Facebook joins as Google in the $1 billion club, though this club plans to spend that money on housing programs to help alleviate the exploding cost of housing in the state of California.

"Facebook on Tuesday committed $1 billion to tackle affordable housing shortages in the Bay Area and around the country," reports Marisa Kendall.
The move cams as a surprise, according to Kendall, but it places the company in very small company among other tech giants paying exorbitant sums of money to help alleviate the state's housing affordability crisis—a crisis that some in the state have blamed on tech companies like Facebook. Google made a similar pledge to spend $1 billion on housing in June 2019. Previously, Facebook had pledged $20 million to help launch a fund that supports housing and jobs in Menlo Park and East Palo Alto.
"Over the next 10 years, that money will help create up to 20,000 homes where teachers, nurses and other essential workers can live closer to the communities they serve, according to an announcement on Facebook’s website. Facebook also unveiled a new partnership with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration to build mixed-income homes on excess state-owned land," writes Kendall.
FULL STORY: Facebook pledges $1 billion to fight housing crisis in California and beyond

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
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USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
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