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Mountain towns use a ‘quiver of solutions' to address affordable housing, including converting old hotels.

Stephanie Maltarich

November 30, 2021 |

KBUT Community Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Crested Butte, Montana

The town of Crested Butte declared a state of emergency, which allowed it to sidestep zoning rules and purchase a 6-unit former bed and breakfast to provide housing for seasonal workers. Residents, many of whom work in the restaurant industry during tourist season, agreed to rules like no overnight guests, no drugs, and no big parties. “Motel conversions” can provide quick conversion to housing that doesn’t need major renovations or construction, making it a more environmentally-friendly option.

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Booking Fees: The effort to find long-term solutions for short-term rentals

Sarah Ravits Jake Clapp

November 21, 2021 |

Gambit |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Cities are contending with a rise in short term rentals which is exacerbating the already limited supply of affordable housing. The effort to rein them in includes fees being redirected to affordable housing funds, stricter regulations, and technology that helps enforce city regulations.

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Coloradans have been purchasing their own mobile home parks to keep them affordable. But the resident-owned model also comes with challenges, and limitations

Lucas Brady Woods

November 16, 2021 |

KSJD |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

As rents at mobile home parks continue to rise, a Colorado law giving park residents first dibs on buying the park has led to resident-owned parks across the state. Several of these parks are run as co-ops, with resident-elected governing boards that have a mandate to keep rents low. A governing body made up of residents creates community buy-in and accountability for how the park is run. Purchasing and running a park is expensive, so organizations like Homes Fund help residents find funding for the initial purchase.

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When Reparations Grow from the Grassroots

Ray Levy Uyeda

November 15, 2021 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Massachusetts

A racial justice nonprofit in Massachusetts is focusing on reparations, specifically to those experiencing racialized housing insecurity. The racial wealth gap in The United States stems from unequal access to land and home ownership, making it an important component of economic justice.

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Accessory Dwelling Units Expand Housing Stock Within Boulder's Growth Limits

Lucy Haggard

November 10, 2021 |

KGNU Community Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

Boulder made building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) easier by loosening regulations so that more can be built. ADUs, which can be attached to or behind a main house, address issues of affordable housing and housing availability by providing smaller units with everything someone needs, including a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping quarters. ADUs tap into existing utility lines, and the smaller spaces are more energy efficient, which means that they are cheaper for tenants and more eco-friendly. Other cities, seeing the affordable housing and environmental benefits, have jumped on the ADU bandwagon.

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Here's how Charlotte could turn property taxes into rental help

Lauren Lindstrom

November 02, 2021 |

The Charlotte Observer |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Property taxes are being used to subsidize rent for households that earn up to 30 percent of the area median income. The pilot program allows landlords to use the tax rebates to cover rent for tenants who would be unable to live there otherwise. The initiative makes rent more affordable and also keeps affordable housing from being sold to developers who create luxury apartments, reducing the available affordable housing stock.

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Building a just energy business future in Detroit

Nina Ignaczak

October 27, 2021 |

Planet Detroit |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

WeSolar makes solar power accessible to low-income residents by building and investing in community-solar farms and signing residents up for credits from investor-owned utilities. The startup, the first community solar business led by a Black woman, saves customers as much as $250 on their utility bills by signing up for community solar. Convincing residents, many of whom have had bad experiences with predatory utility schemes, requires working with church and community groups to earn trust. Community solar also requires legislation that allows for shared renewable energy projects.

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Cultivating Food Sovereignty Through Regenerative Ocean Farming

Judy Bankman

October 08, 2021 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

The Native Conservacy, a Native-owned and Native-led land trust, created a program to support and train Indigenous farmers to create their own kelp farms. Kelp is nutrient-rich, grows in the ocean, and requires no land or fertilizer. The Native Conservancy has seven sites, grew 4,000 pounds of kelp, and helped Indigenous farmers secure low-interest loans so they can start their own operations.

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Community-owned mobile parks keep eviction at bay. Can they work in North Carolina?

Victoria Bouloubasis

September 30, 2021 |

Southerly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

Some states and cities protect residents of mobile-home communities from eviction with opportunity-to-purchase laws, which require the corporations that rent the land beneath a mobile home to give residents a chance to buy a community when it's for sale. But most places in the U.S. lack such laws, and often zoning rules favor corporate owners. So organizations like ROC USA provide the financial leverage to help residents band together to own their communities, which are also called manufactured housing. ROC has helped 280 communities in 18 states make such purchases.

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How Building Community Value puts local development into the hands of Detroiters

Rhonda J. Smith

September 23, 2021 |

Detour Detroit |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Students of the Better Buildings, Better Blocks class are getting a lesson in real estate development. Not only do participants have the chance to build a business, they will also be doing it in their own neighborhoods and therefore investing in their own community. The course was hatched as an idea to work toward bridging the racial wealth gap and allowing Black community members in Detroit to access real estate development projects.

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