Where we live is often linked to how we live, making housing policy a critical and complicated tool of government.

Latest Urban Edge Stories

At the complicated intersection of cars, housing and a fast-growing, sprawling city

Research related to Houston’s problems with ‘newly poor’ neighborhoods, housing affordability, auto loan debt, transportation and COVID-19 all point to one overarching issue: Inequality.

parking lots aerial views
News Story
: May 22, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Demographics, Housing, Transportation, Urban Disparity

In Houston, the new normal should include more efforts to reduce air pollution

Stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 resulted in Houstonians driving a lot less. But Houston hasn’t stopped being an industrial city during the pandemic, which shows why reducing all air pollution is key to protecting public health.

photo illustration KHAS Houston air quality
News Story
: May 19, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Health, Housing, Urban Disparity

Snapshot taken of Houston just before pandemic shows the inequalities COVID-19 would exploit

Interviews for the 2020 Kinder Houston Area Survey were conducted just before the world was upended. The results of the survey reflect the existing disparities in health care and economics that the COVID-19 outbreak has underscored and exacerbated. 

Inequalities in Houston revealed in 2020 Kinder Houston Area Survey
Kinder Institute Research
: May 18, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Demographics, Economic Development, Education, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Placemaking, Transportation, Urban Disparity

Latest Research

Kinder Houston Area Survey: 2020 Results

For close to four decades, the Kinder Houston Area Survey has been tracking the changing attitudes and experiences of Houstonians.
Report: May 18, 2020
Demographics, Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Placemaking, Transportation, Urban Disparity, Urban Planning

Where Affordable Housing and Transportation Meet in Houston

While local decision-makers and individuals tend to view housing and transportation separately, effectively addressing affordability for Houstonians means considering housing and transportation expenses together.
Houston MetroRail
Report: May 5, 2020
Housing, Transportation, Urban Disparity, Urban Planning

Examining Complexity in Student Homelessness: The Educational Outcomes of HISD’s Homeless Students

In this report, we examined the educational outcomes of Houston ISD students who are homeless from 2012-13 to 2016-17, the years immediately preceding Hurricane Harvey.
student with backpack
Report: Apr 15, 2020
Education, Housing

Experts

Bill Fulton

William Fulton

  • Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
  • Research Oversight Committee, Urban Data Platform
713-348-2698
Profile
Head shot of Han Park

John Park

  • Research Fellow, Development, Transportation and Placemaking, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
713-348-8127
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Head shot of Kyle Shelton

Kyle Shelton

  • Deputy Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
713-348-3683
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Related Initiatives

Urban Development, Transportation and Placemaking

The Urban Development, Transportation and Placemaking program investigates issues associated with the growth and development in Houston on both a large and small scale.

Urban Disparity and Opportunity

Disparate income, opportunity and access to basic needs such as public transportation, health care, education and parks have long characterized urban life. With such persistent problems to address, the Urban Disparity and Opportunity team seeks to offer analysis to develop innovative and informed solutions.