Radical Ideas



Students may use this blog section to post radical ideas about addressing health inequities while elevating social justice. This blog is for any radical idea that might be too radical for the world- but is needed. Blogs are anonymous to the world- so be brave and post what you feel and know is needed.

Comments

  1. Amy SpruanceSeptember 19, 2024 at 6:18 AM

    This radical idea isn't mine. However, since we are looking at housing this week, the class might want to read about a current proposal. This proposal suggests that to attempt to solve the housing crisis, we must change how we view housing altogether. I don't know if I agree that social housing can replace traditional ownership completely, but it may be one method to help alleviate the problem we are facing.

    I do like the idea presented in both the article and, as such, in the presented bill of reinvesting in public housing by repealing the Faircloth Amendment, or Faircloth limit, which prevents the construction of new public housing. It does this by preventing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from funding new public housing units if the construction would increase the number of units owned, assisted, or operated by a Public Housing Agency beyond a certain limit. This effectively kills new construction and sometimes can even limit proper repairs of existing units!

    Now, to be fair, many PHAs operate with fewer units than their limits under Faircloth, so it's been called a 'red herring' by some. To me, any time we have an actual law or amendment like this out there whose intention is to deny a basic right, which housing should be, its wrong and should be repealed.

    You can read about the proposal here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/opinion/aoc-tina-smith-housing.html?unlocked_article_code=1.L04.D4k6.9JudJYAmzuNC&smid=url-share

    and you can find out more about the Faircloth Amendment here: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/FRCLTH-LMT.PDF

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    1. Sarah ColeyOctober 5, 2024 at 7:42 PM

      I think that repealing the Faircloth limit would be a great start to addressing the housing crisis and I think that given the magnitude of this situation, some other federal regulatory measures could be implemented that could make for a more impactful, long-term solution. I would lean towards a mixed use set up that creates commercial spaces and housing together. Too often public housing is built and there is no infrastructure, jobs, education or access to health care to support the people who live there. Creating smaller, more self-sufficient neighborhoods with parks, community gardens and opportunities for small businesses, rather than just housing. The immediate need is roofs over people's heads, but creating an environment that fosters belonging, connection and a sense of pride in one's community is more effective physically, mentally and emotionally long term.

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  2. StellaLuna - N AquilinaSeptember 29, 2024 at 12:09 PM

    As Amy said above - this idea isn't mine. However, I am a strong advocate for Universal Basic Income, or UBI. There are a few different plans for UBI payments. Some require people to give up public benefits, some are payments if conditions are met (such as taking children to doctor's appointments), some are simply cash handed over to help with existing. There are examples here: https://college.unc.edu/2021/03/universal-basic-income/.
    Personally, I feel as though setting a "floor to stand on" instead of a safety net is important. People don't ask to be poor, or affected by inflation, or born into communities that are slammed with health disparities. Helping give them a way to manage bills while also providing public assistance for things like food and healthcare can help stabilize some of these communities.
    There was a study about open income that showed that people who receive UBI payments work less, at an average of 1-2 hours a week (see here https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sam-altman-universal-basic-income-study-open-research/). Honestly, I think this is great. Human beings aren't simply here to work ourselves into an early grave. That hour could be an hour spent with children, at their schools, or spent caring for mental and community health. Those things are more important than handing over body and time to an employer.

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