Fighting homelessness through alternative policing, mental health crisis response team, zero-waste food bus
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Photo: Juliana Malta / Unsplash (CC0)
In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about a campaign to eradicate homelessness in Las Vegas through alternatives to traditional policing methods, a crisis response team replacing law enforcement in Rochester, and a zero-waste bus bringing eco-friendly and low-cost nutrition to Johannesburg’s low-income communities.
Outreach programme in Vegas is saving the lives of the city’s most vulnerable people
Vegas Stronger aims to eradicate homelessness in the city by encouraging local businesses to report substance abuse and mental health crises to the NGO rather than call the police.
Rochester’s mental health crisis response team is reducing incidents of police brutality
The Person In Crisis Team will deploy trained counsellors to the scene, who will then determine whether or not the situation requires a social worker or police response.
Zero-waste bus gives access to healthy food for Johannesburg’s low-income residents
With many families unable to afford to buy traditional packaged foods, the Skhaftin bus allows them to buy what they need in small amounts – without having to travel far from home.
US cities are offering new residents $10,000 and a free bike to relocate
With remote working on the rise as a result of the pandemic, underpopulated city suburbs are encouraging young people to move there with the promise of green transportation and start-up funds.
Texas forensics lab is bringing science to the forefront of criminal justice
Determined to bring truth and equity to the justice system, Dr. Peter Stout’s pioneering forensics centre is using science to bring light to hundreds of thousands of criminal cases each year.
Data-driven approaches might be the answer to eradicating homelessness
In order to target a large number of gaps in the housing system, activists are pushing for a model that delivers more accurate data than annual head counts.
Student newsroom creates an equity board to improve and diversify its coverage
With the vast majority of young journalists coming from wealthy white communities, reporters at USC Annenberg Media founded an oversight board to better represent underserved groups.
Busy London train station becomes haven for wildlife thanks to green-thumbed commuters
Since opening in 2016, the community vegetable garden has offered local residents the chance to better understand where their food comes from by actively involving them in the process.
London’s foodie community are fighting anti-Asian racism with recipes
With hate crimes directed at members of the Asian population on the rise in the UK, a team of activists have turned to cooking as a source of comfort and support.
