<p>A new documentary portrays a grim new reality: veterans make up 25% of the homeless population in America -- a percentage which is expected to rise.</p>
<p>Flint, Michigan has adopted a new strategy to deal with shrinkage and blight: tear down abandoned properties and sell the plots to nearby neighbors for a dollar.</p>
<p>A $5 million garden restoration in the heart of Kabul is drawing hundreds of visitors and reminding us that beauty always matters, even in a time of war.</p>
<p>Despite loft conversions and a rash of casino developments, Detroit continues to lose population and seems unlikely to recover any time soon, writes Lisa Rochon.</p>
