2023-08-24 City of Portland Bike Parking Technical Memo w illustrations.pdfRoger Valdez
The Street Trust is proposing changes to Portland's bicycle parking code to remove barriers to housing production and make the code more equitable. The current code requires overly prescriptive bike parking dimensions that reduce usable space in units. The Trust recommends simplifying requirements, increasing flexibility, and centering user needs rather than prioritizing bikes over housing. Specific proposals include reducing long-term bike parking ratios, cargo bike space dimensions, removing the 50% cap on in-unit parking, and making some requirements advisory.
The letter urges the Bellevue City Council to maintain its current relaxed restrictions around parking within a half mile of transit. It provides three key reasons this exemption is important: 1) Mandating parking increases housing costs today and in the future. 2) Requiring parking undermines investments in transit and encourages more driving. 3) People seeking housing and those providing it should be able to decide themselves whether parking is needed or valuable. Maintaining the exemption will reduce housing costs, support transit, and give people options to live car-free near transit.
The document is a letter from the Foundation for Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) to members of Congress regarding using tax incentives to support more affordable housing. It makes two main proposals: 1) Granting tax incentives to private developers who restrict rents on a portion of units, similar to programs in Seattle, and 2) Expanding tax credits for families to apply to their rent payments to provide immediate assistance. Taken together, these could motivate local governments to remove barriers to housing development. The letter requests further discussion of these ideas to implement tax incentives that efficiently produce more affordable housing units and assistance.
2023-08-24 City of Portland Bike Parking Technical Memo w illustrations.pdfRoger Valdez
The Street Trust is proposing changes to Portland's bicycle parking code to remove barriers to housing production and make the code more equitable. The current code requires overly prescriptive bike parking dimensions that reduce usable space in units. The Trust recommends simplifying requirements, increasing flexibility, and centering user needs rather than prioritizing bikes over housing. Specific proposals include reducing long-term bike parking ratios, cargo bike space dimensions, removing the 50% cap on in-unit parking, and making some requirements advisory.
The letter urges the Bellevue City Council to maintain its current relaxed restrictions around parking within a half mile of transit. It provides three key reasons this exemption is important: 1) Mandating parking increases housing costs today and in the future. 2) Requiring parking undermines investments in transit and encourages more driving. 3) People seeking housing and those providing it should be able to decide themselves whether parking is needed or valuable. Maintaining the exemption will reduce housing costs, support transit, and give people options to live car-free near transit.
The document is a letter from the Foundation for Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) to members of Congress regarding using tax incentives to support more affordable housing. It makes two main proposals: 1) Granting tax incentives to private developers who restrict rents on a portion of units, similar to programs in Seattle, and 2) Expanding tax credits for families to apply to their rent payments to provide immediate assistance. Taken together, these could motivate local governments to remove barriers to housing development. The letter requests further discussion of these ideas to implement tax incentives that efficiently produce more affordable housing units and assistance.
This document summarizes arguments against Charter Amendment 29 in Seattle, which aims to address homelessness. It argues that CA 29 will:
1) Make it harder to clear encampments by requiring a complex "balancing test" for each individual camper before clearing an encampment.
2) Violate good governance principles by amending the city charter, which should define government structure not policy, and lock 12% of the city budget into homelessness services indefinitely.
3) Have numerous unintended consequences by invalidating existing laws and setting legal precedents around issues like land use and law enforcement without understanding the full implications.
Overall, the document claims that while more housing and services for the homeless are
The document summarizes that:
- A review by the Center for Housing Economics found that Dayton's actual eviction rate is far lower than the 25th highest in the country as claimed by the Eviction Lab, and Dayton ranks over 100th nationally.
- The Eviction Lab uses only 2016 data and does not clearly define eviction, which can vary legally between places.
- When using HUD data, Dayton's eviction rate is under 2% and not high enough to be ranked by the Eviction Lab.
- Getting federal rent relief distributed would actually help people hurting in Dayton more than changes to the eviction process.
King county-superior-court-order-on-rha-v-city-of-seattle-22421Roger Valdez
This order denies the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and grants the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. It finds that the three Seattle ordinances establishing defenses to eviction due to financial hardship during COVID-19 do not conflict with state law and are therefore not preempted. While the ordinance provision staying late fees is preempted, the rest can be harmonized with state eviction statutes as establishing substantive defenses rather than conflicting with the statutes' procedural framework. Controlling Washington precedent has established that the state eviction laws provide only procedures, not substantive rights, so local governments can permissibly provide additional defenses.
$25 billion will be allocated for rental assistance from 2021 through September 2022 for households impacted by Covid-19. The CDC eviction ban will end on January 31, 2021. State and local governments will distribute funds to households making less than 80% of the area median income who are at risk of homelessness or have experienced financial hardship or unemployment due to Covid-19. Housing providers will be paid on behalf of eligible renters unless they refuse payment. Renters or providers can apply for assistance on the renter's behalf if they cosign the application.
The document is a letter from Roger Valdez of Seattle For Growth to members of the Seattle City Council regarding a communication from the Seattle Renter's Commission urging an end to credit checks for rental housing. Valdez argues that eliminating credit checks is not a solution and does not help people with poor credit or economic challenges. Instead, he suggests having a serious discussion on how to better assess risk for housing providers through alternative methods or a city fund to offset risk, while also helping renters improve their credit through successful tenancies. He invites the council to have a collaborative conversation on sensible ways to reduce risk and help people with economic challenges succeed.
This letter from the Director of an organization opposes a bill, SB 5160, being considered by the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee. The Director argues the bill does nothing to actually help those struggling due to COVID-19 and that it introduces uncertainty for housing providers by allowing non-paying tenants to remain for months without consequence. The letter urges the Committee to shelve the bill and instead focus on distributing rental relief funds provided by the Governor to help tenants pay rent.
The document appears to be a listing of page numbers from the 1984-1985 volume 94 of the Yale Law Journal. There is no other substantive content beyond the repeated listing of "HeinOnline --- 94 Yale L. J." followed by a page number ranging from 1 to 70.
The letter requests that Governor Inslee convene representatives from housing providers to provide advice on designing a rent relief distribution program for funds allocated by recent federal legislation. The program should pay full unpaid rent and utility bills for affected households, consider current income for eligibility, pay at least 90% of funds directly to housing providers, limit third parties, use existing lender relationships, make direct electronic payments, allow future rent/utility payments if COVID impacts continue, and modify eviction bans to allow eviction of tenants who can pay but aren't. It emphasizes that the law requires payment to housing providers, and state and local governments must work quickly with property owners to ensure resources reach those most in need.
$25 billion will be allocated for rental assistance between 2021 and 2022 to help households impacted by Covid-19. The CDC eviction ban will end on January 31, 2021. State and local governments will distribute funds to households making less than 80% of the area median income who are at risk of homelessness or have experienced financial hardship or unemployment due to Covid-19. Housing providers will be paid on behalf of eligible renters unless they refuse payment. Renters or providers can apply for assistance on the renter's behalf if they cosign the application.
This document discusses incentive zoning and inclusionary zoning policies. It summarizes that incentive zoning allows increased development in exchange for public benefits, while inclusionary zoning requires affordable housing units be included in new developments. However, the document argues these policies are flawed because they are based on the false premise that more housing supply increases prices. It also claims the fees can make projects infeasible and constitute an illegal taking of private property without compensation.
This document summarizes data from a 2020 Housing Stability Task Force presentation by the Colorado Apartment Association. It finds that rent collection rates have remained strong in Colorado during the pandemic, at only slightly below 2019 levels. Eviction filings have also slowed significantly since April 2020 compared to typical levels. The data shows no correlation between eviction filings and changes in unemployment or average rent levels in Colorado. The document concludes that Colorado is not experiencing a housing crisis in terms of ability to pay rent or eviction rates. It argues policies should focus on decreasing the time and costs associated with the eviction process to balance housing access and stability.
Order Denying Injunction Against CDC Eviction BanRoger Valdez
This order addresses a motion for preliminary injunction against the CDC's nationwide eviction moratorium. The order provides background on the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken, including eviction moratoria. It describes the plaintiffs, who are landlords seeking to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent. It also outlines the requirements to qualify for protection under the CDC moratorium. The order analyzes the motion under the four-part test for preliminary injunctions, considering the plaintiffs' likelihood of success, irreparable injury, balance of harms, and the public interest. It notes defendants challenge plaintiffs' standing and argue failure to join indispensable parties.
Statement of Impact -- New Leaf ProjectRoger Valdez
Foundations for Social Change conducted a randomized controlled trial that provided one-time $7,500 cash transfers to 50 homeless individuals in Vancouver. Preliminary data found that cash recipients moved into stable housing faster, spent fewer days homeless, achieved greater food security, and reduced spending on substances. Recipients reported using the money to find housing, transportation, and focus on education and family. The organization aims to raise $10 million to expand the project to 200 more homeless individuals and scale the approach to multiple cities across Canada.
The document summarizes the results of a survey of 1,474 Hawaii business respondents across 19 industries. It found that one-third of respondents were in the food services and retail trade industries. Two-thirds earned less than $1 million in annual revenue in 2019. The survey also found that the estimated total unpaid rent in the third quarter of 2020 was $62 million, with food services and retail trade industries accounting for 43.7% of unpaid rent. Nearly half of businesses that did not pay rent at all were currently closed.
The US government currently spends over $50 billion per year through 160 housing programs administered by 20 agencies, resulting in duplication and overlap. This complex system evolved over 80+ years through changing goals and priorities. For example, HUD and USDA rental assistance and loan programs overlap in services provided. HUD's Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and Section 8 programs serve similar populations with similar eligibility rules. The HOME and Housing Trust Fund block grant programs are nearly identical in many ways and should be consolidated. The government also supports housing through billions in tax expenditures that overlap with other programs. This byzantine system fails to efficiently and effectively serve those in need, and Congress should undertake reforms to streamline and consolidate programs.
This letter urges the Bellevue City Council to maintain its current relaxed restrictions around parking within a half mile of transit. It provides three key reasons why this parking exemption is important: 1) It will help increase affordable housing supply and reduce housing costs, as parking requirements drive up costs. 2) It supports the city's investment in transit by encouraging transit use over driving. 3) It allows the housing market to determine parking needs rather than mandates, giving choices to residents who value proximity to transit over parking. Maintaining the exemption will reduce housing prices, boost transit ridership, and give people the freedom to choose housing based on their transportation preferences.
The letter urges the King County Council to direct the Board of Equalization to expedite property tax appeals over the coming months. It anticipates a large increase in appeals due to the impact of Covid-19 on property values. Government interventions to slow the spread of the virus led to business closures and job/income losses. This has resulted in unpaid rent and increased vacancies, significantly impacting commercial and residential property values. However, property assessments and taxes have increased despite lower incomes and property values. Expediting appeals is urgent to provide relief, especially for sectors hit hardest like rental housing, retail, hotels, and smaller housing providers.
This document discusses different perspectives on housing policy and affordable housing. It examines the view that housing prices are determined by supply and demand versus the view that prices are determined by profits. It also discusses debates around whether more housing subsidies or more overall housing production is needed to address affordability. Non-profit housing models are described as well as challenges around development costs and unit sizes. The document questions whether current policies aimed at "investing" in affordable housing through subsidies and taxes are actually driving up overall housing prices. It argues for a more market-based approach focused on deregulation and streamlining to increase overall housing supply.
The letter makes three main requests of the Governor's office as a statewide eviction ban is set to expire: 1) Allow the eviction ban to expire as housing providers have no interest in evicting tenants during the pandemic and evictions are an expensive last resort. 2) If the ban is extended, the Governor should directly engage with housing providers to understand how to modify the ban. 3) Emphasize rent relief and income support programs to resolve unpaid rent rather than extending the eviction ban, as paying down unpaid rent and supporting incomes would eliminate the need for the ban.
UN WOD 2024 will take us on a journey of discovery through the ocean's vastness, tapping into the wisdom and expertise of global policy-makers, scientists, managers, thought leaders, and artists to awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration and commitment for the ocean and all it sustains. The program will expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, build new foundations for our relationship to the ocean, and ignite a wave of action toward necessary change.
This document summarizes arguments against Charter Amendment 29 in Seattle, which aims to address homelessness. It argues that CA 29 will:
1) Make it harder to clear encampments by requiring a complex "balancing test" for each individual camper before clearing an encampment.
2) Violate good governance principles by amending the city charter, which should define government structure not policy, and lock 12% of the city budget into homelessness services indefinitely.
3) Have numerous unintended consequences by invalidating existing laws and setting legal precedents around issues like land use and law enforcement without understanding the full implications.
Overall, the document claims that while more housing and services for the homeless are
The document summarizes that:
- A review by the Center for Housing Economics found that Dayton's actual eviction rate is far lower than the 25th highest in the country as claimed by the Eviction Lab, and Dayton ranks over 100th nationally.
- The Eviction Lab uses only 2016 data and does not clearly define eviction, which can vary legally between places.
- When using HUD data, Dayton's eviction rate is under 2% and not high enough to be ranked by the Eviction Lab.
- Getting federal rent relief distributed would actually help people hurting in Dayton more than changes to the eviction process.
King county-superior-court-order-on-rha-v-city-of-seattle-22421Roger Valdez
This order denies the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and grants the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. It finds that the three Seattle ordinances establishing defenses to eviction due to financial hardship during COVID-19 do not conflict with state law and are therefore not preempted. While the ordinance provision staying late fees is preempted, the rest can be harmonized with state eviction statutes as establishing substantive defenses rather than conflicting with the statutes' procedural framework. Controlling Washington precedent has established that the state eviction laws provide only procedures, not substantive rights, so local governments can permissibly provide additional defenses.
$25 billion will be allocated for rental assistance from 2021 through September 2022 for households impacted by Covid-19. The CDC eviction ban will end on January 31, 2021. State and local governments will distribute funds to households making less than 80% of the area median income who are at risk of homelessness or have experienced financial hardship or unemployment due to Covid-19. Housing providers will be paid on behalf of eligible renters unless they refuse payment. Renters or providers can apply for assistance on the renter's behalf if they cosign the application.
The document is a letter from Roger Valdez of Seattle For Growth to members of the Seattle City Council regarding a communication from the Seattle Renter's Commission urging an end to credit checks for rental housing. Valdez argues that eliminating credit checks is not a solution and does not help people with poor credit or economic challenges. Instead, he suggests having a serious discussion on how to better assess risk for housing providers through alternative methods or a city fund to offset risk, while also helping renters improve their credit through successful tenancies. He invites the council to have a collaborative conversation on sensible ways to reduce risk and help people with economic challenges succeed.
This letter from the Director of an organization opposes a bill, SB 5160, being considered by the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee. The Director argues the bill does nothing to actually help those struggling due to COVID-19 and that it introduces uncertainty for housing providers by allowing non-paying tenants to remain for months without consequence. The letter urges the Committee to shelve the bill and instead focus on distributing rental relief funds provided by the Governor to help tenants pay rent.
The document appears to be a listing of page numbers from the 1984-1985 volume 94 of the Yale Law Journal. There is no other substantive content beyond the repeated listing of "HeinOnline --- 94 Yale L. J." followed by a page number ranging from 1 to 70.
The letter requests that Governor Inslee convene representatives from housing providers to provide advice on designing a rent relief distribution program for funds allocated by recent federal legislation. The program should pay full unpaid rent and utility bills for affected households, consider current income for eligibility, pay at least 90% of funds directly to housing providers, limit third parties, use existing lender relationships, make direct electronic payments, allow future rent/utility payments if COVID impacts continue, and modify eviction bans to allow eviction of tenants who can pay but aren't. It emphasizes that the law requires payment to housing providers, and state and local governments must work quickly with property owners to ensure resources reach those most in need.
$25 billion will be allocated for rental assistance between 2021 and 2022 to help households impacted by Covid-19. The CDC eviction ban will end on January 31, 2021. State and local governments will distribute funds to households making less than 80% of the area median income who are at risk of homelessness or have experienced financial hardship or unemployment due to Covid-19. Housing providers will be paid on behalf of eligible renters unless they refuse payment. Renters or providers can apply for assistance on the renter's behalf if they cosign the application.
This document discusses incentive zoning and inclusionary zoning policies. It summarizes that incentive zoning allows increased development in exchange for public benefits, while inclusionary zoning requires affordable housing units be included in new developments. However, the document argues these policies are flawed because they are based on the false premise that more housing supply increases prices. It also claims the fees can make projects infeasible and constitute an illegal taking of private property without compensation.
This document summarizes data from a 2020 Housing Stability Task Force presentation by the Colorado Apartment Association. It finds that rent collection rates have remained strong in Colorado during the pandemic, at only slightly below 2019 levels. Eviction filings have also slowed significantly since April 2020 compared to typical levels. The data shows no correlation between eviction filings and changes in unemployment or average rent levels in Colorado. The document concludes that Colorado is not experiencing a housing crisis in terms of ability to pay rent or eviction rates. It argues policies should focus on decreasing the time and costs associated with the eviction process to balance housing access and stability.
Order Denying Injunction Against CDC Eviction BanRoger Valdez
This order addresses a motion for preliminary injunction against the CDC's nationwide eviction moratorium. The order provides background on the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken, including eviction moratoria. It describes the plaintiffs, who are landlords seeking to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent. It also outlines the requirements to qualify for protection under the CDC moratorium. The order analyzes the motion under the four-part test for preliminary injunctions, considering the plaintiffs' likelihood of success, irreparable injury, balance of harms, and the public interest. It notes defendants challenge plaintiffs' standing and argue failure to join indispensable parties.
Statement of Impact -- New Leaf ProjectRoger Valdez
Foundations for Social Change conducted a randomized controlled trial that provided one-time $7,500 cash transfers to 50 homeless individuals in Vancouver. Preliminary data found that cash recipients moved into stable housing faster, spent fewer days homeless, achieved greater food security, and reduced spending on substances. Recipients reported using the money to find housing, transportation, and focus on education and family. The organization aims to raise $10 million to expand the project to 200 more homeless individuals and scale the approach to multiple cities across Canada.
The document summarizes the results of a survey of 1,474 Hawaii business respondents across 19 industries. It found that one-third of respondents were in the food services and retail trade industries. Two-thirds earned less than $1 million in annual revenue in 2019. The survey also found that the estimated total unpaid rent in the third quarter of 2020 was $62 million, with food services and retail trade industries accounting for 43.7% of unpaid rent. Nearly half of businesses that did not pay rent at all were currently closed.
The US government currently spends over $50 billion per year through 160 housing programs administered by 20 agencies, resulting in duplication and overlap. This complex system evolved over 80+ years through changing goals and priorities. For example, HUD and USDA rental assistance and loan programs overlap in services provided. HUD's Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and Section 8 programs serve similar populations with similar eligibility rules. The HOME and Housing Trust Fund block grant programs are nearly identical in many ways and should be consolidated. The government also supports housing through billions in tax expenditures that overlap with other programs. This byzantine system fails to efficiently and effectively serve those in need, and Congress should undertake reforms to streamline and consolidate programs.
This letter urges the Bellevue City Council to maintain its current relaxed restrictions around parking within a half mile of transit. It provides three key reasons why this parking exemption is important: 1) It will help increase affordable housing supply and reduce housing costs, as parking requirements drive up costs. 2) It supports the city's investment in transit by encouraging transit use over driving. 3) It allows the housing market to determine parking needs rather than mandates, giving choices to residents who value proximity to transit over parking. Maintaining the exemption will reduce housing prices, boost transit ridership, and give people the freedom to choose housing based on their transportation preferences.
The letter urges the King County Council to direct the Board of Equalization to expedite property tax appeals over the coming months. It anticipates a large increase in appeals due to the impact of Covid-19 on property values. Government interventions to slow the spread of the virus led to business closures and job/income losses. This has resulted in unpaid rent and increased vacancies, significantly impacting commercial and residential property values. However, property assessments and taxes have increased despite lower incomes and property values. Expediting appeals is urgent to provide relief, especially for sectors hit hardest like rental housing, retail, hotels, and smaller housing providers.
This document discusses different perspectives on housing policy and affordable housing. It examines the view that housing prices are determined by supply and demand versus the view that prices are determined by profits. It also discusses debates around whether more housing subsidies or more overall housing production is needed to address affordability. Non-profit housing models are described as well as challenges around development costs and unit sizes. The document questions whether current policies aimed at "investing" in affordable housing through subsidies and taxes are actually driving up overall housing prices. It argues for a more market-based approach focused on deregulation and streamlining to increase overall housing supply.
The letter makes three main requests of the Governor's office as a statewide eviction ban is set to expire: 1) Allow the eviction ban to expire as housing providers have no interest in evicting tenants during the pandemic and evictions are an expensive last resort. 2) If the ban is extended, the Governor should directly engage with housing providers to understand how to modify the ban. 3) Emphasize rent relief and income support programs to resolve unpaid rent rather than extending the eviction ban, as paying down unpaid rent and supporting incomes would eliminate the need for the ban.
UN WOD 2024 will take us on a journey of discovery through the ocean's vastness, tapping into the wisdom and expertise of global policy-makers, scientists, managers, thought leaders, and artists to awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration and commitment for the ocean and all it sustains. The program will expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, build new foundations for our relationship to the ocean, and ignite a wave of action toward necessary change.
Food safety, prepare for the unexpected - So what can be done in order to be ready to address food safety, food Consumers, food producers and manufacturers, food transporters, food businesses, food retailers can ...
RFP for Reno's Community Assistance CenterThis Is Reno
Property appraisals completed in May for downtown Reno’s Community Assistance and Triage Centers (CAC) reveal that repairing the buildings to bring them back into service would cost an estimated $10.1 million—nearly four times the amount previously reported by city staff.
Indira awas yojana housing scheme renamed as PMAYnarinav14
Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) played a significant role in addressing rural housing needs in India. It emerged as a comprehensive program for affordable housing solutions in rural areas, predating the government’s broader focus on mass housing initiatives.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Combined Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Vessel List.Christina Parmionova
The best available, up-to-date information on all fishing and related vessels that appear on the illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessel lists published by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and related organisations. The aim of the site is to improve the effectiveness of the original IUU lists as a tool for a wide variety of stakeholders to better understand and combat illegal fishing and broader fisheries crime.
To date, the following regional organisations maintain or share lists of vessels that have been found to carry out or support IUU fishing within their own or adjacent convention areas and/or species of competence:
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC)
South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO)
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)
Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List merges all these sources into one list that provides a single reference point to identify whether a vessel is currently IUU listed. Vessels that have been IUU listed in the past and subsequently delisted (for example because of a change in ownership, or because the vessel is no longer in service) are also retained on the site, so that the site contains a full historic record of IUU listed fishing vessels.
Unlike the IUU lists published on individual RFMO websites, which may update vessel details infrequently or not at all, the Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List is kept up to date with the best available information regarding changes to vessel identity, flag state, ownership, location, and operations.
United Nations World Oceans Day 2024; June 8th " Awaken new dephts".Christina Parmionova
The program will expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, build new foundations for our relationship to the ocean, and ignite a wave of action toward necessary change.
A Guide to AI for Smarter Nonprofits - Dr. Cori Faklaris, UNC CharlotteCori Faklaris
Working with data is a challenge for many organizations. Nonprofits in particular may need to collect and analyze sensitive, incomplete, and/or biased historical data about people. In this talk, Dr. Cori Faklaris of UNC Charlotte provides an overview of current AI capabilities and weaknesses to consider when integrating current AI technologies into the data workflow. The talk is organized around three takeaways: (1) For better or sometimes worse, AI provides you with “infinite interns.” (2) Give people permission & guardrails to learn what works with these “interns” and what doesn’t. (3) Create a roadmap for adding in more AI to assist nonprofit work, along with strategies for bias mitigation.
This report explores the significance of border towns and spaces for strengthening responses to young people on the move. In particular it explores the linkages of young people to local service centres with the aim of further developing service, protection, and support strategies for migrant children in border areas across the region. The report is based on a small-scale fieldwork study in the border towns of Chipata and Katete in Zambia conducted in July 2023. Border towns and spaces provide a rich source of information about issues related to the informal or irregular movement of young people across borders, including smuggling and trafficking. They can help build a picture of the nature and scope of the type of movement young migrants undertake and also the forms of protection available to them. Border towns and spaces also provide a lens through which we can better understand the vulnerabilities of young people on the move and, critically, the strategies they use to navigate challenges and access support.
The findings in this report highlight some of the key factors shaping the experiences and vulnerabilities of young people on the move – particularly their proximity to border spaces and how this affects the risks that they face. The report describes strategies that young people on the move employ to remain below the radar of visibility to state and non-state actors due to fear of arrest, detention, and deportation while also trying to keep themselves safe and access support in border towns. These strategies of (in)visibility provide a way to protect themselves yet at the same time also heighten some of the risks young people face as their vulnerabilities are not always recognised by those who could offer support.
In this report we show that the realities and challenges of life and migration in this region and in Zambia need to be better understood for support to be strengthened and tuned to meet the specific needs of young people on the move. This includes understanding the role of state and non-state stakeholders, the impact of laws and policies and, critically, the experiences of the young people themselves. We provide recommendations for immediate action, recommendations for programming to support young people on the move in the two towns that would reduce risk for young people in this area, and recommendations for longer term policy advocacy.