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Top Reads, Week of 11/26

Check out our top three reads of the week. They cover the challenges and opportunities facing American communities right now. This week, we’re delving into broadband access, a look at what contributed to the drop in opioid deaths in Dayton, OH and the case for nonprofit housing developers.

Have something to add to our list? Let us know on Twitter at @LISC_HQ


This City’s Overdose Deaths Have Plunged. Can Others Learn From It?
By Abby Goodnough, New York Times

“For the first time in years, the number of opioid deaths nationwide has begun to dip, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — with totals for the preceding 12 months falling slightly but steadily between December 2017 and April 2018. The flattening curve — along with declining opioid prescription rates and survey data suggesting far fewer Americans tried heroin last year and more got addiction treatment — is the first encouraging news in a while.” Continued [+]...


The FCC Is Leaving Low-Income Americans Out of the 5G Rollout
By Shireen Santosham, CityLab

“At the same time, we know that the benefits of these new technologies need to reach all corners of our community. Last year we conducted a study with Stanford University that showed over half of San Jose’s low-income population has no internet access at home. At a time when homework frequently requires internet access, these kids won’t have the resources they need to thrive or develop the skills to compete for Silicon Valley jobs, leaving them even further behind. For Silicon Valley to have a digital divide like this is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.” Continued [+]...


The Case for Nonprofit Housing Developers
By John Vogel, Washington Monthly

“But nonprofit owners welcome tenants with Section 8 vouchers and appreciate the way these vouchers help them fulfill their mission of serving people of modest means. Furthermore, these nonprofit providers are, in some ways, better positioned than ever to help those in need. In the mid-1960s, there were roughly 100 local nonprofit housing organizations. By 2005, there were approximately 4,600. Some now operate on a regional or even a national scale. According to Rachel G. Bratt, a senior research fellow at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the fifty largest nonprofit developers owned a total of 149,289 units in 2014.” Continued [+]..