Homelessness

Lost Our Home

Milwaukee's Push to Move the Homeless From the Streets Into Permanent Housing

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin is following a growing trend in cities across the country of working to end chronic homelessness by providing permanent housing to the homeless.

December 14, 2015 - Fusion

Skid Row

Los Angeles Declares Shelter Crisis Ahead of El Niño

Facing winter storms and flooding, the city of Los Angeles is opening public buildings as temporary shelters for the homeless. Mayor Garcetti also has the option of declaring a state of emergency around the 26,000 people without housing.

November 24, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Anchorage to Provide Permanent Housing for the Homeless

Newly elected Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has unveiled a new plan to end homelessness in Alaska's largest city, Anchorage. It focuses on providing permanent housing over the next three years for 300 adults who are living on the street and in camps.

November 22, 2015 - Alaska Public Media

More Cities Declaring a State of Emergency Over Homelessness

Seattle is the latest city to declare a state of emergency in response to homelessness in the city. Los Angeles, Portland, and Hawaii took similar steps in recent months.

November 8, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Republican debate

What Does the Upcoming Presidential Election Mean for HUD?

An op-ed explains the significance of the 2016 presidential election for the political clout of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Those supporting the agenda of HUD, according to this argument, should be wary of a Republican victory.

October 29, 2015 - Edward Poteat

LA Crime Scene

Still Gritty: Crime Wave in Downtown Los Angeles

As people and jobs stream into the district, downtown's long-simmering problems butt up against vigorous urban renewal. Crime is up, but so are property values.

September 23, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

How Social Impact Bonds Close the Funding Gap

The number of social impact bond programs in the United States has expanded quickly, to eight, with examples found in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Utah, and, now, California.

September 15, 2015 - Governing

Skid Row

Conflicting Stories From Los Angeles' Skid Row

As the city considers new ordinances making it easier for police to break up homeless camps, residents say forced displacement is already underway. Police deny an increase in homeless sweeps.

August 31, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Litigation of Boise Anti-Camping Ordinance Could Have National Implications

A lawsuit in Boise could decide the future of one policy response to homelessness—making it illegal to sleep in public.

August 10, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Pershing Square

Los Angeles Searches for Improvements to the Much-Maligned Pershing Square

A series of public outreach events are being held in Pershing Square to determine how to make the park more engaging. Live music and fewer physical barriers to entry are among the ideas suggested.

May 17, 2015 - LA Downtown News

Homelessness

Seattle's Homeless Population Is Booming Too

While rates of homelessness drop elsewhere, tents and cardboard are becoming a very regular sight in Seattle. New wealth and newly unaffordable housing may be twin culprits.

April 15, 2015 - NPR

The New Neighbor in the Trendy Mission District: An Innovative Homeless Shelter

Thanks to a $3 million anonymous donation, San Francisco has built a first-of-its kind temporary shelter that will welcome homeless campers along with their belongings and pets.

March 25, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal - U.S. News

Without More Affordable Housing, Veteran Homelessness Will Return

Federal funding to end veteran homelessness has had a real impact, but a nationwide shortage of affordable housing could make its success temporary.

March 24, 2015 - Shelterforce

The Resurgence of Anti-Homeless Policy and Design

A report by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley tracks the proliferation of vagrancy laws in the Golden State. Meanwhile, The Guardian notes the spread of so-called "defensive architecture."

February 19, 2015 - Social Science Research Network

How to End Homelessness? Start—and Finish—With Veterans

We are so close to this goal. We should not change our focus before we meet it.

February 18, 2015 - Shelterforce

New York Homeless Population Grows Amid Shortage of Services

The New York Daily News focuses on the de Blasio Administration's efforts to combat a growing number of homeless in New York City.

February 2, 2015 - New York Daily News

Lessons for the Real World in SimCity 4's Homeless Problem

Emanuel Maiberg discusses an ongoing crisis in a simulated version of reality familiar to many planners—i.e., the homelessness problem in SimCity 4.

January 17, 2015 - Motherboard

HUD Report: Progress in the Fight Against Homelessness

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress shows substantial decreases in the number of homeless this year, especially homeless veterans.

November 5, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Homeless

Fighting Homelessness by Closing a Commuter Rail Station

The high desert city of Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County has an innovative plan to reduce its homeless population: Close its Metrolink station, the last stop on the Antelope Valley line, that serves 400 commuters daily.

October 28, 2014 - The California Report

Star Apartments Offer Starchitect Treatment for L.A.'s Skid Row Homeless

The new 100-unit, $40-million Star Apartments opened in Skid Row earlier this week is part of Los Angeles County’s Housing for Health initiative to house 10,000 of the most vulnerable homeless people.

October 11, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

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