Page 8 - Careyl Biron News Today

* Various U.S. cities, states moving to decriminalize vending By Carey L. Biron WASHINGTON, May 5 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Since losing her job in 2018, Nekia Hattley has been selling vegan desserts at farmers’ markets and on the streets of Los Angeles. Today, with COVID-19 pushing people outdoors, she sees a potential new revenue surge – but there’s a catch. Street vendors selling food are subject to stringent policies, including what type of cart they can use and where they can ...

FEATURE-Cash, no strings attached: New U.S. programs for pandemic poor Reuters 2 hrs ago * Controversial plans are seen as effective and equitable Popular Searches * Pandemic has fueled policymakers interest By Carey L. Biron WASHINGTON, April 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Handouts lead to laziness and breed dependency, according to the critics. Advocates counter that cash can lift the left-behind out of poverty. What better time to test it out than a pandemic? A high-stakes experiment is...

FEATURE-Neighborhoods united: Highway removal gains steam in U.S. cities Reuters 1 hr ago * Highways built in 1950s, 1960s often cut through minority communities * Highways can bring health risks and depress local economies * Removals have spiked across the country in last five years By Carey L. Biron WASHINGTON, April 12 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Through the years that she has been fighting against it, Amy Stellys opponent has remained unmoved, looming nearby and covering her New Orlean...

FEATURE-3D-printed homes build hope for U.S. affordable housing Reuters 2/15/2021 * 3D construction market could be worth $1.5 billion by 2024 * The process builds homes faster, cheaper and with less labor * Structures are more resilient to natural disasters By Carey L. Biron WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - After years of homelessness and hard living, Tim Shea has swapped the sharp corners in his life for the round, flowing design of his new 3D-printed home in Austin, Texas....

7 Min Read WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As U.S. President Joe Biden vows to tackle the country’s housing affordability crisis, one group is trying to convince cities they can end homelessness outright armed with one thing: better data. For homeless service providers across the United States, late January means the “point-in-time” count, in which volunteers spend a single night combing streets, parks and forests for people sleeping rough, or living in cars or tents. The federa...

4 Min Read WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Cities across the globe pledged on Monday to use their post-pandemic recovery plans to bolster ways to adapt to the growing risks posed by climate change. The 1000 Cities Adapt Now initiative, launched by several non-governmental organizations and a U.N. agency, will initially start operating in 100 urban areas but eventually expand to 1,000, organizers said at the opening of the two-day virtual Climate Adaptation Summit. The project was deve...

4 Min Read WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month was traumatic for people across the country who watched the events unfold on TV and social media. But for homeless communities in Washington D.C., it played out where they live - and raised concerns about what was to come with Wednesday’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. On the sidelines of the Jan. 6 riot, some among the city’s homeless reported being harassed and verbally abuse...

3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Increased use of surveillance technologies by landlords across the United States could worsen a looming eviction crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic, researchers and renters warned on Monday. Speaking on a webinar, tenants and tech experts detailed the use of cameras, facial-recognition scanners and license plate readers, which they said were routinely deployed without residents’ consent or any explanation as to how their data is used. Few...

7 Min Read WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When teacher Ashley Johnson arrived in Atlanta after a cross-country move last year, she was quickly confronted with the city’s affordable housing shortage, one of the worst in the country. Eventually, a friend told her about a service called PadSplit, which connects tenants with shared housing options, similar to boarding houses, that are quickly growing in popularity across the United States. For $145 a week, including utilities - far les...