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Landlords Are Powerful. Here's A Way Renters Are Regaining Some Control.

Oliver Balch

November 09, 2018 |

The Huffington Post |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

A growing number of tenant-focused websites are trying to level the power dynamic between shoddy landlords and tenants by giving tenants a voice. “There is a big power mismatch in today’s rental market, but it doesn’t have to be that way.” Amongst those is Rentlogic, which grades 1.1 million apartment buildings, but rather than relying on subjective comments the website provides a grade based on an algorithm.

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Artists Are Painting Trompe L'Oeil Murals to Soothe People with Dementia

Casey Lesser

November 01, 2018 |

Artsy |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Ottawa

Diversion murals—trompe l’oeil paintings on doorways—are being used in long-term care facilities to quell dementia patients’ exit seeking behavior. Rather than using stop signs or tape, the murals are a way to address this behavior in a way that also improves residents’ quality of life.

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Housing Designed for People on the Autism Spectrum

Sophie Haigney

October 31, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix

For the growing number of adults with autism or other neurodivergencies, the First Place apartment complex is purposely designed to provide services and independent living, and to combat long waits for other supportive housing. The complex is one of the first of its kind and has a variety of funding sources, but at a monthly rent of $3300, it's not affordable for all families.

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Tiny houses multiply amid big issues as communities tackle homelessness

Mike Plunkett

October 26, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

Cities around the United States look to tiny homes as a solution to the national homeless crisis. From Kansas City, Mo. to Seattle, Wa., community members and city officials come together to build tiny homes and provide access to a stable community.

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11 questions that could save a woman's life

Jen Zettel

October 25, 2018 |

Appleton Post-Crescent |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wisconsin

The murder of a woman in Wisconsin highlights a lethality assessment tool for law enforcement to use that’s designed to help domestic victims and authorities understand how much danger victims might be in and help police connect them with services. It’s proven effective at helping those facing domestic violence take steps to reduce the chances they might be murdered by their partners. But getting it implemented, especially in rural areas where there may not be many resources for victims, has proven challenging with less than half of Wisconsin’s counties using it.

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Community building: Chicago experiment links libraries and apartments

Eva Fedderly

October 24, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

When a need for more libraries and more affordable housing arose in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel pursued a plan to combine the two. The result is a partnership between the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Public Library system. Despite some concern among neighborhood residents, the solution is largely seen as a creative approach as well as a creative use of funding and land space. Mixed-use developments are becoming more popular around the world, and this next iteration will benefit many types of Chicago residents.

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How Communities of Practice Make a Difference in Middle Neighborhoods

Oscar Perry Abello

October 22, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Community development groups are working closely with "middle neighborhoods" - areas "that aren't distressed today, but they may become so sooner than anyone expects." From Cleveland to Milwaukee to Chicago, CDCs are improving the lives of long term homeowners and helping interested parties generate the capital to move into these neighborhoods: “You're investing to a place that is on the edge, still has assets, still has people who want to be there, but need a nudge to get over the top, versus investing 60 homes in a non-functioning market."

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San Francisco startup wants to help Bellevue teachers buy their homes

Neal Morton

October 19, 2018 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Bellevue, Washington

Landed will pay for half a teacher's down payment on a home in exchange for a quarter of profits when the house is sold down the line. The San Francisco-based startup has recently arrived in Bellevue, where the median home price is hovering around $1 million.

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The Lasting Pain of Children Sent to Orphanages, Rather Than Families

Tina Rosenberg

October 16, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica, San Jose

Casa Viva is an organization in Latin America that prioritizes family reunification over adoption. They have placed about 640 children with foster families, “60 percent of those went back to their biological family or another relative. About 35 percent were adopted.” In contrast to foster homes, orphanages have become thriving business which recruit western volunteers and charge them large fees. Casa Viva opposes this model because most kids have parents who are alive, but can’t afford to raise them.

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‘Rental sisters' for Japan's Reclusive Young Men

Harriet Noble Amelia Martyn-Hemphill

October 16, 2018 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

A unique issue in Japan is that of the “Hikikomori” – men who have totally withdrawn from society, often as a response to bullying, depression, or trauma. The NGO, New Start, offers a “rental sister” program, which provide the Hikikomori with an older female mentor to interact with and guide them toward more independent lives. Along the way, the hope is that they’ll build trusting relationships and practice social engagement.

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