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Mending Our Disposable Culture

Nick Holland

October 02, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Netherlands, Bussum

When something breaks, most people go to the store to replace it. In Amsterdam, the UK, and elsewhere, people take their broken goods to repair cafes. Led by volunteers who want to preserve the art of repairs while also reducing waste, these organizations can make a big difference. There are now at least 1600 repair cafes around the world.

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Low-cost housing project begins next month

Aggrey Omboki

September 27, 2018 |

Nation Africa |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya

Kenya is launching a program to build more affordable housing by providing infrastructure like water and roads, as well as funding from the World Bank and lower levies on the cost of doing business in order to attract private investors. The government will also provide land to investors on the condition they provide 20,000 low-income units for every 100,000 they build. But the plan faces major challenges including clear title and rising construction costs.

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LA seniors find housing solution with home share program

Jenny Hamel

September 25, 2018 |

KCRW |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

In Los Angeles, seniors finding themselves unable to pay rising rents on fixed incomes and those attempting to age in place in need of some extra help are being paired together in a new home share program. Organizations that help develop pairing are growing in the area as needs increase, but it isn't always the best solution for everyone.

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England has more than 200,000 empty homes. How to revive them?

Mattha Busby

September 25, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Stockton-on-Tees

There are an estimated over 200,000 vacant homes across England, and Community Campus 87 is one group attempting to bring those homes back to life. By employing apprentices, some who have experienced homelessness, to learn skills such as house painting, the social enterprise is helping homes as well as homeless people bounce back. This is just one example of a handful of social enterprises that are funding the rebuilding of vacant properties with the goal of filling the old homes with more affordable and sustainable housing.

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When a Hospital Plays Housing Developer

Laura Bliss

September 21, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Columbus, Ohio

Hospitals have a complicated track record of community development projects. Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio is working with nonprofit community developers to improve the public health of the surrounding neighborhood, treating "the neighborhood as a patient." By flipping houses into rental units for low-income tenants and making other investments in the housing ecosystem, the hospital is working to keep the current low-income residents in place. By some measures, this hospital is succeeding in ways others historically have not.

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Professional Hand-Holders

Kyle Norris

September 17, 2018 |

Finding Fixes |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Washington

Washington’s Snohomish County has implemented a program that embeds social workers with the police. The program has been an effective method to bring services to people in need rather than arrest and process them as criminals.

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Much to Do about (Vacant) Lots

James A. Anderson

September 10, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

In St. Louis, Philadelphia, Detroit, and other postindustrial cities, community organizations and city officials are trying a number of methods to reduce the number of empty lots and vacant houses that plague neighborhoods. As opposed to earlier, one-off programs, cities are now forging coordinated approaches that acknowledge the systemic issues underlying persistent vacant land -- for example, in St. Louis, an inventory of all vacant properties is shaping the work of a series of related city initiatives.

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These Cottages Were Built to Defy Storms—and Pricey Rent—in the Florida Keys

Nicole Javorsky

August 27, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Florida

Affordable housing for Florida Keys residents is often vulnerable to damage or destruction by extreme weather. The Monroe County Land Trust has created housing that is both affordable for county residents and built to withstand floods and wind.

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Tired of Dirty Dishes and ‘Hacker Houses,' Millennials Revamp Communal Living

Max Blau

August 23, 2018 |

Politico |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Jose, California

In cities where the rent is out-of-reach for many millennials, HubHaus is offering living that emphasizes community while also providing more affordable rents. Although the service does not directly address the issues creating the housing crunch in these cities, namely the lack of actual housing available, it is part of a larger trend towards co-living.

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Cities Sic the Taxman on Vacant ‘Ghost Homes'

Liz Enochs

August 20, 2018 |

San Francisco Public Press |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver

Vancouver is one city that has shown benefits of a tax on “ghost homes,” or units that sit empty for a certain period of time. The idea is to encourage development and ensure there is ample housing stock for newcomers to the city. San Francisco is considering implementing this system, but it is still in the very early stages of such a shift. However, in Vancouver, the tax has generated millions in taxes which will fund housing initiatives, while decreasing the vacancy rate significantly.

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