Posts tagged Homelessness
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Sex workers struggle to find housing in DC. A bill to decriminalize their job can help.
Sex workers face stigma, legal penalties, and police violence in the District, and one of the impacts is that many have trouble finding a place to live. That’s one of the reasons why a coalition of DC sex workers and supporters are pushing a bill to reduce criminal penalties for consensually exchanging sex for money. Keep reading…
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More than shelter: How DC homelessness organizations help LGBTQ youth thrive
Young LGBTQ people face homelessness in disproportionate numbers due to discrimination, and the challenges are only compounded for those who have to deal with racism and ableism as well. Proper housing where a young LGBTQ person can be their full self without judgement can be the difference between surviving and thriving. Keep reading…
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Housing is a queer issue: DC dykes plan to march against displacement
The Dyke March, a grassroots march for queer liberation led by self-identifying dykes, first started in the District in 1993. It subsequently spread to major cities in North America and the UK, but fizzled out in DC. Now local organizers are bringing it back to the District on June 7 after a more than decade-long hiatus, and their inaugural theme is “Dykes Against Displacement.” Keep reading…
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National links: What it takes to make congestion pricing work
Research from cities around the world shows how to make congestion pricing work. A data-driven approach to ending homelessness has been successful in multiple cities. Why don't most cities tax land values? Keep reading…
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National links: Putin’s redevelopment plans and the topography of wealth
This cartographer highlights the enormous wealth disparities in Los Angeles. Congestion is usually seen as a bad thing, but it can also be an indicator of economic vitality. Putin is spending billions of dollars to revitalize Russian cities. Keep reading…
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People experiencing homelessness are more frequently victims of hate crimes
Individuals experiencing homelessness are far more likely than the general population to be victims of violent crime, the National Coalition for the Homeless concluded in December. Keep reading…
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Who’s hit hardest by the affordable housing shortage?
Whether we agree on the same solutions as a society, the fact remains that the United States has a deep affordable housing shortage that disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations. Extremely low-income households are more likely to contain seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children. These households are also more likely to be black and Hispanic. Keep reading…
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DC pledged to end homelessness by 2020, yet 54 people died without a home this year
On December 20, advocates, faith leaders, and community members gathered for the annual Homeless Memorial Vigil to remember the 54 people who died without the dignity of a home in DC in 2018 thus far. Those who died ranged in age from 25 to 87, with the median age being 57. Keep reading…
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LGBTQ youth disproportionately experience homelessness. Some are also entrepreneurs.
Homelessness impacts people from many backgrounds, so it may not seem like an LGBTQ issue. However, the District's 2017 Homeless Youth Census found that 31% of young people experiencing homelessness self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or queer/questioning, and 6% self-identified as transgender. Keep reading…
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The DC Council just cut $20 million for homeless services to fund tax breaks for commercial properties
On December 4, the DC Council moved to divert an estimated $20 million in new tax funds it had pledged for homeless programs to instead reduce the property tax rate for commercial entities valued at $10 million or more. That could have funded permanent supportive housing for about 730 people or long-term housing vouchers to about 1,000 very low-income families. Keep reading…