Urban Edge

Stories, perspectives and insights from the Kinder Institute

Housing vouchers work but more funding is needed to help more families

Research shows housing vouchers lead to improvements for families — children, in particular. Unfortunately, for many in Houston, limits on the program are blocking their access to those opportunities.

Greens Bayou resiliency plans tie engagement and technical expertise together

Public engagement and sharing information with members of a community help as critical steps of any planning effort or public project. Too often, though, that engagement asks residents to communicate with professionals or experts about subjects they are not adept in. When discussing a technical topic such as flood control or transportation planning, residents can get lost in a sea of acronyms or complicated renderings. Finding ways to offer residents meaningful information that they can digest and use to shape their opinions is essential to making engagement meaningful.

Greens Bayou Watershed analysis reveals strategies to increase resiliency from flooding

More than two years ago, Hurricane Harvey made landfall and slowly circled around the greater Houston area for five days. The storm resulted in the largest amount of rainfall ever recorded in the United States. While for many it took only a short time to return to normal, for others the tragedy continues to unfold behind the closed doors of flooded homes. Harvey, followed by Imelda, is evidence of a new climate normal.

Sunnyside survey shows neighborhood's social fabric is strong

Results from the recently released Sunnyside Strong survey reveal promising potential for revitalizing the predominantly African-American neighborhoods of Sunnyside and South Park in south-central Houston; though there’s still work to be done.

Understanding Houston: 'It's like I can't survive,' temporarily-homeless Houstonian says

This is a part of a series connected to our partnership with the Greater Houston Community Foundation's regional project Understanding Houston. This story, and others, also appears on the Understanding Houston website.

Houston small-business survey reveals how city and state can better support manufacturers

Small businesses are only as successful as the policy, investment and regulatory environment they operate in. For small enterprises especially, flexibility and nimbleness are critical to growth. To thrive, clear pathways must exist for firms, regardless of size, to effectively scale, expand operations and further contributions to the economy, through new jobs, tax revenue streams and technological innovation.

Could cities, not national governments, be the ones to fight the climate crisis?

What happens if cities rethink their policies to combat climate change rather than waiting for nations to do so?

Houston mayor concerned with the state takeover of Houston ISD board

During a Texas Tribune conference Friday, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he was concerned with the state taking over the largest school district in Texas.

Living in walkable neighborhoods makes children richer when they grow up, new study finds

Living in walkable neighborhoods has shown to improve health, social wellbeing and general happiness, and now, a new study shows children growing up in walkable areas earn more money as adults.

To build inclusive tech hubs, we must educate, collaborate and build past weaknesses

Anthony Frasier, the founder of ABF Creative and Brick City Tech, shared his thoughts on inclusive tech hubs during a Next City webinar on Wednesday.