Urban Institute

While #data about people’s #financial lives are abundant, much is spread across different sources and can be challenging to identify, access, and use. A tool from Urban’s Financial Well-Being Data Hub allows users to identify financial well-being metrics across publicly available data sources to ensure their #research is based on a holistic understanding of people’s financial lives. Access the data.

Did you know that nearly half of US households with #children in diapers struggle to afford enough diapers? For families with children younger than 4, these basic needs include diapers and wipes, which cost up to $100 a month and are among young families’ top five household expenses. In a new Urban Wire post, Urban Institute researchers explore how rising costs of living and proposed cuts to federal safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (#SNAP) and #Medicaid could make it even harder for young families to cover the cost of essentials. The analysis was produced with support from the National Diaper Bank Network. Learn more.

According to #research, reducing federal support for #Medicaid expansion would shift costs to states and likely result in coverage losses. Experts used the Urban Institute’s Health Insurance #Policy Simulation Model to estimate the potential state budget shortfalls and coverage losses that could result from reducing enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). Learn more.

#Research indicates that of the approximately 42 million people using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to meet their food needs, many are still facing food insecurity, and proposed cuts to the program could compound existing challenges for eligible participants across the US. Urban’s interactive #data feature provides valuable insights on the effects of cuts to #SNAP benefits for every state and county across the US. Learn more.

Partnerships among #rental assistance providers, eviction prevention programs, and #financial empowerment service providers could help renters work toward financial and housing stability in the short and long terms. An Urban Wire post examines how local #housing service providers can help support people facing housing instability and suggests solutions for renters facing housing emergencies. Learn more.

When it comes to defining the #Black middle class, Urban’s Black Family Thriving Initiative shows that #wealth plays a key role. The Initiative aims to amplify the intergenerational strengths of Black families, reframe the narrative of being Black and middle class in the US, and identifies the unique challenges Black #middleclass families face in achieving the American dream. To further investigate wealth as a defining factor, Urban spoke with experts about how to accurately conceptualize the Black middle class and with middle-class Black Americans about wealth-building opportunities and persistent barriers. Learn more in a new feature. https://urbn.is/4iWox54

#Research shows that increasing #healthcare access in the postpartum period could improve maternal health. A brief from the Urban Institute examines the implementation of postpartum #Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage extensions in five states and identifies key considerations for ensuring extended coverage translates to the use of comprehensive services. Explore the findings.

Did you know that #Latino homeowners are disproportionately vulnerable to climate-related disasters? Having homes in high- and moderate-risk areas and limited access to resources are among several factors that amplify the impacts of climate-related disasters like hurricanes and wildfires on Latino homeowners and communities across the US. New #research from the Urban Institute and UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) explores the interplay between hazard risks, community vulnerabilities, and socioeconomic inequities to shed light on the disproportionate effects of #climate risks on Latino homeowners. Learn more. https://urbn.is/4bZ9YLT

How can local #leaders advance upward mobility in their #communities? Join Urban on 3/26 @ 1:00 p.m. ET for a virtual session that will explore the Upward Mobility Framework. Participants will hear from organizations applying the framework to shape programming and policymaking and gain strategic insights that can be implemented to improve the lives of residents. Register now. #LiveatUrban

According to #research, about 5 million expansion adults could lose #Medicaid in 2026 under a federal work requirement similar to the Limit, Save, Grow Act – a 2023 House bill informing current discussions. Urban experts assessed the potential coverage losses under federal Medicaid work requirements for adults ages 19 to 55 enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. The #analysis draws on lessons from two states – Arkansas and New Hampshire – with prior work requirements for their expansion populations and the Limit, Save, Grow Act. Explore the findings. https://urbn.is/4kyeZ1D