Skip to main content
The Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Follow
Donate
Kinder Institute
  • Kinder Institute
  • Issues
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Hurricane Harvey
    • Transportation
    • View All Issues
  • Research
  • Events
  • About
  • Support
    • Friends
    • Founding Contributors
  • Urban Edge Blog
    • About
    • Write
    • Republish
    • Follow
Follow
Donate
Urban Edge
  • About
  • Write
  • Republish
  • Follow

Urban Edge Stories by Andy Olin

Students: Don’t leave college money on the table by failing to file a FAFSA

The vast majority of college undergrads depend on some amount of financial aid to afford their education. But to get it, they have to fill out a FAFSA. Research shows that students in higher-poverty school districts are less likely to complete the FAFSA than students in wealthier districts. So far this year, which has been greatly disrupted by the pandemic, completion rates are down at all levels, especially in high-minority and Title 1 high schools.

Student in classroom Kinder Institute post
News Story
: Oct 23, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Education

Where are Texas' fastest-growing cities? Check the suburbs

Though Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin all continue to grow, their suburban neighbors — led by Frisco — appear to be outpacing the biggest cities in Texas.

Coleman Boulevard in Frisco, Texas
News Story
: Oct 14, 2020
Demographics, Economic Development, Housing, Sun Belt

Mapping low-income displacement and poverty concentration in Houston

An examination of neighborhood change in America’s 50 largest metropolitan areas shows decline and poverty concentration are bigger problems than gentrification in most cities. Some, including Houston, struggle with both.

Low income displacement and concentration in Houston area by census tract
Urban Edge: Oct 12, 2020
Demographics, Housing, Urban Disparity

Electric bike subsidies would empower more people to use cars less

A rebate program for e-bikes would make them more affordable for residents who can’t afford an electric car and give others greater incentive to choose a mode of transportation that isn’t powered by fossil fuel.

electric cargo bike for blog post
Perspective
: Sep 28, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Health, Housing, Transportation

How 420 households can reveal COVID-19’s prevalence in Houston

Using a random sample designed by Rice University researchers, the results of the COVID-19 antibody testing survey will provide an accurate count of infections among the 2.3 million people living in Houston.

coronavirus and B cell
News Story
: Sep 17, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Health

Less space for parking is a crucial step toward walkability in Houston

By design, Houston is car-dependent. Yet, Kinder Surveys have shown that half of Houstonians want to live where they can walk more and drive less. Recently approved ordinances that promote walkability in neighborhoods should help. Importantly, in certain areas, the new regulations will eliminate and reduce minimum parking requirements, which are considered costly, unfair and inefficient by many experts.

Parking lots in East Downtown area of Houston
Kinder Institute Research
: Aug 27, 2020
Economic Development, Governance, Housing, Placemaking, Urban Planning

Houston lost 42,500 creative industry jobs and $1.6 billion in sales in 4 months

A new report measuring the damage done to America’s creative economy by COVID-19 shows the South, Texas and Houston are among the most devastated. At the metropolitan level, the Houston area is the largest metro suffering the worst losses.

Photo of an empty concert hall in Houston
News Story
: Aug 18, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Sun Belt

Nearly one-quarter of Houston-area renters couldn’t make their July payment

As moratoriums on evictions expire and bonus unemployment benefits run out, many in Houston and across Texas face increasing uncertainty about their ability to pay for a place to live.

photo illustration for renter uncertainty
News Story
: Aug 8, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Housing, Urban Disparity

Public transit has lost its momentum during the pandemic. Can it be regained?

Since mid-March, ridership has plummeted and there’s concern about a “transit death spiral.” But new studies show that public transportation isn’t a major source of coronavirus transmission.

Metro light rail in Houston
News Story
: Aug 5, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Health, Transportation

Traffic dropped 66%, but it came back and the coronavirus followed

Traffic levels fell dramatically throughout the Houston metro area as people were ordered to stay at home and businesses were closed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 — and it worked. But, as the economy was reopened and people returned to work, restaurants, bars, beaches and more, traffic levels and infection rates increased.

traffic in Houston
News Story
: Jul 27, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Health, Transportation

As COVID-19 ebbs and flows, will there be a sea change in cities? It depends on whom you ask.

Surges, hot spots, reopenings and reclosings. As the pandemic’s jagged sawtooth trend line continues to cut across the nation, uncertainty remains. In the end, how much will the composition of urban and suburban areas change?

New York City
News Story
: Jul 20, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Education, Housing, Sun Belt

COVID-19 survey: Houston area is the hardest hit large metro in America

Jobless claims, along with COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations, are on the rise in Texas. And the social and economic impacts seem to be the greatest in the Houston metropolitan area.

1938 - Unemployment benefits aid begins. Line of men inside a division office of the State Employment Service office at San Francisco, California, waiting to register for benefits on one of the first days the office was open. Photographer - Dorothea Lange
News Story
: Jul 10, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Education, Health

Why are Houston pedestrians forced to play a real-life game of ‘Frogger’?

Under Texas law, drivers are required to yield the right of way to people in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked. But for the most part, Houston drivers ignore the rules. In the end, the driving laws in the state are not protecting vulnerable road users. 

National Route 135 runs alongside Shirahama Beach in Japan
Perspective
: Jul 6, 2020
Governance, Health, Transportation, Urban Planning

Will the rush to reopen only end up intensifying the economic crisis?

Texas and other small-government Sun Belt states, which were already were limited in their capacity to respond in times of economic crisis, were hit hard by big drops in consumer spending resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. As the second part of the pandemic’s first wave now washes over many of these states, it remains to be seen what effect it will have on their floundering economies.

crowded bar woman in mask
Kinder Institute Research
: Jun 26, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Governance, Health, Sun Belt

COVID-19 hot spots emerge across the Sun Belt as states expand reopenings

Amid reopenings, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma and California are among many states seeing large spikes in new coronavirus infections. 

COVID-19 hotspots in Sun Belt states
News Story
: Jun 22, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Health, Sun Belt

Texas economy ranks near the top for racial equality in a nation with pervasive wealth inequality

The efforts of demonstrators calling for racial justice for Black Americans has evolved into a global movement to address the economic, environmental, educational and health care disparities created by systemic racism in the United States. A new report compares and ranks the economies of all 50 states in terms of racial equality.

photo illustration for wealth gap
News Story
: Jun 19, 2020
Demographics, Economic Development, Health, Housing

Will America ever change? Imperfect Houston has shown it can happen

In “Prophetic City,” Stephen Klineberg shows us where change has taken Houston and where it’s likely to take the nation.

Race_and_ethnicity_2010-_Houston
News Story
: Jun 4, 2020
Education, Governance, Health, Urban Disparity

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

Frequent crises have shown us the power of solidarity. The city needs that strength now.

The economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak coupled with the pandemic being politicized by some will challenge the feelings of solidarity and trust that have been building in Houston in recent years. It’s important to remember the city and surrounding region’s ability to unite in the face of disaster.

Houston skyline
Kinder Institute Research
: May 21, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Education, Governance, Health, Hurricane Harvey, 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
  • Load More Articles
The Kinder Institute
  • Programs and Initiatives
  • Careers
  • Speaker’s Bureau
  • Directory
  • Media
Follow

Connect with the Kinder Institute.

Subscription Options

Contact Info

Mailing Address:
6100 Main St. MS-208
Houston, TX 77005-1892

Physical Address:
Rice University
Kraft Hall
6100 Main Street, Suite 305
Houston, TX 77005-1892

Email Address: kinder@rice.edu

Phone: 713-348-4132 

 

Featured Sponsor
Logo for CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy
  • Kinder Institute Support
  • Donate Now
©2021 The Kinder Institute
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Credits