Social and Economic Disparity

Houston Disparity Atlas

A set of maps that capture Houston's segregation as well as concentrated opportunity and disadvantage.

6 Ways to Make Downtown Houston More Pedestrian Friendly

Urban planner Jeff Speck told city officials exactly what they need to do to make downtown more walkable.

Salvation Army Aims to Address Poverty’s Data Vacuum

For all the resources and attention paid to combating poverty, the whole endeavor suffers from relatively limited lack of data.

Ferguson, Occupy Wall Street, and the rise “Infrastructural Citizenship”

Since WWII, public infrastructure has played a pivotal role in public debates.

Austin Wonders if Social Impact Bonds Can Cure Social Ills

The financing tool has been widely touted, but recent setbacks have raised questions about its future.

What A Poll Of Mayors Reveals About The Uneven Economic Recovery

Businesses are expanding and property values are rising. But demand for food, shelter, and affordable housing is increasing too. What does that disconnect mean for American cities?

What the 1960s Can Teach Us About How Segregation Affects Aspirations

As schools become more homogenous, historic surveys of black students offer insights

In Texas ‘colonias,’ third-world conditions are the norm

Some residents near the border scrape by without access to electricity or clean water

When, exactly, do protests become riots?

Media coverage focused on “thugs” can distract from broader concerns

To see the legacy of slavery, look at present-day school systems

Slavery has long since been abolished in the U.S. but the affect of its legacy may still linger in our education system.

What the Supreme Court’s discrimination ruling means for affordable housing

Some advocates hailed the milestone ‘disparate impact’ decision, but Houston’s housing authority says the situation is more nuanced

When “Diverse” Neighborhoods Are More Segregated Than They Appear

Even when residents of different races live near each, their lives may not overlap in meaningful ways.

Demand, supply, gap: Transit deserts in Houston

Houston METRO's reimagined bus network is working to close service gaps but a new study shows that transit deserts in Houston still exist.

Turf Wars: What racial boundaries tell us about 311 calls in the city

By analyzing nearly 8 million 311 reports in New York City, researchers paint a portrait of what drives local tensions.

How Houston’s East End finally got transit

METRO’s Green Line began service this weekend in Houston’s East End. But if the community hadn’t demanded better service 40 years ago, it might not have the transit line it now enjoys.