News and Events

Back-to-school preparations for this year carry a mix of optimism, trepidation, and concern about children’s setbacks exacerbated by the pandemic. As the pandemic shows no signs of abating, many of us are wondering if the spread of the delta variant of the virus will necessitate a return to remote learning this fall and, if so, which communities are at greatest risk of exacerbated inequalities.

More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have begun to reopen, and unemployment has dropped. When watching for signs of economic recovery, rely on data, such as the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan information now on PolicyMap, to track changes in your local economy.

Dig Deeper into Housing Market Trends using Home Sale data from Moody’s Analytics. High-quality and affordable housing is critical to a family’s wellbeing. But homes in some areas of the U.S. are so expensive that many families struggle to meet this fundamental need.

Residential lending boundaries drawn over 80 years ago widened racial wealth gaps, solidified unfair housing and lending patterns, and perpetuated racial segregation across the U.S. A growing body of research shows the impact these practices have extended beyond housing, driving disparities related to health, quality of life, and education access throughout our communities.

A look at the geography of working women and April unemployment rates sheds light on the crucial role women play in bringing the nation back to pre-pandemic employment levels and the need for public policy that supports them.

Jurisdictions should deploy new federal dollars strategically to achieve broad, long-term impacts – not just spend dollars on a to-do list of projects. The severity of what households and businesses have endured over the past year calls for something larger than business-as-usual. And this kind of strategic decision making should be guided by relevant data about the nature of the places in which we all live.