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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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A Retirement Community That Comes to You

Paula Span

November 08, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Lewes, Delaware

Continuing care at-home programs are filling a gap for senior citizens that do not require around-the-clock care, but need someone to check in on their health on a regular basis. Using “care navigators,” to monitor the health of those in the program, this option of long-term care allows people to remain in their homes longer, and are also often a more affordable option.

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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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A New Housing Program to Fight Poverty has an Unexpected History

Scott Michels

October 22, 2019 |

Retro Report |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

The long-term results of the Gautreaux program, which was intended to reduce poverty, show upward mobility for children of families that were involved in the initiative. The experiment in desegregating neighborhoods led to the relocation of families from public housing projects to suburban neighborhoods which have vital resources like quality education, proximity to jobs, and public safety. Reducing the concentration of poverty from inner cities led to fewer social problems, with the exception of racism faced by the new Black residents in predominantly white neighborhoods.

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The Doomed 1970s Plan to Desegregate New York's Suburbs

Lizabeth Cohen

October 21, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

A plan forged in New York City suburbs in the 1970s addressed urban renewal and income inequality by creating low-income housing dwellings in nine separate towns outside of the city. Though the "Fair Share" program faced long-lasting criticism and ultimately failed, housing experts and developers still learn from the failed plan as they work toward urban renewal in the 21st century.

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A heavy-duty wheelchair expands mobility in post-war Colombia

Megan Janetsky

October 17, 2019 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Colombia, Medellín

A new wheelchair design is helping to eliminate mobility barriers for those with disabilities who are living in regions with rough terrains and underdeveloped streets. Working with three wheelchair users, researchers are piloting a new type of wheelchair that utilizes affordable, yet heavy-duty materials that can withstand "rocks, roots and more."

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Easing the Way Home for Returning Senior Citizens

Kate McQueen

October 14, 2019 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

For seniors re-entering after incarceration, San Francisco’s Senior Ex-Offenders Program (SEOP) is there to help with the transition. The program offers transitional housing, employment services, and even assistance for minor things like getting a debit card or help with transportation. SEOP has partnered with the city, county, and law enforcement to strengthen its efforts, a key one being the one-on-one assistance and support groups that have shown the most impact with participants.

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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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‘We Need Each Other': Seniors Are Drawn to New Housing Arrangements

Paula Span

September 27, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Arrangements like home-sharing, co-housing, and the village movement are often associate with younger crowds, but older Americans are exploring alternative housing arrangements as well as they aim to decrease the isolation that can come with aging, as well as high costs and limited options. However, it can be difficult to scale solutions that have worked and, even when expanded, these programs are still too small to solve the broader affordable housing crisis for seniors and the rest of the American population.

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