• Cities look to revive downtowns by converting offices to housing

    Cities look to revive downtowns by converting offices to housing

    Apr 24, 2023 08:52 PM EDT

    ... But conversions alone in New York and elsewhere are unlikely to bring back entire downtown neighborhoods, nor will they automatically put a dent in the affordable housing crisis. In a March report, CBRE found that office-to-home conversions only represented about 1 percent of new multi-family projects and ...

  • Advocates push back against new Missouri law that criminalizes sleeping outdoors

    Advocates push back against new Missouri law that criminalizes sleeping outdoors

    Apr 20, 2023 09:35 PM EDT

    ... not actually getting to the root of people’s experiences. For Jessica Honeycutt, a community health worker and plaintiff in the lawsuit against the state, affordable housing is a major issue that needs to be addressed as part of the conversation around homelessness. Honeycutt nearly became homeless during the pandemic ...

  • After a rural California hospital closes, farmworkers pay the price

    After a rural California hospital closes, farmworkers pay the price

    Apr 11, 2023 09:27 PM EDT

    ... linked to “social determinants of health’ including socio-economic status, lack of access to primary care and health insurance coverage, cultural and linguistic barriers, transportation, affordable housing, legal status, and other factors,” the authors write. Paradoxically, food deserts and low wages also commonly reduce farmworkers’ access to fresh fruits and ...

  • Brandon Johnson, union organizer and former teacher, elected Chicago mayor in victory for progressives

    Brandon Johnson, union organizer and former teacher, elected Chicago mayor in victory for progressives

    Apr 05, 2023 02:03 PM EDT

    ... would not do as mayor. But Johnson argued that instead of investing more in policing and incarceration, the city should focus on mental health treatment, affordable housing for all and jobs for youth. He has proposed a plan he says will raise $800 million by taxing "ultrarich" individuals and businesses ...

  • Chicago chooses between progressive, moderate in mayoral election

    Chicago chooses between progressive, moderate in mayoral election

    Apr 04, 2023 04:30 PM EDT

    ... in city politics. The 47-year-old says that instead of investing more in policing and incarceration, the city should focus on mental health treatment, affordable housing for all and jobs for youth. He has proposed a plan he says will raise $800 million by taxing “ultrarich” individuals and businesses ...

  • Darren Walker proposes shift in focus of giving in new book 'From Generosity to Justice'

    Darren Walker proposes shift in focus of giving in new book 'From Generosity to Justice'

    Mar 22, 2023 10:25 PM EDT

    ... philanthropy. What I mean, to say is, get a little uncomfortable when you look at organizations working on the front lines in homelessness, in building affordable housing, working on disability issues. These are areas that are heavily under-resourced in philanthropy. Jeffrey Brown: And that means, inevitably, some who are ...

  • More seniors are becoming homeless, and experts say the trend is likely to worsen

    More seniors are becoming homeless, and experts say the trend is likely to worsen

    Mar 03, 2023 10:41 PM EDT

    ... housing, according to the Center on Budget and Priority Policies. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, across the country, there are only 36 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. Some states, such as Nevada and California, have fewer than 25 affordable ...

  • Memphis residents question best path forward after police killing of Tyre Nichols

    Memphis residents question best path forward after police killing of Tyre Nichols

    Mar 02, 2023 11:45 PM EDT

    Laura Barrón-López: For Floyd, that means connecting community members to jobs in affordable housing. But it also means resisting the kinds of police reform that some Memphians want, like changes to traffic enforcement. Pastor Ricky Floyd: They find real criminals by traffic violations. I would rather they pull me ...

  • Chicago's Lightfoot loses reelection bid, setting up Vallas and Johnson for runoff

    Chicago's Lightfoot loses reelection bid, setting up Vallas and Johnson for runoff

    Mar 01, 2023 03:18 AM EDT

    ... organizer has argued that the answer to addressing crime is not more money for police but more investment in mental health care, education, jobs and affordable housing, and he was accused by rivals such as Lightfoot of wanting to defund the police. Johnson has avoided the word “defund” during the ...

  • Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot takes on 8 rivals in reelection bid

    Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot takes on 8 rivals in reelection bid

    Feb 28, 2023 03:23 PM EDT

    ... particularly unsafe when riding public transit. Johnson, who lives in one of Chicago's most violent neighborhoods, says more needs to be done to provide affordable housing and social services such as mental health care. Garcia, a former City Council member, state lawmaker and county commissioner, has called Lightfoot too ...