Science History Institute • September 6, 2022

Confronting America’s Food Emergencies

Can an upcoming White House conference muster the political will needed to address the nation’s food insecurity and obesity crises? A summit from 1969 offers clues.

Shelterforce • June 27, 2022

Something Old, Something New: Biden's Housing Plan

The plan proposes dozens of measures to boost housing production, including incentives for local zoning reform and budget hikes for HOME and LIHTC.

Shelterforce • May 5, 2022

What Happened to Those Build Back Better Housing Investments?

The collapse of Build Back Better took with it the promise of more than $300 billion in spending on affordable housing programs and tax credits.

Billy Penn • April 21, 2022

Philly businesses would have to offer pre-tax SEPTA passes under council plan

As SEPTA struggles to coax back commuters, council wants more workers to have access to a tax break for buying transit passes.

Billy Penn • March 28, 2022

Philly's big illegal dumping problem

Residents are furious as the city picks up more trash, catches fewer perpetrators

WHYY • January 28, 2022

The pandemic nightmare of being a working parent of young kids will not relent

Many parents of 0- to 4-year-olds who are ineligible for vaccination feel torn between adhering to strict mitigation efforts at childcare programs and facing day-to-day realities.

WHYY • January 20, 2022

When school feels ‘chaotic’: parents struggle with COVID closures

Remote learning led to chaotic scenes at Amina Malik’s home, where three of her children were learning virtually and the fourth stayed home to watch the others.

Shelterforce • December 14, 2021

Are Tiny Homes A Piece of the Affordable Housing Puzzle?

They range from extremely small Pallet cabins used as homeless shelters, to larger multi-room structures, houses on wheels and luxurious vacation homes.

WHYY • November 15, 2021

John Dougherty, Bobby Henon convicted in federal corruption trial

The jury agreed Dougherty bribed the councilman with a $70,000 salary for a no-show union job and tickets to sporting events.

WHYY • October 18, 2021

Sanitation Solutions: When the city let them down, Philly rose up — with orange trash cans

“If it wasn’t for organizations like The Ray of Hope...things wouldn’t happen in these neighborhoods that have been neglected.”

WHYY • September 9, 2021

Why did new buildings flood in Philly? Outdated FEMA maps, city code

The need for boat rescues illustrates both the unusual severity of last week’s storms and the challenge of designing flood-resistant buildings.

WHYY • September 2, 2021

Beyond Ida: Land use and climate change drive Philly flood risk

“I’ve been flooded nine times in the last 21 years. It’s like having post-traumatic stress disorder every time there’s a dark cloud in the sky.”

Shelterforce • August 2, 2021

From Mobile Home Parks to Multifamily Housing Cooperatives

Organizations that help create resident-owned mobile home communities are tiptoeing into the field of urban, multifamily cooperatives.

WHYY • April 1, 2021

D.C. raised $5 billion to rebuild toxic schools. Can Philly do the same?

Activists call for comprehensive planning, but say school officials show little interest in collaborating.

Shelterforce • March 15, 2021

Did the Place-Based Initiatives of the 90s, 2000s Bring About Change?

"Most of the interventions have not produced the degree of community transformation envisioned by their designers."

Shelterforce • November 2, 2020

Activists Win Control of Vacant Philadelphia Buildings: Now What?

They're moving from agitating for reforms to managing a large affordable housing organization that could include more than 150 member-residents.

WHYY • August 31, 2020

Bryant Riley’s dream home turned into a nightmare. He blames City Hall.

The dispute highlights the difficulties homebuyers face when they find construction defects, and the limits of the city’s oversight of builders.

Shelterforce • August 24, 2020

‘We Need Those Houses’­ — Activists Take Over Vacant Homes

When she learned that her family would actually be illegally moving into a vacant PHA property, she hesitated—but only for a moment.

WHYY • August 17, 2020

‘We're losing too many talented, bright people': next managing director vows to combat violence

Tumar Alexander will oversee a vast swath of departments, but the need to reduce violence motivates him in particular.

WHYY • July 29, 2020

Some Philly schools want to use outdoor classrooms when IRL lessons resume

The risk of viral transmission is lower outdoors, and learning outside is known to have measurable benefits for children.