Urban Institute

How Can Trump Accounts Build Wealth for Low- and Moderate-Income Households? What we know about the new policy that will reach households in 2026—and what philanthropy, state and local governments, and employers can do to make sure low- and moderate-income households benefit.

Join the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and Urban on 12/4 @ 2 p.m. ET for a #webinar on Trump Accounts—a new federal #policy coming in 2026. Learn how philanthropy, state and local governments, and employers can help low/moderate-income households benefit. #LiveatUrban

Map showing the distribution of Summer EBT providers by school district in Oklahoma, Summer 2024, with areas categorized by tribal nation boundaries and urban centers including Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The map is divided into three main sections representing different tribal nations: Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Chickasaw Nation, each colored in blue, red, and yellow respectively. Additional information includes data sources from US Census Bureau and Hunger Free Oklahoma.

Oklahoma did not participate in the Summer EBT program in 2024—but Cherokee, Chickasaw, & Muscogee (Creek) Nations stepped in to support #children in #tribal and nontribal #families. Urban’s research explores challenges, lessons, and future considerations. https://urbn.is/4onQTY9

As Residents Struggle with Rising Costs, Local Leaders Can Help Them Build a Cushion of Wealth As the cost of living rises nationally, local leaders need, more than ever, data on the financial health of their residents to ensure they have the wealth to…

Rising costs of living are pushing US #families to dip into savings—but not everyone has that cushion. Urban's updated #Financial Health and Wealth Dashboard can help local #leaders understand residents’ finances, resilience, and upward mobility opportunities. https://urbn.is/3XfgTKj

Unlocking Black Prosperity: Advancing Wealth through Small Businesses, Asset Development, and Community Investment Across the country, local leaders are driving bold, data-driven strategies to build inclusive economies and advance Black prosperity. A key pillar of this wo…

How can local leaders advance Black prosperity in their #communities?

Join Urban on 12/17 @ 12 p.m. ET for a virtual convening on innovative policies, community-driven initiatives, & cross-sector strategies that #cities can implement to foster Black prosperity. https://urbn.is/4rmNJqb #LiveatUrban

Bar graph titled 'Awareness and Comfort Receiving Charitable Food among Adults Who Did Not Receive Charitable Food in the Last 12 Months', presenting data from the Urban Institute Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, December 2024. It compares percentages of all adults, adults in food insecure households, and adults in food secure households who reported being aware of where they could get free groceries or meals if needed and those feeling comfortable receiving these resources. Data is separated into rural and urban categories.

Less than half of food-insecure adults know where to get free groceries or meals—and only 1 in 3 feel comfortable seeking help. Urban’s #research explores barriers to accessing charitable #food in 2024 using #data from the Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey. https://urbn.is/43P941s

Improving Access to State Tax Credits through Research to Action Join Maryland comptroller Brooke Lierman, US Representative Steny Hoyer, and leading experts as we discuss how changemakers can get income-boosting state tax…

Join Urban on 12/2 @ 12:30 p.m. ET for a hybrid event on how changemakers can get income-boosting state #tax benefits into the hands of all eligible residents, featuring convos w/ MD Comptroller @brookelierman.bsky.social, Urban President Sarah Rosen Wartell, @hoyer.house.gov, & others. #LiveatUrban

Virtual Workshop: Using Data to Inform Strategic Priorities in Your Community To expand opportunity and well-being for residents, local leaders need the right data and the skills to put the data into action. This session will help participants identify the most relevant data so...

Join Urban on 12/10 @ 1:00 p.m. ET for a virtual workshop on how local leaders can use #data for strategic decisionmaking in their #communities, drawing on guidance from the Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility.

Register now. https://urbn.is/3LQlYGx
#LiveatUrban

Strengthening Family Engagement through Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation This brief examines Colorado providers’ reflections on how consultation influences communication and collaboration with families, offering insights into how …

A new Urban Institute analysis shows that early childhood #mentalhealth consultation (ECMHC) supports both #families and educators. Explore insights from Colorado #childcare providers on how it works this Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Month.

Medicaid Is Essential for Addressing the Homelessness Crisis. The Reconciliation Bill Would Make It Worse. Medicaid has been essential for scaling supportive housing models that increase access to treatment and recovery for people experiencing homelessness, but th…

Evidence shows that pairing a strong #Medicaid program with affordable #housing options is essential to help address the #homelessness crisis. In this Urban Wire article, research experts share how specific policy updates could exacerbate existing challenges.

Using Local Data to Reshape Transportation Access and Safety How six organizations are collecting data and elevating community voice as they address barriers to safe and accessible transportation.

As part of @rwjf.org and Urban’s Local Data for Equitable Communities grant program, six organizations are collecting local #data and elevating community voices to address transit access and #transportation safety in their #communities. Learn more in this new blog post. @caasanfrancisco.bsky.social

Exploring the Landscape of Career Development Opportunities in Washington, DC, Public Schools Join the DC Education Research Collaborative—in partnership with District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and researchers from the Urban Institute, D.C. Po…

There's still time to register!

Join the Urban Institute, the DC Education Research Collaborative, and partners on 12/12 @ 10:00 a.m. ET for an in-person #event on the first year of the Career Development Opportunities in #DC Public Schools study. #LiveatUrban

Interactive map of the United States displaying debt delinquency rates by region, differentiated by categories such as all debt, medical, student, and auto/retail. The left panel includes numerical data and filters for specific types of debt, while the right panel shows a color-coded map with varying shades of blue indicating the percentage of communities affected by debt delinquency.

Credit can open doors—but #debt hits young adults (18-24) the hardest. As the third part in a series on #affordability and financial health in the US, Urban's map update provides leaders with county and state-level #data on credit card, medical, student loan debt, and more. https://urbn.is/47QG7EP

Statement of Jason Levitis Before the Senate Finance Committee In his testimony, entitled "The 2026 Health Care Affordability Cliff and the Costs of Health Care Complexity," Levitis discussed how the Marketplace pr…

Today, Urban Institute senior fellow Jason Levitis testified at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on addressing the affordability cliff and the costs of #healthcare. See what the #research shows on how losing #ACA enhanced PTCs will impact coverage for millions.

Housing First Is Still the Best Approach to Ending Homelessness Misconceptions about Housing First ignore decades of evidence of its effectiveness. To end homelessness, policymakers should invest in evidence-backed solutions, such as permanent supportive housing.

Research completed Urban and other experts shows why Housing First interventions are still the best way to help people exit #homelessness. Learn more about why #policymakers should consider investing in evidence-backed solutions, such as permanent supportive #housing, in this Housing Matters post.

Promotional poster for the 'Urban Institute and Georgetown Law Series on Health Law Worker Protections, Civil Rights, and Advancing Equity: Understanding Challenges and Advancing Solutions' webinar, featuring moderators Professor Matthew Lawrence and Professor Lindsay Wiley, and speakers from various organizations including Thomas Saenz, Drummond Pike, Rev. Sharon Austin, and Rajnish Puri. Details include event schedule, registration info, and contact email, set against a blue background with decorative elements.

Join Urban and Georgetown Law on 11/20 @ 12 p.m. ET for a #webinar, Worker Protections, Civil Rights and Health Equity. Featuring remarks from Urban’s Brian Smedley, experts will explore challenges, strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches to advance #health justice. https://urbn.is/4a0dPsM

Does SNAP Cover the Cost of a Meal in Your County? Amid inflation, SNAP benefits did not cover the cost of a meal in 99 percent of counties in 2022. Adjustments to SNAP narrowed—but didn’t close—that gap.

Does #SNAP cover the cost of a meal in your county?

Evidence shows that the maximum SNAP benefit often falls short of covering a modest meal, leaving many families vulnerable to #foodinsecurity. Explore county-level #data with Urban’s interactive tool.

Service Corps Programs That Connect Opportunity Youth to Infrastructure Jobs Potentially Yield High Returns on Investment A new analysis finds workforce corps serving opportunity youth likely also have high returns on investment. At a time of corps funding cuts and when policyma…

Service corps have been shown to help #youth gain skills and connect to new #infrastructure careers. A new Urban Institute analysis finds that #workforce corps serving opportunity youth likely deliver strong ROIs. Read more.

More Affordable and Available Housing Would Mean Fewer Children and Young People Experiencing Homelessness To reduce the number of students experiencing homelessness and promote upward mobility for children and young people, local leaders should focus on the root …

How can local leaders help children and young people access stable #housing and boost upward mobility?

In this Urban Wire article, experts share insights on youth #homelessness and practical #policy solutions using county-level data. Learn more this Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week.

Turning Data Center Revenues into Affordable Homes As data centers see a surge in demand because of generative AI, Henrico County, Virginia, shows how local governments can turn the economic gains of this new…

While the surge in generative #AI is boosting economies, it’s also straining energy grids, raising costs, and sparking #community concerns.

What can local #leaders do? Henrico County, Virginia, offers a creative solution tackling two local issues at once. Learn more in this Urban Wire article.

Using Listening Sessions to Amplify the Voices of Caregivers Impacted by Gun Violence and Incarceration Research has indicated the stressors of incarceration for caregivers, including stigmatization, especially if their loved one’s crime was violent.

#Caregivers impacted by homicide & incarceration often lack support—and their voices are often missing in local #policy discussions. Boston’s WAB2G project used listening sessions to help change that.

Learn more in a new Catalyst Grant Program blog post.

Improving Access to State Tax Credits through Research to Action Join Maryland comptroller Brooke Lierman, Urban Institute president Sarah Rosen Wartell, and leading experts as we discuss how changemakers can get income-bo…

12/2 @ 12:30 p.m. ET: Join Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Urban President Sarah Rosen Wartell, and experts for a hybrid #event on improving access to income-boosting state #tax benefits.

Register now.
#LiveatUrban

Cash Assistance for Children: Research Roundup and Policy Future Join Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Utah Department of Health and Human Services executive director Tracy Gruber, and leading experts as we examine the benefit…

What does the evidence show on the benefits of investing in #children?

Last month, Urban hosted an #event examining the gains and impacts of #safetynet investments in children, and opportunities for progress at the federal and state levels. Learn more.

Second-Chance Hiring Can Help Fix America’s Labor Shortage Despite perceptions that there aren’t enough jobs, data show there are more jobs than workers. Research shows hiring justice-affected people can yield benefi…

Amid America’s ongoing #labor shortages in leisure/hospitality and wholesale/retail trade industries, #employers are overlooking a significant untapped talent pool: #justice-affected people.

Learn more in this Urban Wire article.

A community’s #financial health hinges on residents managing daily costs, weathering shocks, and building wealth. Part two of Urban's #affordability + financial health series—an updated financial #data dashboard—includes new cities, trends, and metrics. https://urbn.is/3WNZic9

State-Led Approaches to Apprenticeship Expansion and Innovation Join the Urban Institute for a discussion on state-led approaches to apprenticeship expansion and innovation. States have been making strategic investm…

There’s still time to register!

Join the Urban Institute on 11/20 @ 12:00 p.m. ET for a virtual event on the future of state-led approaches to #apprenticeship expansion and #innovation. #LiveatUrban

Figures shows 'The Cliff Exposes Middle-Income Consumers to Unlimited Premiums.' It displays expected contributions PTC-eligible individuals would make toward a benchmark coverage, comparing scenarios with and without PTC enhancements in 2025. Lines represent contributions at different percentages of the federal poverty level from 0% to 500%. Source and notes included at the bottom.

Evidence shows that an eligibility cliff on Affordable Care Act (#ACA) tax credits would make #healthcare unaffordable for middle-class #families in the US.

Explore the impacts in this Urban Institute brief. https://urbn.is/43pxAWV

A New VA Home Loan Program Reform Act Is a Step toward Helping Veterans Avoid Foreclosure, but Implementation Issues Remain Federal policymakers can take steps to ensure a strong program rollout, but legislative fixes and clear guidance from the VA are needed to increase the progr…

A new VA #home loan program offers foreclosure prevention options similar to those offered by the GSEs and FHA. In this Urban Wire article, #research experts share recommendations to improve the program's rollout and cost-effectiveness.

Learn more this #VeteransDay.

Chart showing estimated monthly loss of SNAP benefits due to expanded SNAP work requirements, detailing number of people affected by age group and living circumstances. Data sourced from the Urban Institute's analysis of the 2021 and 2023 American Community Survey and Income Security datasets.

Urban #research shows that expanded #SNAP work requirements could lead to 2.7 million #families—and 5.4 million people—losing some or all of their monthly SNAP benefits. On average, affected families would see a monthly loss of $254 in food assistance.

Learn more. https://urbn.is/4hMj2Xj

#2025APPAM - Conferences & Events | APPAM

Urban’s #research experts are eager to engage in meaningful conversations around workforce, education, child care, housing, and other areas at the #2025APPAM, 11/13-11/15.

Make plans to attend and explore how Urban’s #policy work is shaping the future.

Figure 1 shows a graph of how rent reporting has quadrupled since 2020 by the share of renter households whose rental payments have ever been reported or are currently being reported.

#Rent reporting is on the rise as a tool for building credit in the US. A new #research analysis from the Urban Institute tracks state-level trends from 2020–2024.

Explore the #data. https://urbn.is/4orkReu