News Roundup

  • Medical Debt Fuels Housing Insecurity
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    US medical debt is forcing millions of people to make significant sacrifices, such as cutting back on food, taking extra jobs, or depleting retirement savings. In places like Denver, skyrocketing housing costs have exacerbated the crisis, contributing to homelessness and leading some health care systems to invest in affordable housing.

  • Teachers Are at Risk in the Growing Housing Crisis
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    A recent Redfin report reveals the average teacher can only afford 12 percent of homes near their schools. “You think the hardest part is to get a job. In this county? There are plenty of jobs. The hardest part is to get housing,” said Edgar Arroyo, a teacher at Eagle County in Baltimore, Maryland.

  • FEMA Identifies Nearly 500 Communities Prone to Climate Disasters
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    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated 483 US neighborhoods as “community disaster resilience zones,” resource-limited census tracts facing climate-related hazards, that will receive extra federal funds and assistance. Each tract has about 4,000 residents. The funds will go toward projects such as flood zone elevation and wildfire protection.

  • How Long Should Eviction Histories Stay Public?
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    The Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering a proposal to alter eviction record-keeping rules. Currently, eviction case records must be retained for 20 years, which tenant advocates argue disproportionately affects prevents people with low incomes from securing housing. The proposed change would keep eviction records without monetary judgments for only one year on the statewide court website, potentially offering relief to those with eviction histories.