Advocates Hope Microsoft’s $500M Pledge To Help Fight Housing Shortage Will Inspire Others To Step Up
As companies face more political pressure to help battle homelessness and the housing shortage in tech-heavy areas, Microsoft has pledged $225 million in loans for middle-income housing, $250 million in loans for low-income housing and $25 million in grants for homelessness solutions.
The Mercury News:
Silicon Valley Sees Hope In Microsoft's $500 Million For Housing
Microsoft’s promise to pony up $500 million for Seattle-area housing has Silicon Valley buzzing, full of hope that tech titans here will pour similar sums into the housing shortage in their own back yards. The Redmond-based software giant will dole that money out as loans for low and middle-income housing, and as grants to fight homelessness, the company’s answer to its hometown’s rising prices and jobs-housing imbalance. (Kendall, 1/17)
In other news from across the state —
Modesto Bee:
New Efforts Launched To Help Those With Untreated Mental Illness In Stanislaus County
A pair of programs are targeting the need for mental health treatment in Stanislaus County. Modesto-area residents have struggled with access to treatment. And untreated mental illness is a prominent issue with its ties to homelessness. (Carlson, 1/17)
Sacramento Bee:
UC Davis Students Aim To Stock Free Menstrual Products
UC Davis students have launched a pilot program to make free menstrual products available to all students. The university chapter of Period, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free menstrual care products, aims to stock all women’s, men’s and gender-neutral bathrooms on campus soon. For now, a grant funded through the Student Health and Counseling Services helps 24 volunteers take turns restocking nine bathrooms in five university buildings each week. (Morrar, 1/16)