Insights

New Tool from the Census Bureau Maps Opportunity Gaps

Created by the U.S. Census Bureau and university researchers, the interactive map and research argues for place-based interventions to address inequality.

Did Texas Break The Law When It Spent Less on Students with Disabilities?

Texas Tribune | Texas will argue Wednesday at a federal appeals court that its decision to decrease special education funding several years ago did not violate federal law.

The Challenge of the 2020 Census

With a legal fight ongoing around the citizenship question, many argue trust has already been damaged.

How Elizabeth Currid-Halkett Tracks the Creative Economy in America

The creative economy operates its business in a unique way and supporting that and the futures of artists is important for the development of a city.

How are parks created in Houston and why Houston isn't meeting its park goal

As the city grew, planners and developers didn't initially plan to embrace the landscape, but rather cover it with a pavement jungle.

New Hope Housing Ventures Into Family Housing

The 25-year old affordable housing provider opened its first residential complex for homeless and at-risk families.

PARK(ing) Day Returns to Houston, After Hurricane Harvey Cancellation Last Year

The annual event returned this week for the fourth year.

Urban Review: Pizza and Potholes, The School Voucher Families Really Need and More

This week, scenes from Florence's devastation, how mayors responded to a pizza chain publicity stunt, research on expanded school lunch program and the school voucher families really need.

New Report Documents Stages of Gentrification in Austin

Commissioned by the city council, a recent report considers which neighborhoods are most vulnerable to gentrification and which have already felt its impact.

Mayors Acknowledge Inequality For the Most Part, But May Still Be Misunderstanding It

A new survey shows that most mayors are aware of inequality and discrimination, but they tend to think its better than compared to the rest of the country and likely discount its impact on key services.

Study: Black Renter Households Pay A Rent Premium

Using a robust national data set of voucher holders, researchers found significant rent premiums for black renters compared to white renters for similar properties in the same area.

Urban Review: Politicians on Twitter, Poverty in Texas and a Climate Action Plan for Houston

This week, why your political representative shouldn't block you, what the latest poverty numbers mean for Texas cities and a new climate action plan in the works for Houston.

Study: Northern Third Ward vs. Gentrification

In Houston's Third Ward, organizing against gentrification isn't just about property and displacement. It's also about building community capacity.

Urban Review: Hot Cities, Emergency Prep in Houston and Another Anti-Homeless Ordinance Struck Down

This week, as cities heat up, how are they addressing rising temperatures? Plus, a look at newly released data on self-reported emergency preparedness in the Houston metropolitan area, the latest court ruling on a sidewalk sleeping ban in Boise and more.

City Puts Land Bank, Recovery Dollars to Work with New Single-Family Home Construction

A retooled land bank program seeks to improve the city's affordable housing construction record while coordinating influx of disaster recovery funding.