Posts tagged Poverty
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Bills cracking down on sex work won’t help trafficking victims, but more housing will
The problems facing sex workers, sex trafficking victims, and the Ward 6 residents who don’t want to find condoms on their lawn are all rooted in the same thing — homelessness. If we want to make DC’s public spaces safer, especially for those most likely to experience physical and sexual violence, we need to make sure that everyone in our city is housed first. Keep reading…
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A fix or a setback? DC may strip tenant purchase rights from all single-family homes
A new bill introduced by councilmember Anita Bonds would exempt single-family homes from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). Realtors say that's necessary to prevent abuses, while tenant advocates say it will harm vulnerable populations. Keep reading…
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A bill before the DC Council would decriminalize fare evasion. Here’s why activists say it’s necessary.
As Metro cracks down on fare evasion, this decriminalization act would remove the criminal penalty and lower the maximum fine to $100. Local activists and councilmembers say the current policies have a disproportionate racial impact. Keep reading…
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The first DC Council candidate debate brings affordable housing, and candidates’ experience levels, to the fore
Battle of the newbies, battle of the wonks: the DC Council debate highlighted passionate appeals about housing affordability, homelessness, and similar issues — as well as the candidates' contrasting experience levels. Keep reading…
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Meet Odie Donald, DC’s head of employment services. What would you ask him?
Odie Donald II, DC's head of employment services, has agreed to answer questions from our readers. What would you like to know? Keep reading…
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There are more than 7,000 homeless people in DC. Learn how to help them.
Recently there’s been an apparent increase in people experiencing homelessness in the Dupont area and surrounding neighborhoods like Foggy Bottom. While it's a huge and complex issue, there are many ways to help locally. Keep reading…
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DC’s old school and church buildings are getting a new life
We should applaud projects that aim to repurpose closed churches and schools for the benefit of the larger community, and recognize that such efforts can take many forms. Keep reading…
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$100k or no way: DC’s Home Purchase Assistance isn’t accessible to those who need it most
DC's Home Purchase Assistance Program seems to handicap those citizens it is intended to serve, preventing low-income and young people from participating in one of the greatest wealth-growth assets: home ownership. Keep reading…
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Housing and transportation are LGBTQ issues, and politicians need to recognize that
Economic insecurity isn’t an exclusively queer issue, but tackling it is an opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of LGBTQ people. It’s also something that local governments are uniquely suited to address. Keep reading…
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For poor DC residents, safety from sexual violence means access
As local businesses and agencies work to respond to sexual harassment and make public spaces safer, they must also ask themselves: safer for who? Keep reading…