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urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Urban Institute
@urbaninstitute.bsky.social
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The Urban Institute is a research-to-impact institution founded on one simple idea: To improve lives and strengthen communities, we need practices and policies that work.
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urbaninstitute.bsky.social
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
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.
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
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
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.
November 25, 2025 at 6:19 PM
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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
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.
November 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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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
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.
November 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
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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
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
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
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.
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
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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
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.
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
#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
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.
November 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
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For nearly a decade, Promise Heights staff and partner organizations in West Baltimore’s Upton and Druid Heights #communities have worked to support #families and children. New Urban #research shows the impact of this long-term, community-driven work. https://urbn.is/3LIisO0
Figure 1 shows the Promise Heights Promise Neighborhood, Upton and Druid Heights neighborhoods and community schools, Baltimore.
November 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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Even in #prisons, participatory #research can shift culture. Urban's Prison Research and Innovation Initiative empowered incarcerated people and staff to codesign surveys, identify challenges, and test #solutions.

Explore the findings in a new report. https://urbn.is/4oOstrz
Figure 1 shows the Prison Research and Innovation Network Structure.
October 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
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Research shows that many Americans are facing an #affordability crisis. Urban is sharing vital #data on the state of affordability through a new interactive #tool—the first in a three-part series on financial health in the US.

Explore the findings. https://urbn.is/4o9iRHJ
Screenshot of the State of Affordability tracker that prompts the user to select a metric to see affordability trends, highlighting the cost and resources and financial distress.
October 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Funded by Measure Z, Oakland’s gender-based-violence service providers have reached 2,600+ people, made 4K referrals, & hosted nearly 1K healing events. Explore findings from Urban's #report this #DomesticViolence Awareness Month. https://urbn.is/4nd35dM
Figure 4 shows the number of participants in the Oakland Department of Violence Prevention's gender-based-violence response, July 2022-June 2024.
October 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
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New analysis estimates that over 600K nonelderly #veterans would have subsidized Marketplace coverage in 2026 under enhanced premium #tax credits (PTCs). Urban Institute’s recent #research brief explores the impact on coverage if PTCs expire. https://urbn.is/421tt2B
Table 1 shows subsidized Marketplace coverage among nonelderly veterans under enhanced and standard Marketplace PTCs, 2026.
October 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Urban’s #research shows that more than 230,000 #families in the DC metro region will experience lower benefits or lose all their #SNAP benefits because of federal assistance cuts.

Learn more about the impacts in this new Urban Wire post. https://urbn.is/4gZlppk
Bar graph that shows how nearly a quarter million residents of the DC metropolitan area would be affected by federal cuts to SNAP in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
October 3, 2025 at 3:54 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Well-designed #housing targets can help align local decisions with broader state/regional needs and ease supply challenges.

A new Urban Institute #research brief explores how MA, NJ, OR, & the DC region are setting targets—and key design choices. https://urbn.is/3KuUNA8
Figure 1 shows housing target design decisions broken up by setting goals, selecting methodology, and implementing targets.
September 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Urban Institute #research experts estimate 4.8 million people could lose coverage and #healthcare spending could drop by $32.1 billion in the US if enhanced premium #tax credits expire.

A new research brief breaks down the impact on spending and uncompensated care. https://urbn.is/4mHTUSj
Figure 2 shows percent increase in uncompensated care spending for the nonelderly associated with expiration of enhanced PTCs by state.
September 29, 2025 at 8:02 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Many homeowners at risk of "tangled titles"—especially older adults, low-income families & communities of color—face barriers to online #estate planning. Bridging the digital divide can help protect homes & build lasting #wealth.

Explore Urban’s research & #policy recs. https://urbn.is/4pJyLKe
Table 3 shows the share of households without smartphone or internet access, by race or ethnicity and generation.
September 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Building more #homes does not guarantee affordability or access for people with low incomes. This Urban Wire post breaks down why affordable #housing matters—and how smart #policy solutions can help. https://urbn.is/4nFYf9r
Bar graph that shows most cities don't have enough affordable rental units for each family of four with very low incomes.
September 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
WorkRise, a research-to-action network on #jobs, workers, and mobility hosted by Urban, is conducting a national #survey to inform policies that deliver real results for workers & local economies.

Help shape the future of #workforce research & investment. Input due by 9/30. https://urbn.is/3IgDW3q
Illustration depicting various professionals in a dynamic work environment, including a person constructing a brick wall, another gardening, individuals engaging in a business presentation, construction workers with blueprints, an office worker at a desk, and an engineer working on a large machine. The scene conveys a range of occupations in both indoor and outdoor settings.
September 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
The Community Loan Center Small Dollar Loan Program offers #employer-sponsored loans up to $1,000 with annual rates under 22%. A new Urban #research brief shows how it serves as a model for expanding access to affordable #credit and reduces reliance on high-cost loans. https://urbn.is/41WFXs5
Figure 5 shows borrower credit scores, by Time since loan receipt. Borrower credit scores remained steady after receiving a loan.
September 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
urbaninstitute.bsky.social
New analysis from Urban’s #Black Family Thriving Initiative shows Southern Black #families are gaining in jobs, business, & homeownership—but face barriers like unfair labor practices, underinvestment in education, and more.

Explore key wealth-building #strategies. https://urbn.is/463uYOM
Figure 3 shows Median Net Wealth by Race and Region with inflation-adjusted 2021 dollars.
September 8, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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Research shows that in most #California districts, public #school food workers earn less than fast food cooks and far below what's needed for #housing in their area.

Explore the findings in this Urban fact sheet. https://urbn.is/4p4opnQ
Figure 1 shows cafeteria worker wages and wages needed to afford a one-bedroom dwelling.
September 2, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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As the 20th anniversary of #HurricaneKatrina approaches, the Urban Institute has released a #data tool exploring disaster impacts across the #GulfCoast and how federal spending has shaped response, recovery, and mitigation.

Access the data today. https://urbn.is/46VHC4C
Map of the US showing how many counties across the Gulf Coast have high social vulnerability. Data includes counties with high social vulnerability and high per capita property damage.
August 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
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"Food is Medicine” programs—like tailored meals and produce prescriptions—use #healthcare and #community partnerships to improve nutrition and health.

Urban experts draw on insights from the Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey to explore public views and #policy implications. https://urbn.is/4lJTc6u
Figure 1 shows the share of adults who had heard about FIM programs, overall and among food-insecure adults with diet-sensitive conditions, December 2024.
August 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
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Extreme weather events can worsen physical and mental health for adults with #disabilities. Coordinated disaster planning across all levels of government is key.

Explore this #research and more in Urban's August #Climate and Communities newsletter.
Figure 2 shows the self-reported impact of severe storms in the past 12 months among adults ages 18 to 64, by disability status, December 2023.
August 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM