#underserved-communities

#underserved-communities

Rocket Companies eliminated about 50 positions last week amid the industry rightsizing with layoffs in the higher-rate environment."As is common practice in all companies, Rocket regularly looks at the priorities of the business and what roles are needed to achieve those goals," Aaran Emerson, a Rocket spokesperson, said in a statement.

Pleasant spring weather warmed the grounds of Girard College here on a recent afternoon.But even as classes were letting out for the weekend, some high school students at this boarding school had a few hours of work ahead of them.Inside the gymnasium of the school, which is devoted to children from single- and zero-parent homes who come from underserved communities, five teenagers began to gather around the bleachers.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued on Tuesday a request for input (RFI) regarding protections for tenants at multifamily housing properties backed by mortgages from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.In particular, the FHFA wants to solicit public input on issues faced by tenants in multifamily properties, and on any opportunities and potential impacts associated with requiring or encouraging specific tenant protections at multifamily properties backed by [the GSEs], the RFI states.

Candidates vying for seats on the Santa Clara County Board of Education shared their priorities Thursday with a packed house.More than 500 students, parents and elected officials turned out for a candidate forum hosted by nonprofit Rocketship Public Schools, a charter school system within the county.

This week we're joined by the head of Zipcar, Angelo Adams!We talk about how Zipcar gets parking spaces, how they find customers, the benefits of car sharing and how the company's biggest competitor is car ownership.If you prefer to read all about it, click here for the unedited transcript.An edited transcript is below the player:
Jeff Wood: What geography works best for Zipcar?

A bipartisan group of legislators from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have introduced a new bill, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA), which could help spur the construction of two million affordable housing units over the next 10 years.The bill has been introduced in both chambers and seeks to expand the low-income housing tax credit.

Plans for a Coney Island ferry have been cast to sea for the foreseeable future, months after dredging at the proposed Coney Island Creek landing site was halted and the New York City Economic Development Corporation began to seek alternative locations.The creek-side option  selected for its seemingly simple construction, according to an EDC spokesperson  was met by opposition from local residents, and eventually hit a snag after construction began in 2021.

Plans for a Coney Island ferry have been cast to sea for the foreseeable future, months after dredging at the proposed Coney Island Creek landing site was halted and the New York City Economic Development Corporation began to seek alternative locations.The creek-side option - selected for its seemingly simple construction, according to an EDC spokesperson - was met by opposition from local residents, and eventually hit a snag after construction began in 2021.

The Claiborne Avenue Expressway.Photo: CNU, CC
A massive coalition of advocates is calling on the federal Department of Transportation to make sure a historic fund that could tear down harmful urban highways across America isn't used to expand or maintain them instead.On Thursday, a group of 114 organizations led by nonprofit America Walks published a fiery  open letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg demanding that the U.S. DOT prioritize truly transformative applications for the $1-billion Reconnecting Communities Program, which was created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year.

As a young boy, Shaquille O'Neal's parents sent him to the Boys & Girls Club, where he found mentors and a community that kept him focused on his athletic and academic goals."In the gym there was a picture of one of the greatest basketball players ever - Julius Erving, Dr. J - and I would try to be him instead of focusing on being clumsy, tall, or laughed at," O'Neal tells TODAY.com in a video call.

The Internal Revenue Service said on Monday that Black taxpayers have been far more likely to be audited than others and that it is considering changes to its case selection process to address discrimination in how the tax code is enforced.The acknowledgment came after the publication of research this year showing that Black taxpayers were disproportionately audited, prompting calls from members of Congress for a review into the methodology and algorithms that help determine who is selected.

Newman's Own Foundation has announced Alex Amouyel as its incoming President and Chief Executive Officer, starting in April.The Foundation was established by the late actor, racecar driver, and philanthropist Paul Newman to carry on his radically good legacy of giving away 100% of profits from Newman's Own food and beverages.

Thursday, March 23 marks the one-year anniversary since the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) released its action plan to curb instances of bias in the housing appraisal process.Led by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Ambassador Susan Rice, the PAVE task force revealed its action plan one year ago and claims that its efforts have amounted to "critical progress" in its efforts to make the homebuying process more equitable for people of color.

Chicago-based mortgage lender Guaranteed Rate launched a new program this week that will provide up to $8,000 in assistance to potential first-time homebuyers from underserved communities.The initiative, called the Special Purpose Credit Program, aims to help homebuyers with down payments, deposit minimums, and move-in repair and maintenance costs.

It helps to have a cast that feels all-in on everything Seligman is attempting here.Sennott co-wrote the script and she's a performer who feels increasingly fearless with each project.Edebiri finds wonderfully vulnerable and genuine beats in a character that could have felt more superficial.And the supporting cast is phenomenal, particularly Liu and the great Ruby Cruz as Hazel, a young woman who's pushed aside by PJ and Josie's quest for inclusion.

A little over a week after entering California's U.S. Senate race, Rep. Barbara Lee on Wednesday picked up the support of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, one of the state's most prominent and influential politicians.Bass, a fellow Democrat who served in Congress with Lee for over a decade, endorsed her former colleague and friend in the contest to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein, also a Democrat, who announced in February that she would retire when her current term ends in January 2025.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has teamed up with New York University's Steinhardt School, the nomadic art non-profit Culturerunners and the Saudi-founded philanthropic foundation Community Jameel to launch theJameel Arts & Health Lab, which aims to research how the arts can improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Jason Reynolds, pictured at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2019, has spent the last three years speaking with students across the United States in his role as national ambassador for young people's literature.Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images Some ambassadors handle multilateral negotiations and host elaborate events at embassies.

The new law, which goes into effect in January, requires Medi-Cal insurance plans to "make a good faith effort" to contract with cancer centers recognized by the National Cancer Institute - which often have access to the latest treatments - or other qualifying cancer centers.Authored by Democratic  Sen. Anthony Portantino of Glendale, it was originally drafted to mandate that Medi-Cal plans add at least one of these cancer centers to their provider networks, but negotiations resulted in a scaled-back version, only requiring health plans to try to add a cancer center.

Ten of the world's tech billionaires lost a combined $575 billion in 2022 as stocks tumbled.Inflation, a strong US dollar, and a tough digital-ad market took a toll on tech companies.Here are the tech billionaires who lost the most money, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.Net-worth figures are as of December 30.

EFF has received a $250,000 grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support its programs to teach and protect journalists, advocate against abusive "stalkerware" technology, and maintain its cybersecurity Threat Lab.This generous support will help EFF educate journalists about, and protect them from, digital and legal threats.

As of right now, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 2nd in their division with an 18-5-6 record - good for 42 points.They sit exactly one point back of the Boston Bruins who have 43 points.Now, Boston also has three games in hand to build on that lead, but the interesting thing is how close Toronto has closed that gap given how each of the two teams started their seasons.

AUSTIN, Texas  Austin residents could soon see more bicycles in the area as the city council looks to expand the MetroBike system.At the Austin City Council's regular meeting on Thursday, council members approved a measure to apply for a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation to expand MetroBike.

A new GoFundMe page is seeking donations to support South LA street food sensation and former Smorgasburg vendor Poncho's Tlayudas after a burglary that allegedly occurred Monday night.Founder Alfonso "Poncho" Martinez posted on Instagram that "essential work tools" were stolen from a South Central basement; a video he posted shows two men loading items onto a truck.

A treatment that kills the COVID-19 virus can also prevent disabling Long COVID, reports an expansive new study, spurring calls to expand access to the medication.People who took the antiviral drug Paxlovid soon after infection were 26% less likely to have symptoms three months later, according to an analysis of electronic medical records of more than 50,000 Veterans Health Administration patients at risk of severe illness.

Local The three pharmacies will close one after another in three days, creating inconveniences for the communities they served.Walgreens locations in three Boston neighborhoods will close this week.The three pharmacies will close one after another in three days: Roxbury's 2275 Washington St. location will close Tuesday, Hyde Park's 1329 Hyde Park Ave. on Wednesday, and Mattapan's 90 River St. on Thursday.

The Biden Administration is stepping up to address our youth mental health crisis, and not a moment too soon.Even before the pandemic brought about social isolation, trauma, and loss on a scale not seen before, America's youth were struggling.Since the pandemic, however, research shows the mental health of America's tweens and teens has tanked, and our schools are not equipped to address the needs of the kids they serve.