Insights

Congress passed a landmark housing bill. Here’s why the impact on Houston might be minimal.

New federal laws promise to improve housing supply and affordability, but the provisions only scrape the surface of cost issues.

Houston SNAP enrollment down 18%, pantries report increased demand as program eligibility tightens

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has fallen sharply across the region over the past year, in part due to new federal legislation.

In these Harris County neighborhoods, landlords seek to evict renters at the highest rates

Parts of northern Harris County and southern Houston saw the most eviction filings in 2024, a Kinder Institute analysis shows.

This intensive parent-child education initiative produced big benefits for Texas families. Here’s how.

Beyond the streets: Estimated 140,000-plus Houston-area adults were temporarily homeless in prior year

A new Kinder Institute survey suggests the scale of housing instability in a given year stretches to 5% of Houston-area residents.

Harris County multifamily housing construction tops single-family development by largest margin in recent history

‘We’re changing family trees’: Education leaders see P-TECH model as pathway to better jobs

What's keeping Harris County housing unaffordable? These 4 charts and maps offer clues.

Many Harris County homeowners and renters continue to struggle with high housing costs, even as home sale prices plateau.

Harris County records biggest shift toward renting, away from homeownership in a decade

About 19,000 fewer Harris County households lived in a home they owned in 2024, while nearly 30,000 more households opted to rent, according to the Kinder Institute's 2026 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report.

New FEMA map would add 200 square miles, 115K housing units to Harris County floodplains

A Kinder Institute analysis illustrates the scope of proposed changes to Harris County’s floodplain map.

How Houstonians’ views on acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, gun access and other social issues are changing

The latest Kinder Houston Area Survey shows notable changes on LGBTQ+ acceptance, school funding and more.

Houston is filled with potentially polluted properties. Residents want them cleaned up.

The 45th Kinder Houston Area Survey shows Houstonians overwhelmingly support the redevelopment of brownfield sites across the region.

Tight-knit neighbors, better lives: How strong community ties can help Houstonians feel healthier, safer

New Kinder Institute research finds local residents living in neighborhoods with strong relationships and shared values have a higher probability of good health and feeling safe at home.

We asked 180 Houston advocates where to start on curbing food insecurity. Here’s what they said.

Houston-area advocates say collaboration, transportation and community engagement are key to reducing hunger.

San Antonio cracked down on problem landlords. Here’s what Houston could learn.