Homelessness

The Need for Services for Denver's Suburban Homeless

Like in many other metro areas in the country, homelessness and poverty are spreading to the suburbs in Denver. And like in other suburban areas, homelessness hides better in the suburbs, so services can be scant for a problem that is large.

May 18, 2014 - Denver Post

Tiny Houses Shelter the Homeless in Wisconsin

Cheap construction materials, crowdfunding, and volunteer construction crews have produced villages of tiny homes as a place for the homeless to find shelter in every corner of the United States. What does it take for such homes to work?

May 13, 2014 - Reuters via Chicago Tribune

Social Justice Through Tiny House Communities

Tiny houses aren’t just for eco-warriors. They can also be a means for homeless and mentally ill individuals to reenter mainstream society.

March 23, 2014 - Grist

County Fairgrounds Provide Overnight Parking for Homeless

The city of Santa Rosa, California, has “cut against the trend” by implementing a safe parking program at the county fairgrounds lot. What has your surface parking lot done for you lately?

March 16, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Reinvests in 'Family Solution' to Homelessness

Los Angeles County has allocated an additional $10.2 million to expand the Family Solutions Centers program, which supports some of the estimated 7,391 homeless families living in the county.

February 24, 2014 - Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

Helping the homeless

How Utah Could End Homelessness by 2015

By implementing a rational, structured policy of providing free apartments for the homeless, the state of Utah has greatly reduced its homeless population and is on pace to eradicate it completely by 2015.

February 10, 2014 - PolicyMic

Food Pantry

American Cities Face Rising Hunger and Homelessness Crisis

Despite economic improvement across the country, a recent survey of 25 American cities finds homelessness and hunger are on the rise. With the federal government cutting resources, providing for the neediest is expected to be harder next year.

December 12, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

L.A. Addresses its Growing Homeless Population by Making it Harder for Them to Eat

Forced onto the street by decreased public spending, a poor economy and congested prisons, L.A.'s homeless population surged by 27 percent last year. Tensions are growing between those trying to help and those uncomfortable with the inundation.

November 28, 2013 - The New York Times

Bucking National Trend, Homelessness Rises in N.Y. and L.A.

Despite a "remarkable" drop in homelessness across the U.S., sobering new data from HUD reveals that New York City's struggle with record high homelessness is getting worse, not better. Homelessness is up substantially in Los Angeles as well.

November 25, 2013 - The New York Times

people eating ice cream on sidewalk seating

The Next Big Thing: "Sit-able Cities"

Supported by imagery of human urban conduct, Chuck Wolfe argues that walkable is good, but sit-able is better—and that "it’s time for the next big focal point and the next big idea, the 'Sit-able City'."

October 14, 2013 - myurbanist

Homelessness

US Homelessness is Way Down; So Why Isn't Anyone Talking About It?

Despite a deep recession driven by a housing bust, the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that homelessness dropped by 17 percent from 2005 to 2012. This is astonishing news, right? So why aren't politicians trumpeting this decline?

August 30, 2013 - The Atlantic

How Can We Break the Link Between Gentrification and Homelessness?

As residential real estate sales set new highs in Bedford-Stuyvesant, more and more local families are being driven to the city's homeless shelters despite prevention efforts. What can city leaders do to ensure economic diversity?

July 8, 2013 - The New York Times

Social Impact Bonds Spread in the U.S. With Help of Harvard Lab

Harvard's SIB Lab has announced the winners of a competition to receive technical assistance with developing social impact bond programs; an idea that has 'traveled from concept to execution faster than any other social innovation in recent history.'

June 10, 2013 - The Washington Post

L.A. Mayoral Candidates Tackle City's Housing Troubles

At a forum held last week, candidates to become L.A.'s next mayor outlined their approaches to tackling the city's most daunting housing challenges - from homelessness to the need for more affordable housing.

January 14, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Affordable Housing Got a Boost in 2012

Declining rental vacancy rates and increased interest in urban living are putting upwards pressure on housing prices throughout the country. But 2012 wasn't all bad news for attempts to retain and expand affordable housing in American cities.

January 7, 2013 - Rooflines

'Star Apartments' Beget New Universe of Homeless Housing

In Los Angeles, the Skid Row Housing Trust is breaking past precedent by building modular, but vibrant, housing aimed at emulating city-life; giving residents a sense of community, and a new lease on life.

December 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Design to Support the Homeless

How might planners advance the dialogue with politicians and citizens for design that supports the 633,782 homeless people in the US? Howard Blackson offers some insights for San Diego, the 3rd largest population of homeless among US cities.

December 17, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Battle Against Homelessness Making Progress, But Will Fall Short of Goals

A report released today shows that the federal government has been effective in reducing homelessness over the last several years, but will fall short of goals for eradicating homelessness among the most vulnerable populations.

December 10, 2012 - The New York Times

Fighting Homelessness, or Fighting the Homeless?

Martha Bridegam investigates the aftermath of a forced eviction at a homeless encampment in San Francisco. Do the homeless deserve to be criminalized?

November 24, 2012 - The Global Urbanist

Finding Homes for America's Veterans

On Veterans Day, Kaid Benfield reports on efforts underway to house and serve America's veterans sustainably.

November 12, 2012 - Switchboard

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.