Homelessness divides Olympia and forces people to re-examine their politics. Emotions converge on an encampment under the Fourth Avenue Bridge.
Environment & Climate
Climate change is fueling devastating wildfires in California, and in some cases, low-wage immigrant workers are cleaning up after them. They sweep ash out of houses and strip debris from burned buildings.
In October 2019, a stretch of dry weather and strong winds sparked dozens of wildfires across California, killing three people and destroying hundreds of homes. For the low-wage immigrants who work in those homes, fire season brings its own dangers.
Sam Miller can help us understand how addiction and homelessness intersect because he’s lived them both. Plus he can make us laugh. He points to one reason he was able to overcome homelessness while many others get trapped.
The stories include people like Terry and John Rubiolo, who are living on their burned-out property and delivering food to about 80 people three times a week, because they know their neighbors are struggling.
Asthma is on the rise across the U.S., and people of color are more likely to have asthma. On Native American reservations, the problem is particularly grave.
In Salinas, overcrowded, unhealthy conditions are common for tens of thousands of farmworkers.
Despite Olympia’s efforts, hundreds of people remain in unsanctioned camps around the city. They invent ways to stay alive and help each other survive.
This story was produced as a project for the 2020 Impact Fund....
San Luis Obispo County’s beaches and vineyards make it an ideal destination for vacationers and wealthy Californians — but the workers who power the region’s economy don’t share that wealth.