Author: Abby DeRigo
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BHA Documents Come with a Hefty Price Tag, Spare Change News to Appeal
The Boston Housing Authority is asking for $6,200 for one year’s worth of Section 8 apartment inspection reports. The BHA says that the request for reports from 2016 will produce 40,544 documents. BHA Chief of Staff Lydia Agro said that while producing the paper inspection reports detailing the specific violations would be burdensome and expensive,…
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Somerville approves affordable housing waiver
The Somerville Planning Board voted 5-1 to grant the developers of Assembly Row a waiver that allows them to make fewer than 20 percent of residential units in the development affordable as mandated by the Somerville Zoning Ordinance’s “inclusionary housing” rules. Currently there are a total of 1,017 units at Assembly Row, with 890 market…
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Boston sees continued success housing the homeless, but still more work to do
Mayor Marty Walsh at the 2014 opening of Southampton Street Shelter. Photo: Zengzheng Wang. On Thursday, Boston officials announced that their push to end chronic individual homelessness has resulted in housing 301 individuals since the start of 2016. This is in addition to the 846 veterans they have housed since 2015. The new numbers reflect…
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Spare Change News is looking for a new Executive Director!
Are you looking for a part time job that will allow you to help Boston’s first street newspaper continue its advocacy for homeless people? The Homeless Empowerment Project, which publishes Spare Change News, is looking for a new Executive Director. The 20-hour per week position pays $20,000 annually, and includes two weeks of paid vacation.…
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BPHC Knew a Year Ago That Transitional Programs Would Close
The closure of two successful transitional housing programs in Boston has created an urgent need for the 40 people who live there, but according to recent testimony at a Boston City Council Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery hearing, this situation didn’t have to be an emergency. After prodding by Boston City Councilor Tito…
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The 2017 Food Tank Summit discusses farming, food surpluses and waste
The 2017 Food Tank Summit Series took place over two days at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and drew speakers from the agricultural industry, including nutritionists, chefs and farmers. The theme of the summit was “Investing in Discovery,” and the panels discussed a number of issues, including access to healthy, inexpensive food for…
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Help us help you by taking this quick reader’s survey!
Hello readers! Spare Change News is conducting a brief survey so that we can get a better idea of who our readers are and how we can best serve them. All you have to do is click the link below and answer ten simple questions. Thanks! -Spare Change News Staff Transaction Preferences of Commuters Survey
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Contribute to Spare Change News!
Dear readers, I wanted to introduce myself as the new editor-in-chief of Spare Change News and let you know how you can get involved with our organization! We’re looking for writers and volunteers of all sorts. I want to push SCN forward as a community newspaper in addition to a street paper — one capable of covering…
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Harvard students demand support from school administration
Shortly after the newest incarnation of the Trump administration’s Muslim ban was announced, the Harvard International Students Working Group rallied for institutional support from the university and to show solidarity with undocumented workers in Harvard Square on Tuesday, March 7. Gathered around the T station, the Harvard students held signs and cheered each other’s impassioned…
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Two transitional programs closing in Boston due to HUD budget changes
A row of bunk beds at 112 Southampton Street Shelter. Photo: Zengzheng Wang. Two Boston transitional programs designed to help homeless addicts recover and find housing while providing them shelter and aid are closing down due to a change in funding at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The two programs are currently…