Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 667 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Leveling the playing field in rent court

The Baltimore Sun Editorial Board

April 30, 2017 |

The Baltimore Sun |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

This is an opinion piece by the paper's staff based on a large series of investigative stories about evictions and substandard housing in Baltimore. It critiques a system that was designed to protect tenants, where they can get a judge to set up an escrow account to collect rent while landlords make repairs, because it usually favors landlords over tenants. The column outlines specific fixes that would address this imbalance, including more code inspections, a more transparent process and laws that hold landlords accountable for substandard properties.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Unsung Government Program That Gives Federal Property to the Homeless

Kriston Capps

April 27, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Thirty years ago, the U.S. Congress created a process called Title V that requires excess federal land be offered to state and city governments and nonprofits for homeless services. Hampered by challenging obstacles throughout the process, only about 900 acres across the country have been converted to shelters and other facilities. Now streamlined and improved, Title V is poised to make a much greater impact.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Twin Cities, Habitat's regional effort packs a powerful punch

James E. Causey

April 27, 2017 |

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Shakopee, Minnesota

Habitat for Humanity is a well-known "sweat equity" program, where low-income renters can help to build the homes they will eventually own. Usually, they are tightly focused on one area, building houses in the neighborhoods where people already live as they do in Milwaukee. The Minneapolis and St. Paul branches are trying something new: a regional approach that allows participants to choose where they want to live so they can also benefit from safer neighborhoods and better schools.

Read More
Go to Original Story
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.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Eugene's Tiny House Experiment Expands To Emerald Village

Rachael McDonald

April 20, 2017 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Eugene, Oregon

Almost 4 years ago, Opportunity Village was established in Eugene. It’s a community of tiny houses for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Read More
Go to Original Story
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; by forming and managing community savings cooperatives, the women have instilled trust through local control and, above all, enabled members to secure land, build homes, buy food, and even generate profit through loans to families' business enterprises.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Turnover solutions are varied

Melissa Cassutt John Spina Kylie Mohr Emily Mieure

March 29, 2017 |

Jackson Hole News & Guide |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Wyoming

In Jackson Hole, many employees struggle to afford both housing and higher education, and as a result, job turnover is high. The town is trying several initiatives to tackle these problems. The local government is subsidizing more housing units, and the St. John’s Hospital Foundation has been successful at funding nursing scholarships. “What we’re really trying to cultivate is long-term, engaged employees,”says the head of the foundation.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Help Is on the Way for Low-Income Co-op Buildings in NYC

Oscar Perry Abello

March 01, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Habitat for Humanity, best known for its work building houses, is now working to become a Community Development Financial Institution in New York. The city has a history of buildings owned as cooperatives. However, a specific type of municipal debt negatively impacts many of these buildings. Habitat for Humanity’s New York chapter is working to provide loans to help cooperative owners pay off this debt. It will help individuals, while also marking a turning point in what the large nonprofit provides as a service.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A dilemma for renters in Nashville

David Plazas

February 22, 2017 |

The Tennessean |

Text |

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.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Could this one simple idea stop the revolving door to prison?

Samantha Melamed

February 14, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, “500 men and about 10 women juvenile lifers who have been locked away for decades” will be released due to a recent Supreme Court decision that said it was unconstitutional for judges to strike automatic life-without-parole sentence for juveniles. Unfortunately, recidivism rates show that “ 60 percent of people are locked up again within three years of being released.” However, pairing a former prisoner with a mentor is an old school solution that has been proven to be successful. Studies show “participants who had mentors were twice as likely to find jobs and 39 percent less likely to reci

Read More
Go to Original Story