Kinder Institute for Urban Research

What would the electorate look like if Hispanics and young adults voted at rates that delivered a proportional vote for their groups? What if they voted like the most politically active voters — older adults and White residents? A look at the implications of changing voter turnout patterns: https://bit.ly/4eWt3P7

The Urban Edge wanted to know: What would it take to close the low-income housing gap in Houston? We asked one affordable housing expert to give a rough idea of what one unit of housing costs to build. “Rental units vary greatly,” said Houston Habitat for Humanity CEO Allison Hay. “The average cost ‘per door’ is probably closer to $170,000 to $250,000 these days. Supportive housing adds another $100,000 to that number. Pushing that much money into one geography would likely increase land and construction costs, pushing the number even higher.” That translates so tens of billions of dollars of investment needed to build housing options for the neediest households of Houston. Learn more: https://bit.ly/48eg5K5

A new study finds that 61% of eligible Harris County and Houston voters are certain they will vote in the upcoming election. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3BXDPGg

Opportunity neighborhoods are areas with more job opportunities, low crime rates, higher quality schools and other characteristics that promote upward mobility. A new study in partnership with the Houston Housing Authority identifies where these areas exist in Houston: https://bit.ly/4dS4n9c

In the 2024 Kinder Houston Area Survey, 44% of respondents identified as politically independent or with something other than the Republican and Democratic parties. Here's where Houstonians stand compared to the US on several key issues: https://bit.ly/4eNRzSQ

A new study provides insights into the mental health needs and barriers faced by sexual minorities. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dJVSgh

Over 29,000 students in the Houston Independent School District experienced homelessness in the year after Hurricane Harvey, according to new research from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s Houston Education Research Consortium. Families experiencing housing instability for the first time have resources that they may not be familiar with, including rights under the McKinney-Vento Act. Read more in the Urban Edge: https://bit.ly/3Nx8ygd

Emergent bilingual students make up nearly a quarter of the student population in Texas public schools. The next Education Research Engagement Series event, sponsored by PNC, focuses on strategies to better support this group of students. Register here: https://bit.ly/4eK6tcd

About 1 in 3 Harris County residents believe they have been victimized in their lifetime because of their race, skin color, gender or some other protected classification. Most people never reported these incidents to the police. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3TQSs4w

60% of Houston-area residents have needed a home repair in the past year. But maintaining a home and making repairs is costly, and public and nonprofit organizations are often strained to meet the needs of those who can’t afford to have the work done on their own. Read more in the Urban Edge: https://bit.ly/47NzHVc