Research

What ‘Home’ Means to Residents in the Houston Area

This snapshot explores the ways in which area residents conceptualize "home."

The 2025 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston

The 2025 State of Housing report highlights Harris County and Houston’s intersecting challenges around affordability, flooding, extreme heat, poor air quality, insufficient housing stock, and the rising cost of insurance to protect households from these vulnerabilities.

Parental Perspectives and Experiences From HISD's Parent University

This study looks at how parent participants feel about HISD's Parent University program and if it has motivated parental engagement and advocacy in the district.

Houston Residents and Their Pets

This brief takes a closer look at who has pets in Houston and Harris County and the self-reported benefits that come with having them.

Coffee & Quality Case Study #3: Wesley Community Center

This third Coffee & Quality case study focuses on Wesley Community Center, a social service agency that supports individuals in the Near Northside and broader Houston community. The study seeks to understand the impact of Wesley's programs, including identifying those most effective in helping families achieve financial stability.

Kinder Houston Area Survey: 2025 Results

Houston continues to grow — economically, demographically and culturally.

Houston and Harris County Disaster Preparedness and Attitudes Leading Up to the 2024 Hurricane Season

This research study examines the current levels of both perceived and actual disaster preparedness among Houston and Harris County residents, as well as contextual and sociocognitive predictors of each.

Aldine ISD: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills and Campus Discipline Outcomes

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s Houston Education Research Consortium partnered with Aldine ISD, an urban school district serving predominantly economically disadvantaged and minority students, to better understand how self-reported teacher and student SEL skills were associated with campus disciplinary practices.

Financial Knowledge, Banking, and Fintech in Houston and Harris County

This snapshot explores Houston-area residents' self-reported financial knowledge, use of banks and use of more modern financial technology applications.

Sunrise Centers: Strengths, Challenges, and Recommendations to Enhance Family and Student Well-Being

This four-part series examines the first-year implementation of the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) Sunrise Centers.