, and CARES Act funds to provide rental assistance to 1,422 households. Each household received up to several months of rent, totaling $3.5 million in assistance, and targeting populations and neighborhoods most vulnerable to eviction and homelessness. The Tulsa Day Center also pivoted due to the pandemic and sheltered people identified as most vulnerable in place day and night, while working with the city and county to open up and run an overflow shelter.

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The Big Idea Behind A New Model Of Small Nursing Homes

Rob Waters

March 01, 2021 |

Health Affairs |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Throughout the U.S. a group of nursing homes known as Green House Cottages are providing a model of care through their patient-centered architecture, philosophy, and organization. Unlike the typical nursing home, each resident at a Green House gets their own room and bathroom and staff do not fluctuate. During the pandemic, this type of design has also helped keep at-risk residents safe.

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Green House nursing homes kept COVID cases low via small sizes, private rooms, universal workers

Tom Dinki

February 22, 2021 |

WBFO |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Maryland

The Green House Project, which is a network model of nursing homes across states, has been able to largely avoid the spread of Covid-19 amongst residents, with five times fewer cases than the national nursing home average. While the small size of the nursing homes has played a role, it has also been beneficial that each resident has their own bedroom and bathroom and that staff employ a universal worker model that limits the number of nursing assistants coming and going from each facility.

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Flood City: Louisiana prepares to move neighborhood after 50 years of floods

Andrew Yawn

February 19, 2021 |

USA Today |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Roads, Louisiana

Pecan Acres in Louisiana is known as Flood City since many residents can’t remember a time when their homes weren’t impacted by rising waters. To help these people, the state has started a relocation project to move the neighborhood to higher ground. The new neighborhood, called Audubon Estates, already has 17 households signed up to move in. The government is buying the residents out of their old homes, which has proved a more difficult process than originally thought. Yet, some are ready for the change.

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Vaccines Go Mobile to Keep Seniors From Slipping Through the Cracks

Rachel Bluth

February 16, 2021 |

Kaiser Health News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Contra Costa County, California

A mobile "strike team" comprised of workers from Contra Costa County, local home health agencies, advocates, and nonprofit groups is helping seniors living in assisted-living facilities to get access to the Covid-19 vaccine. Although the team is small, they have been able to help more than 800 seniors across 50 facilities get their first shot.

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The inside story of how Pennsylvania failed to deliver millions in coronavirus rent relief

Charlotte Keith

February 15, 2021 |

Spotlight PA |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

When Pennsylvania's coronavirus rent relief program rolled out during the first few months of the pandemic, it failed to help many due to strict deadlines, poor information management, a payment cap, and overall procedural limitations. Now, the state is "getting a second chance," and has made modifications to the program in an attempt to avoid the failures of the last round.

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