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Houston, we have a solution: How the city curbed homelessness

Henry Gass

November 18, 2019 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Across the country, governments at every level are working to tackle homelessness. In Houston, connecting permanent housing to services has proven an effective strategy but it has required an increase in affordable housing stock and more strategic organization between non-profits and officials.

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Free the Floodplains!

Yen Duong

November 11, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

There is a unique, homegrown local flood buyout program in Charlotte, NC that helps homeowners on floodplains relocate safely and with financial security. This came as a result of the city and county of Charlotte forming a joint storm water utility in the 1990's, which generated money by fixing aging pipes and other storm water needs—funding the local “Quick Buy” program. This gets the aid to the homeowners much quicker than FEMA money does and has since relocated 650 families and saved $25 million in losses.

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Charlotte could allow townhomes, duplexes, triplexes in traditional single-family neighborhoods

Nate Morabito

November 08, 2019 |

WCNC-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina looks to other major cities - like Grand Rapids, Michigan - for examples of success in multi-home zoning changes. To address the lack of affordable housing in Charlotte, some city officials are proposing legislation that would allow single-home plots to house additional structures, making room for more people on the same acreage of land.

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New apartment project in Kensington will give residents a discount if they volunteer

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

October 23, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

An b-corporation in Kensington, a Northern Philadelphia neighborhood, addresses gentrification and population growth in their area by bringing together entrepreneurs with community members to encourage local business growth and partnership. Now, Shift Capital's latest project aims to bring the community together by offering discounted rents for tenants in exchange for volunteer hours in the community.

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Affordable housing is disappearing. So cities are designating parking lots to sleep in.

Matthew Zeitlin

October 11, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Barbara, California

Cities like Santa Barbara are creating "Safe Parking Programs" that designate certain parking lots as safe and legal for residents living in their cars to park at night. An organized intake procedure on-site attempts to connect these homeless residents with relevant resources.

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Community hopes 'Purpose Built' revitalization model enlivens into Ridgecrest neighborhood

Krista Johnson

September 20, 2019 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Woodlawn, Alabama

Eighteen "purpose built communities" across America have revitalized neighborhoods through a comprehensive approach that includes building mixed-income housing, providing better educational opportunities and offering health and wellness services. The model focuses on establishing a strong "cradle-to-college education pipeline" which attracts upper-income families and creates socio-economic diversity. Community centers, green spaces, and grocery stores all revitalize and bring new development to these neighborhoods. Rivercrest, a neighborhood in Montgomery, Alabama is seeking to replicate the model.

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Mobile home that generates power offers option for life off the grid

Toru Ishii

September 12, 2019 |

The Asahi Shimbun |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

The use of mobile homes that run on renewable energy are beginning to take shape in Tokyo. Funded in part through crowdfunding and built by a citizen group and other volunteers, these homes are not only practical but can also teach younger generations about the environment.

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‘I just want more for them': New program aims to boost families' economic mobility

Lauren Lindstrom

September 09, 2019 |

The Charlotte Observer |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Economic mobility becomes far more attainable when children grow up in a "high-opportunity" area as opposed to a "low-opportunity" area: housing within the city with access to transportation and amenities, higher-performing schools, and lower crime rates. An enhanced voucher program through the Charlotte Housing Authority offers families housing vouchers to move into high-opportunity areas. They also offer incentives to landlords who accept the vouchers, such as up to $1,000 to repair damage beyond normal wear and tear. The program is still new, and it will take generations to see its affects.

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The all-electric home: Tackling air pollution by cutting off natural gas

Heather May

August 27, 2019 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Herriman, Utah

In a collaborative effort between developers, power companies, and the government, a new apartment complex in Utah will be almost entirely powered by solar energy. The complex, developed by Wasatch Premier Communities, will work with Rocky Mountain Power to determine how to integrate such technology into the region’s electricity grid. This kind of development is gaining ground in Utah, and those in the industry hope to educate others of the benefits of going electric.

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Homes are a big part of Salt Lake City's air pollution problem. They also are the solution.

Heather May

August 26, 2019 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

Across Salt Lake City, Utah, housing developers are building more net zero energy homes. Facing air quality issues, the state has yet to set more energy efficient codes for new homes, which means the kind of homes being built by developers like Redfish, Garbett Homes, and Ivory Homes, are being constructed on a much smaller scale. Such homes, while costing 2-5% more to build, have shown to decrease energy costs by 50-60%.

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