Everyday Socialism

Tool lending programs began in California in 1979. Today, public libraries lend out everything from housewares to camping gear in widely successful programs that have been adopted by communities around the world.

The buy nothing project promotes sharing anything within communities, with the one condition that everything must be completely free.

It's been the source of some controversy surrounding the aggressive enforcement of their trademark preceding the release of a (suggested) paid app. The side effect of community divisions enforcing socioeconomic boundaries was an unforeseen side effect as well.

However, this project and the many it inspired continue to bolster the sharing economy and reduce waste.

Another free grocery store serving a community in a food desert.

What's unique about this one is the proximity mental health and community support services.

One of the larger barriers standing between people and help is the lack of integration between services, when mental health problems usually go hand-in-hand with reduced income, social isolation and housing instability. Having multiple programs under one roof helps to lower those barriers.

Like many social assistance policies, opposition to guaranteed income is driven by a deep-seated fear of fraud — of “freeloaders” benefiting from the taxes of hard-working, morally upright citizens. Our collective delusion that we live in a meritocracy is operationalized into a punitive framework that rationalizes who deserves help and who does not.

As a result, we spend enormous administrative effort policing eligibility, while leaving many people without adequate help. Poverty persists not because we lack resources, but because we mistrust the people who need them.

The Daily Press in Ocean Hill has partnered with Workers United NY/NJ — a North American labor labor union which represents nearly 86,000 workers, including recently-unionized Starbucks workers in Brooklyn – to transform the café into a cooperatively-run business. Now, all decisions regarding scheduling, wages, sick time and vacation are made democratically by the employees.

A zero-barrier, low waste, non-profit initiative for anyone who needs it.