“While many homeless library patrons seek assistance, Montano said, others like 76-year-old Elizabeth Fresquez see the library as their last hope to keep their housing and find other services.”
Category: basic-needs
Educators Fear Their Homeless Students Could Become a Target for Trump Cuts
“At some point in the school year, roughly 1.4 million students are homeless. Federal law provides extra help to make sure they get an education. That law is overseen by the U.S. Education Department, which the Trump administration wants to close.”
Office of Community Planning and Development, within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to lose 84% of its Staff
The Community Planning and Development office at HUD disburses more than $3.6 billion in federal funding for rental assistance, mental health and substance use treatment, and outreach to try and get those living outside into shelter or housing.
Housing Obligations
For the first time in decades, every municipality in New Jersey now has a specific housing obligation. The last housing obligations set by the state, done by what was the Council on Affordable Housing at the time, ended in 1999.
Housing
Everyone is talking about the need for affordable housing.
The Supreme Court Rules on Homelessness: What it All Means
Last week, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which makes it easier for communities nationwide to fine, ticket or arrest people living unsheltered, even when there is no adequate shelter available.
Task Force on Latinx People Experiencing Homelessness
According to data from LAHSA’s annual homeless count, Latinos experienced an over 70% increase in homelessness between 2018 and 2023. The 26% increase from 2020 to 2022 was especially notable, given the significant decreases among other demographics during the same time period.
Nobel Economist Tells G-20 to Slap Climate Tax on Billionaires
Duflo wants to raise $500 billion to mitigate climate effects.
Rich nations have ‘moral debt’ to poor countries, she argues.
Playing Politics with Children in Need
“We’ve systemically defunded vital social services for years in Oklahoma now, almost like a blood sport for political gain,” said state Rep. Forrest Bennett, a Democrat. “It’s at the expense of plenty of folks who need our compassion and get cruelty instead, especially kids.”
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Brooklyn’s New Affordable Housing Development is Built on Top of a Public Library
“A rebuilt branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is opening with a new feature: on the seven floors right above the library, there will be 49 affordable housing units. Michelle de la Uz, executive director of Fifth Avenue Committee, a nonprofit that builds affordable housing and which partnered with the Brooklyn Public Library on the project, said she’s excited to see how those tenants engage with the library, and that the branch’s programming and resources could help people feel less isolated.
Linda Johnson, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, and de la Uz hope to see it replicated, throughout New York and beyond. “There’s an urgent need for affordable housing, and there are a lot of underutilized libraries that need modernization anyway,” de la Uz says. ‘Why not kill two birds with one stone?'”
