This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Next City. Last year, Los Angeles County collected half a billion dollars in child-support payments on behalf of local families, many of whom rely on that money to make ends meet. But collection, especially at that scale, is not easy. In California, child-support payments go through an entity called … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on NationSwell. As the 2020 census approaches, Long Beach, Calif., is preparing for a complicated counting process: a first-ever online questionnaire, an already contentious political environment, and a pending question about citizenship that could adversely impact participation from immigrants and undocumented people, groups who historically are already less responsive. … Continued
FUSE is working on more than 50 projects this year across the country. The following three projects illustrate how the smart use of data can improve government operations and enhance services to better serve communities. San Francisco identified a need to better serve those who rely on urgent and emergent services across the medical and … Continued
For the past 12 years, San Jose has been working to become one of the most sustainable cities in the country. The city is aggressively pursuing future-forward strategies that will allow it to unplug from California’s grid and provide its own self-sustaining source of energy. And every step of the way, the city is involving … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Next City. On any given day in St. Louis, the jails house more than 1,000 inmates, many of whom are unable to afford the cash bail that would allow them to be released until their trial date. Black residents are detained three times as often as white residents … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Route Fifty. For nearly three decades, Rodolfo Sorto Aldana and Karen Sorto have lived in the same six-unit walk-up in San Francisco’s Mission District. Karen, who is from El Salvador, had traveled northward as a teenager to study in the U.S. Rodolfo followed soon after, and the two were … Continued
Dr. Barry Zevin has been working with people who are homeless for the better part of three decades. As the medical director for Street Medicine and Shelter Health Center in San Francisco, he knows well the extraordinary level of care and attention some of those experiencing homelessness need. Zevin’s outreach team recently encountered a 40-year … Continued
Oakland, California, perched across the bay from sterling San Francisco, is an urban bellwether for America’s roller coaster economy. Home to a vibrant, diverse community of people of all different colors and classes, the city has lived through the boom and bust cycles throughout the decades, from the postwar heyday to the steep heights and sharp … Continued
FUSE worked on the following three projects to help agencies across the country better serve their most vulnerable residents. In Los Angeles County — where more than 17,000 men and women constitute America’s largest jail population — reducing recidivism is paramount. To that end, L.A. County is focusing on helping those newly released from jail … Continued