housing insecurity affects everyone, directly or indirectly. It impacts our schools, hospitals, businesses, and local economies. When families can’t afford housing, children’s education suffers, healthcare costs rise, and economic growth stalls. Affordable housing isn’t just about helping those in need—it’s about creating strong, thriving communities for all of us.

The Atlantic City Housing Authority Stanley Holmes Village is a humanitarian health and economic development crisis, because it endangers the health and wellness of several hundred children, seniors, and families during blistering cold weather. For example December 23, 2024, it was 12° degrees outside, and these America  families had no heat or hot water on the inside. 

As a student body, we demand immediate action to address these issues and improve mental health services at UW Madison. Specifically, we call on the administration to: 1. Hire more professional counselors: Increase the number of qualified therapists who specialize in addressing serious mental health concerns. 2. Provide face-to-face counseling: Virtual or phone-only sessions are not enough. Students need in-person services to build trust and meaningful connections. 3. Reduce wait times: Expand staffing and resources to ensure students can access help when they need it, without unnecessary delays. 4. Invest in mental health resources: Enhance outreach, workshops, and student support programs to proactively address mental health concerns. 5. We cannot allow these issues to persist. Delayed or inadequate care can lead to devastating consequences. As students, we are advocating for our right to access high-quality, accessible mental health care on campus. By signing this petition, you are joining the fight for a healthier, more supportive UW Madison. Let’s ensure that every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Together, we can build a campus culture that prioritizes mental health and well-being. Sign this petition to demand change now. Share your voice and make an impact. [Sign Here]

Hostile architecture harms everyone, not just the homeless. It leaves the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled without a place to properly rest. These types of seating are incompatible with mobility aids and make life harder for an already marginalized group. Anti-homeless architecture in Lafayette should be replaced with proper seating for the benefit of all citizens. 

As of December 19th, my children will have spent six years in foster care, completely cut off from family connections, parental visits, and phone calls. This has resulted in a profound sense of abandonment and alienation, largely due to the actions of the department. The intention behind this approach seems to be to make them more adoptable, but it only reinforces the feeling that they are unloved and unwanted. This is why I believe Title IV-E federal funding should be repealed; it no longer fulfills its original purpose. Below are the negative failures of title 4E federal funding. I had a generated by AI... I didn't want people to second-guess me or think I didn't have my facts straight.  Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides federal funding for foster care and adoption assistance programs. While the intent of this funding is to support children in the welfare system and promote family stability, there can be negative results and impacts on families. Here are some potential negative outcomes associated with Title IV-E funding: 1. **Incentivization of Foster Care Placement**: The funding structure may inadvertently incentivize the placement of children into foster care rather than supporting families to stay together. This can lead to unnecessary separations and trauma for children and parents. 2. **Limited Support for Preventive Services**: Title IV-E funding primarily focuses on foster care and adoption assistance, which may result in insufficient resources allocated for preventive services that could help families avoid entering the child welfare system in the first place. 3. **Overburdened Child Welfare System**: Increased funding for foster care can lead to an influx of cases, overwhelming the child welfare system. This can result in inadequate attention and resources for families in crisis, leading to poorer outcomes for children and families. 4. **Disparities in Access to Services**: Families from marginalized communities may face barriers in accessing the benefits of Title IV-E funding. This can exacerbate existing inequalities and lead to disproportionate rates of foster care placements among certain populations. 5. **Stigmatization of Families**: The involvement of child welfare services can carry a stigma, which may discourage families from seeking help. This stigma can lead to isolation and further challenges for families struggling with issues that could be addressed with appropriate support. 6. **Short-Term Focus**: The funding may prioritize immediate placements and financial assistance over long-term solutions that address the root causes of family instability, such as poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse. 7. **Potential for Mismanagement**: With increased funding, there is a risk of mismanagement or misuse of resources, which can detract from the intended support for families and children. This can lead to a lack of accountability and transparency in how funds are utilized. 8. **Impact on Family Reunification**: The focus on foster care placements may delay or complicate the process of family reunification, as resources may be more readily available for foster care than for services that support reunification efforts. 9. **Emotional and Psychological Effects**: The trauma of entering the foster care system can have lasting emotional and psychological effects on children and their families, which may not be adequately addressed by the services funded under Title

Time and time again, the far-right majority of the Supreme Court has put special interests and politics ahead of people and above delivering justice under the law. But we cannot and will not be silent. Student debt fuels economic, gender, and racial inequality. Our persistent racial wealth gap means that students of color, especially those who are Black and brown, are more likely to have student debt, borrow in higher quantities, and face more struggles in repayment. A higher education should be the key to a better future, instead of a lifetime debt sentence that limits borrowers’ ability to buy homes, start small businesses, and save for retirement, cutting into opportunities for wealth-building over their lifetimes. This is why student loan cancellation is so important. Trump's agenda includes dismantling the Department of Education (DOE), which would have devastating impacts on our communities. The DOE oversees the Pell Grant and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which gives aid to college students who need financial aid. The DOE also enforces the civil rights of students, and supports school programs that support students with disabilities. But Trump, Republicans, and Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices cannot have the last word. We won’t let them win. We have to push back and be in solidarity with each other. Together, we can keep getting loud to show the President Biden that he has the power to to give millions of Americans the student loan relief they need and deserve. President Biden must cancel student debt via executive order before Trump and Republicans gain control over all three branches of our federal government. Will you sign the petition?

As Allegheny County Council prepares to vote on the fee increase, U.S. Steel lobbyists are making the case that it is unfair for the company to have to pay perhaps $50,000 for a few such permits every five years.  U.S. Steel earned $2.14 Billion in 2023, spent $1.65 Million on lobbying this year, and pays its 13 board members $175,000 annually.  The fee increase would amount to a fraction of the millions in fines the company pays each year for air pollution violations in what amounts to a “pay to pollute” arrangement. Please sign the petition asking that County Leadership Vote YES on operating permit fee increase

• Camp displacements can cause unhoused neighbors to lose vital survival items. If replacing these items is even possible, it takes resources away from more sustainable homeless response solutions. Neighbors can also lose vital records such as photo IDs and Social Security cards, which are required for employment and housing and take heavy time and monetary resources to replace.  • Camp displacement – and the fear of displacement – can cause and worsen mental health conditions. In addition to creating feelings of dehumanization and traumatization, sweeps disrupt routine and can cause neighbors to be removed from existing social connections, which can worsen mental health stability.  • Camp displacements can cut neighbors off from life-saving medicine and care. While being displaced, neighbors can lose vital and hard-to-replace medical care for HIV, diabetes, hypertension, substance use and mental health conditions, and other conditions, harm reduction supplies, as well as equipment such as wheelchairs. If outreach staff cannot find neighbors after a camp displacement, these neighbors may also lose their only existing connection to services.  • Camp displacement can put residents into more dangerous and isolated environments. Following displacements, residents may seek safety in more isolated locations. In addition to being more difficult for service providers to access, these locations may lack safe water, bathroom facilities, and escape from the elements. This is especially dangerous if a camp displacement causes a loss of survival equipment that allows them to be protected while living outside in extreme weather.  • Camp displacements cost communities thousands of dollars. This includes personnel costs, medication and medical equipment replacement costs, and vital document replacement costs. Outreach to locate and rebuild trust with displaced neighbors requires additional costs and time. Our communities rise when we work to lift up our most vulnerable citizens. Please help us stand with our neighbors surviving outside to demand better for our city. We're all in this together! 

Enhanced security measures at stores are crucial for residents of Vancouver, WA, and surrounding communities because they directly impact safety and well-being. Recent incidents of violence have heightened fears among families, making it essential to foster a secure environment for shopping and leisure activities. By implementing stronger security protocols, we can help deter crime, protect our loved ones, and restore confidence in our local businesses. A safe shopping experience not only encourages community engagement but also supports the local economy by attracting more visitors. Ultimately, prioritizing safety will enhance the quality of life for all residents, making our communities a better place to spend time with family/friends and work.

This cause is essential because farmworkers are the backbone of the agricultural sector, directly contributing to food security and economic stability in the U.S. They labor in physically demanding and often dangerous environments, facing risks such as pesticide exposure, extreme heat, respiratory issues, and repetitive injuries. Despite their critical role, these workers are often excluded from healthcare benefits, which can have severe repercussions both for their health and for the communities they support​. Farmworkers, especially those on H-2A visas, face substantial barriers to accessing healthcare. These include limited insurance coverage, language barriers, and fears of immigration-related repercussions, often forcing them to seek care only in emergency situations. This lack of regular healthcare not only worsens their health outcomes but also strains local healthcare systems due to higher emergency room usage. Improving healthcare access for farmworkers is therefore a matter of social justice, public health, and economic prudence​. Expanding healthcare access for farmworkers not only benefits them personally but also supports healthier communities, more resilient healthcare systems, and a more stable food supply. Without this support, these workers’ health deteriorates, which could lead to labor shortages and higher costs in the agricultural sector, impacting food availability and prices across the country.

Election officials from all 50 states – Democrats and Republicans alike – are sounding the alarm about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s failed leadership, warning that his reckless plans risk disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters this year.  That’s because DeJoy’s USPS cuts have caused lost and delayed election mail, hiked prices, and a Postal Service that risks letting voters down this November  – especially when states are passing new laws to reject ballots that were mailed before Election Day, but arrive after. Lawmakers and election officials are raising serious concerns – and so are we – because voters deserve a Postal Service that protects our right to vote by mail. But, so far, DeJoy’s response to these concerns has been silence. It’s simple: when a voter mails in their ballot, they deserve to be 100% confident that it will arrive on time and be counted. And, as Postmaster General, DeJoy has a responsibility to make sure the American people can trust his Postal Service with their votes.  We must make sure DeJoy can't use his power to deny our voices in this year's elections. Add your name to DEMAND answers.

MacBride Hall and by extension the University of Iowa is making a conscious choice to make the lives of their disabled students more difficult, and have made no effort to correct their discriminatory inaction. Help us put their feet to the fire, and spread the word. MacBride is the tip of the iceberg: many accessible entrances, bathrooms, elevators, and even evacuation plans demonstrate a clear lack of desire to truly accommodate disabled students. Our mission across our time here at Iowa is to hold the whole of the University accountable for their numerous violations of disabled rights.