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LeadSafe Detroit helps protect kids from lead poisoning

Amelia Benavides-Colón

November 29, 2023 |

Planet Detroit |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit LeadSafe Housing program targets households in zip codes with high numbers of homes built prior to 1978, before Congress banned lead paint in residential settings. The program has renovated 112 units since forming in 2016 and has since branched out to collaborate with Urban Neighborhood Initiatives to eliminate language barriers by reaching those in majority-Latino neighborhoods.

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Not your grandma's granny flat: How San Diego hacked state housing law to build ADU 'apartment buildings'

Ben Christopher

November 28, 2023 |

CalMatters |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

The City’s ADU bonus program offers landlords a one-for-one deal if they agree to construct an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that is affordable, specifically for those under certain income requirements, then they are automatically permitted to build a second “bonus” unit on the property and set the rent at whatever price they’d like. This law has created an influx of affordable housing, as landlords are permitted to have up to five units on one property.

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Chesterfield Mobile Home Park Could Be a ‘Model' for Revitalization

Mark Robinson

September 14, 2023 |

Economic Hardship Reporting Project |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chesterfield, Virginia

Project:HOMES bought a local mobile home park, Bermuda Estates, to renovate the units and provide higher-quality, affordable housing. The group raised $4.2 million to repair each unit, build a new community center and host events in the park, all while not increasing rent costs.

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How Cleveland levels the playing field for tenants facing eviction

Katie Ellington Serrao

August 22, 2023 |

Richland Source |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Legal aid programs like The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provide legal counsel to people who can’t afford it, particularly in housing cases between landlords and tenants. The Legal Aid Society’s Right to Counsel Cleveland (RTCC) provides counsel to low-income residents facing eviction with a child in the household. RTCC launched in July 2020 and by 2022 16% of tenants facing eviction had court representation.

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Rent controls are being explored in Bristol – can it learn from Lille?

Matty Edwards Matthieu Slisse

November 23, 2022 |

The Bristol Cable |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: France, Lille

Lille, France introduced rent controls in March 2020, causing the average rent to drop for the first time in several years in 2021. But due to inadequate outreach with tenants, a lack of enforcement, and loopholes in the regulations, more than 40 percent of rental listings in the city were out of compliance and charging more than technically allowed as of August 2022, and many residents report being hesitant to push back on landlords skirting the policy.

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Mapping Lead Contamination in the Granite State

Paul Cuno-Booth Kathie Ragsdale John M. Bassett

December 13, 2021 |

Granite State News Collaborative |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Hampshire

Through education, public policy and grant programs, New Hampshire is working on decreasing the number of children with elevated blood lead levels. In 2016, the state wanted to improve lead-testing rates and over the year, they conducted 25 training sessions reaching more than 300 medical professionals, which led to 2,100 more children being tested than the previous year. Interest in lead-abatement grant programs by landlords and homeowners has also increased.

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Booking Fees: The effort to find long-term solutions for short-term rentals

Sarah Ravits Jake Clapp

November 21, 2021 |

Gambit |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Cities are contending with a rise in short term rentals which is exacerbating the already limited supply of affordable housing. The effort to rein them in includes fees being redirected to affordable housing funds, stricter regulations, and technology that helps enforce city regulations.

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Alone in eviction court: Alabama looks to provide lawyers

Sarah Whites-Koditschek

November 09, 2021 |

AL.com (Alabama Media Group) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alabama

Legislation in cities like Cleveland, Louisville, New York City, provides legal representation for economically-disadvantaged people who are facing eviction. The city ordinances have drastically reduced evictions as well as the government costs associated with homelessness caused directly by evictions. A public awareness push - through social media, billboards, and door knocking - was also made in these cities to encourage people to show up to their eviction court dates.

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The seeds to build permanent farmworker housing are planted. Will there be a harvest?

Pam Marino

October 29, 2021 |

Monterey County Weekly |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Soledad, California

A research study is spurring change and leading to the addition of more housing units in Soledad. Agriculture is the main industry of the region, making farmworker housing a priority. Vacant housing has been rehabilitated and several new developments have been built to house both year-round and migrant workers.

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Paris shows how to make public housing greener and more habitable at the same time

Colin Kinniburgh

September 29, 2021 |

Grist |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Old and neglected housing contributes to climate change because it runs on fossil fuels. In New York, outdated heating systems waste two-thirds of energy. The New York City Housing Authority is not only trying to create better, safer, livable affordable housing, but also cleaner and more sustainable housing. While the city is just beginning to explore how to do that, other cities, like Paris, have already begun the work of updating old buildings that are used for affordable housing and can offer a model for American cities.

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