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After Centuries of Housing Racism, a Southern City Gets Innovative

Adam Lynch

June 15, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Mississippi

In Jackson, Mississippi, a series of community-led cooperatives are creating opportunities for affordable home ownership. This is part of a trend across the country to create community land trusts. They are financed through donations, other community businesses, or commissions. Though each land trust faces hurdles, they are collectively allowing more access to wealth and ownership in historically low-income neighborhoods.

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How Tenants' Rights Are Flourishing—Right in Trump's New Backyard

Jimmy Tobias

October 09, 2017 |

The Nation (New York) |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

In Washington D.C., the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase act, gives tenants the right to be the first in line to buy the building they live in, if it goes up for sale. The city, also has a trust fund that finances affordable housing, and provides funds for people looking to purchase a building and create a co-op. Together, these things make it easier for tenants to access affordable housing, and fight gentrification. So, far the city has 137 co-ops. "Now we get to choose our neighbors, we get to set our own rules, and we’re in control of our living conditions.”

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A Down Payment With a Catch: You Must Be an Airbnb Host

Tara Siegel Bernard

September 18, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

A Seattle-based entrepreneur has a creative idea to help people buy their first homes: give them money for a down payment, provided that they pay the money back by listing an extra room in their homes on Airbnb. Though unconventional, the enterprise (called Loftium), aims to help people overcome the hurdle of paying a large down payment. It is hoping to make home ownership accessible to people all across the country.

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Will Limited-Equity Cooperatives Make a Comeback?

Lillian M. Ortiz

April 25, 2017 |

Shelterforce |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Limited Equity Co-ops provide a long term, affordable housing solution for tenants. The method began in the 60s and is slowly rising again. In a LEC the value of the housing unit can’t go up to market value, and therefore preserves affordable prices for a longer period of time. “The history of limited-equity co-ops is full of residents who work together to fight eviction and take care of their building.” There are an estimated 160,000 LEC’s nationally.

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In Myanmar's slums, women pool savings to get relief from crushing loans

Connor MacDonald

March 30, 2017 |

Citiscope |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Myanmar, Yangon, Yangon Region

Years of misrule and a subsequent dearth of hard currency, along with crippling bank-fostered debt cycles and exorbitant home mortgage interest rates, have created immense suffering for Myanmar's poor. But with the guidance of a local NGO, Women for the World, a pilot project helped women in some of Yangon's poorest neighborhoods capitalize on their cultural "head-of-household" status. It helped them form and manage community savings cooperatives, secure land, build homes, buy food, and even generate profit through loans to families' business enterprises.

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A dilemma for renters in Nashville

David Plazas

February 22, 2017 |

The Tennessean |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is trying out creative ways to help residents deal with rising rent. While state policies do not always favor rent control and mixed-income housing units are still years away, several solutions are being implemented right now. Neighborhoods are creating tenant unions and community benefit agreements to ensure that tenants stay up-to-date about housing information. The mayor’s office is also providing financial support to first-time homebuyers.

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Why this program for ex-offenders is working better in rural areas

Emily Previti

December 05, 2016 |

WHYY |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Rates of recidivism in Pennsylvania have dropped substantially in recent years. Part of this decrease is due to the efforts of the Union County Justice Bridge Housing Program, which assists ex-offenders with housing. Other counties across the state are trying to replicate this success, yet face geographic and socioeconomic barriers.

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The Other Housing Crisis: Finding a Home in Rural America

Melissa Hellmann

September 22, 2016 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

The national affordable housing crisis is creating challenges for rural areas. Low-income residents in rural towns struggle to find quality, affordable housing, and government subsidies for housing have decreased in recent years. However, two examples show potential. In Elkins, West Virginia, the Randolph Housing Authority helps people buy affordable homes that are funded by the USDA rural development division and built by a youth training program. In Woodland, California, agricultural workers are moving to Spring Lake, a growing community whose energy usage is net-zero.

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Boston Brings Several Agencies Together To Help Find Housing For Homeless Veterans

Lisa Mullins Lynn Jolicoeur

November 04, 2015 |

WBUR |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston aims to end chronic homelessness by 2018 by paying special attention to veterans. The city is working with private agencies to find housing units and offer homeless veterans a case worker to ensure that they find somewhere to live.

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Drugs and Abusive Father Drove Her Into Military Life

Léa Bouchoucha

August 31, 2015 |

Women's eNews |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

At least 25 percent of female veterans were sexually abused in childhood, making it more difficult to reenter civilian life. Volunteers of America runs a holistic housing program for homeless veterans in the U.S.

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