Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 247 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • Both lost jobs. She got paid. He waits. Where they live may be the reason why.

    June 01, 2021 |

    WTVR-TV |

    Broadcast TV News |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, South Carolina

    Four years before the pandemic caused unemployment compensation claims to spike, South Carolina took advantage of a federal grant to modernize its claims processing systems. That upgrade saved thousands of hours of time once claims rose sharply, which meant that people making legitimate claims got paid relatively quickly. That stands in contrast with the Virginia Employment Commission's huge backlog, which must be run through a decades-old system. The state was finally upgrading its systems when the pandemic put that work on hold, leaving some laid-off people in financial limbo for several months.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • The 40-Year-Old System: How an upgrade could help the VEC solve payment problems

    June 01, 2021 |

    WTVR-TV |

    Broadcast TV News |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, South Carolina

    If Virginia taxpayers who lost their jobs in the pandemic want to understand why their unemployment insurance payments lagged for months and why they couldn't get the Virginia Employment Commission on the phone, they could look to South Carolina. In 2017 that state took advantage of a grant to upgrade its computer systems. It was able to process payments much more quickly, needed many fewer call-center staff, and could help South Carolinians take advantage of enhanced pandemic benefits much sooner. Virginia has struggled to upgrade is decades-old systems, which were overwhelmed with calls and claims.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • College Accounts at Birth: State Efforts Raise New Hopes

    April 27, 2021 |

    The New York Times |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Oklahoma

    SEED for Oklahoma Kids is a statewide effort to help newer generations climb the educational ladder and build assets. Parents are offered $1,000 in their newborn's name and set aside in a college savings account, destined to be used for pursuing college or trade school education. The concept of the program is not unique to Oklahoma. Other states like Nebraska, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania, and more have implemented similar programs. "Automatic enrollment in a saving program, with the ability to opt out, turns out to have a much higher participation rate than relying on individuals to take the initiative."

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Vaccination navigation: United Way's 2-1-1 has helped thousands get appointments

    April 15, 2021 |

    FreshWater Cleveland |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

    A phone line is helping Cuyahoga County residents schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. By dialing 2-1-1 on a phone, residents will be connected to a trained navigator to help them register for a vaccination or answer other questions. Despite limited hours the vaccine registration is open, since it launched in late January 2021, the phone line has connected more than 52,000 calls to appointments.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • How satellite images are helping one country hand out cash

    March 24, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Broadcast TV News |

    3-5 Minutes

    Response Location: Togo

    "Poverty maps" that combine satellite imagery and survey data enabled the Togolese government to target emergency pandemic charitable aid to the people in greatest need. Togo officials relied on the expertise of University of California-Berkeley researchers whose system interprets aerial images showing such factors as the density and condition of housing. Initially, 35,000 people received $13-$15 per month for five months to make up for the loss of jobs and small-business income during pandemic shutdowns. Applications were sought from targeted areas through advertising, and money was sent via mobile phones.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Using satellite photos to help distribute cash

    March 16, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: Togo

    Togo distributed money to people in need, including informal sector workers, by identifying them using machine learning. Algorithms search satellite photos for clues of poverty, using measures like building density, and individuals within those areas are found using mobile phone data as a proxy of their wealth. Media campaigns also encourage people to apply for assistance. Once eligibility is confirmed, the first of five monthly payments is instantly sent to their phone and can be collected at local pick-up points. People without mobile phones can use an inexpensive SIM card in a borrowed phone.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • California job seekers found new careers with help from a rent relief program. Here's how

    March 09, 2021 |

    Sacramento Bee |

    Multi-Media |

    Under 3 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Stockton, California

    Rent relief payments in California are helping public housing residents pursue full-time employment. The Jobs-Plus initiative provides payments that are conditional on enrolling in job training and placement programs. An increased income often disqualifies public housing residents from benefits and subsidies such as food stamps, childcare, and discounted rent rates which can negate the increased income from higher wages or more hours. Rent relief empowers residents to build a security net for themselves in addition to pursing full-time employment without the strain of losing much-needed benefits.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Czech City Eases Burden on Migrants

    February 26, 2021 |

    Deník Referendum |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: Czech Republic, Brno

    Intercultural city workers act as bridges between public institutions and the Arab, Moldovan/Romanian, and Russian-speaking, and Vietnamese communities. They accompany clients to government offices, where their presence makes officials more open to working them, and also to healthcare visits. The workers conduct field visits, communicate via social media, and form relationships with prominent community members. They foster inclusion by helping immigrant communities learn the social norms while also informing public institutions about the social needs of the communities.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • How NYC Is Stopping Textile Waste With Low-Tech Donation Bins

    February 24, 2021 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    RefashionNYC provides bins for commercial and residential buildings with more than 10 units, though the Department of Sanitation, to recycle clothes and textiles. When full, the contents are sorted by Housing Works, who either sells donations in their thrift shops, sends them to other nonprofit second-hand stores, or exports them to overseas markets. Clothing that is too damaged to be donated is sold to companies that reprocess them as rags or seat padding. 1,300 bins have been installed and over 12,200 tons of clothing and textiles have been diverted from landfills.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Flood City: Louisiana prepares to move neighborhood after 50 years of floods

    February 19, 2021 |

    USA Today |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New Roads, Louisiana

    Pecan Acres in Louisiana is known as Flood City since many residents can’t remember a time when their homes weren’t impacted by rising waters. To help these people, the state has started a relocation project to move the neighborhood to higher ground. The new neighborhood, called Audubon Estates, already has 17 households signed up to move in. The government is buying the residents out of their old homes, which has proved a more difficult process than originally thought. Yet, some are ready for the change.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

Go to All Solutions in Focus