Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 205 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

What if I were homeless? An immersion course in empathy in San Francisco's Tenderloin

Nita Lelyveld

September 14, 2019 |

Los Angeles Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

An immersion course run by San Francisco's Glide Memorial Church aims to build empathy around the social problem of homelessness. The course has been given to many in the police force, who got a jolt from the immersion, and began to think more generously and creatively about the problem. Prosectors, investigators, and victim advocates also often take part.

Read More
Go to Original Story
$1,000 a month, no strings attached

Robert Samuels

September 01, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Mississippi

A pilot program in Jackson, Mississippi called Springboard to Opportunities is providing 20 single, African-American mothers living in public housing with $1000 a month, with no stipulations on how that money should be spent. The experiment so far has allowed mothers to save money, avoid predatory loans, pay off loans, and consider classes and higher education.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Seattle, A Move Across Town Could Be A Path Out Of Poverty

Pam Fessler

August 05, 2019 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Pioneering research has indicated that encouraging low-income families to move to "higher opportunity" neighborhoods improves long-term outcomes for their children. A pilot program in Seattle aims to put this to the test, providing services and support for families who have managed to land a housing choice voucher and move to what researchers have deemed high opportunity neighborhoods. Early results are promising, although questions about longer-term impacts and questions about those "left behind" in lower-opportunity neighborhoods remain.

Read More
Go to Original Story
America has a housing segregation problem. Seattle may just have the solution.

Dylan Matthews

August 04, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

A group of economics researchers and county officials in the Seattle area teamed up to create a more comprehensive approach to housing vouchers. Rather than simply provide a rental voucher, the city piloted a program that included information about the city's areas of economic and social opportunity, increasing the number of families that moved into higher-economic regions of the city.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Will Banning Single-Family Zoning Make for More Affordable Homes?

Deonna Anderson

July 31, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis serves as a model for other cities as it addresses the affordable housing crisis by de-incentivizing the development of single-family houses. By changing zoning laws to benefit the construction of duplexes and triplexes, the city makes room for more low-income families to afford to live in city limits.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Outreach Teams Have Police Helping, not Arresting, Homeless People

Daliah Singer

July 26, 2019 |

Bitterroot |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Embedded in Denver’s police department is the Homeless Outreach Unit, dedicated to building relationships with and providing access to services for the city’s population experiencing housing insecurity. They work closely with social workers and nonprofits in the city to work against the criminalization of homelessness, instead, taking a solutions oriented approach. The unit has helped build trust between those residents and police and has seen a 30% increase in referrals to homeless shelters.

Read More
Go to Original Story
San Francisco Financial Justice Project Enacts Landmark Reforms

Liza Ramrayka

July 17, 2019 |

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

In San Francisco, the first Financial Justice Project is working with the city to eliminate fines and fees that hold back people experiencing poverty and financial instability and also cost the city more than they can recover. So far, the innovative program has made all phone calls from jail free, cleared outstanding holds on driver's licenses for missing a traffic court date, announced the elimination of all library fines, and more - and cities across the country are taking not and exploring similar changes.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Regional Approach to Rural Health Challenges

Deborah Fallows

June 22, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Danville, Virginia

A network of member organizations in and around Danville, Virginia tackles the region's health and nutrition pitfalls by relying on the strength of their tight-knit rural towns to donate and distribute health resources to impoverished communities. One such organization, God's Storehouse, uses the personal bonds of neighbors and friends to box and distribute free food.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Montana elementary teachers team up to battle poverty's impacts

Devin Bodkin

June 05, 2019 |

Idaho Education News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Kalispell, Montana

Placing students into smaller groups with peers of similar learning ability allows schools to allocate resources to struggling or underprivileged students. The Peterson Elementary School in Kalispell, Montana, has begun to close the achievement gap for students of lower income families by creating three tiers of educational development. Teachers then tailor curricula around the needs of each peer group.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Punjabi weddings turn slim

Sunaina Kumar

May 13, 2019 |

Firstpost |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Punjab

With the support of the Samaj committee, a local NGO, more and more Punjabi communities are downsizing their weddings. The events are traditionally expensive affairs, signifying pride and status, but for many, they are an expense that has led to debt, and even suicide. The committee reaches out to villages and families, suggesting they skip the dowry, and once one family does it, others follow suit.

Read More
Go to Original Story