Urban Institute

A US map visualizes student loan debt data by county, color-coded to show levels of debt among white communities and communities of color. Accompanying charts detail median student loan debt and delinquency rates, with additional statistics on bachelor’s degree attainment and income. The page header includes filters for different types of debt: "All Debt," "Medical," "Student," and "Auto/Retail.

Rising #studentloan debt and delinquencies are worsening Americans’ concerns about #affordability and the cost of living. Explore Urban’s Debt in America map with state-level #data on young adults’ credit card, medical, student loan, and auto/retail debt. https://urbn.is/47QG7EP

Addressing Jail Use Through Prompt Case Resolution Bringing criminal cases to a timely resolution supports public safety, justice for the community, fairness to defendants, and certainty for victims. But in m…

There’s still time to register!

Join Urban on 3/12 @ 2:30 p.m. ET for a virtual discussion on how localities can enhance case processing efficiency and reduce #court delays that contribute to increased #jail use.

Reserve your spot.
#LiveatUrban

The Credit Trajectories of Microbusiness Loan Borrowers Many microbusinesses take on debt to accelerate growth or to meet payroll, stock inventory, and fulfill other day-to-day requirements. How an entrepreneur ma…

Join Urban on 3/18 @ 12 p.m. ET for a virtual convening on #credit trajectories of microbusiness loan borrowers. This #event will feature a panel discussion between speakers with expertise supporting and lending to microentrepreneurs. #LiveatUrban

How Does Gender Influence Corrections Staff Views of Prison Climate? This brief summarizes findings of differences between male and female corrections staff as expressed in three waves of surveys administered by local research…

How does #gender shape corrections staff experiences? New Urban Institute #research reveals differences across three survey waves. Learn more.

Infographic showing text: "62% of nonprofits met demand for their services in 2024. According to national survey data on nonprofit organizations' programming, communities served, revenue sources, and more." The background features abstract black and white illustrations of charts and graphs with pops of color.

Nonprofits deliver essential services nationwide, but many face funding instability, workforce challenges, and rising costs.

Explore insights from the new #Nonprofit Trends Tracker, powered by #data from the National Survey of Nonprofit Trends and Impacts. https://urbn.is/4aQO9z3

Updating the True Cost of Economic Security: What It Takes to Thrive in the US Affordability has become a central issue for millions of Americans striving to get by and get ahead. Elected officials as diverse as President Donald Trump, …

Join the Urban Institute on 3/17 @ 12 p.m. ET for a virtual discussion on the updated True Cost of Economic Security measure. Attendees will learn how policymakers and researchers can leverage insights from this #research to improve American #families’ well-being. #LiveatUrban

A series of illustrations titled "Meet family members Bilal and Fatima" shows a person caring for an elderly individual in bed, followed by another scene of serving a meal, and finally carrying groceries from a car. The setting is indoors and outdoors, depicting various caregiving activities. Source: How the Tax System Can Better Support All Families.

The image is an illustration featuring people. Text on the image reads: "As with their family, families with gig workers may end up with unaffordable tax bills and penalties." The source is noted as "How the tax system can better support all families.

In this final feature story about #families and the challenges they face filing taxes and claiming federal #tax benefits, @taxpolicycenter.bsky.social experts explore how Congress and the IRS could better support gig workers in paying taxes.

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

Maximizing State and Local Resources to Address Oklahoma’s Housing Needs This report presents findings from our assessment of the affordable housing subsidies and related economic development incentives in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s #housing market is stretched—prices and rents are rising faster than incomes and low‑income #families have limited options. A new Urban and @housingforward.bsky.social report outlines challenges, strengths, and #policy recommendations to expand affordable housing.

A person is smiling while looking at a phone in a workshop filled with bicycles and tools. The event titled "The Future of Fintech: How Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Our Financial Lives" is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, from 3 PM to 5 PM EST. The event format is hybrid, and there is a prompt to follow the hashtag #LiveAtUrban.

Don’t miss Urban’s Financial Well-Being Hub event on 3/10 @ 3 p.m. ET. Register today for this #LiveatUrban conversation on how emerging financial #technologies are shaping people’s lives. https://urbn.is/4cdkXmT

A hexagonal map of the United States shows the Housing Assistance Participation Rate by state for 2023. Each state is color-coded on a scale from light blue (14%) to dark blue (51%).

Many people + families with low incomes in the US miss out on critical food, cash aid, and housing benefits they’re eligible for. Urban’s new interactive #tool shows #socialsafetynet program take-up gaps by state, program, and demographic group.

Explore the #data. https://urbn.is/3OUZ9mk

Innovations Designed to Deliver the Promise of Homeownership At a time when rising costs and structural barriers continue to limit access to homeownership, innovative mortgage solutions are reshaping how capital reache…

How can innovative #mortgage solutions expand pathways to #homeownership? Join the Urban Institute on 3/16 @ 1 p.m. ET for a virtual discussion about the Inspire100 mortgage pilot. #LiveatUrban

A promotional image for an "Open House" event, labeled as an official SXSW event, featuring a key illustration. The card displays a person named Jung Hyun Choi, Principal Research Associate at Urban Institute. The date is Saturday, March 14th. The realtor.com logo is at the bottom left.

Attending #SXSW 2026? On 3/14 @ 4 p.m., Urban's Jung Choi joins Realtor.com's Open House for a conversation on how #homeownership builds generational wealth, why the cost of waiting is rising, and the many forms of #wealth a home creates.

Get more details + RSVP. https://urbn.is/3OUpMb0

State of the Safety Net As states face potential funding cuts and shifting policies, understanding who is eligible, who participates, and where gaps exist is crucial for informing e…

There’s still time to register!

Join Urban on 3/6 @ 12 p.m. ET for a virtual #event on the State of the Safety Net Initiative web #tool. Attendees will learn how to use the tool that provides, all in one place, eligibility and participation estimates for seven different programs. #LiveatUrban

This infographic illustrates a national housing affordability strategy, with three main sections: Unlocking Production Capacity, Protecting and Assisting Households, and Injecting Capital. Icons and brief descriptions accompany each section, such as legislative reform, housing assistance, and public subsidies. The graphic is from Urban Institute.

With Congress actively debating a bipartisan legislative package that could be a critical first step in tackling the #housing #affordability crisis, Urban researchers outline three principles of #strategy that could help. https://urbn.is/4l0Zosa

Addressing Jail Use Through Prompt Case Resolution Bringing criminal cases to a timely resolution supports public safety, justice for the community, fairness to defendants, and certainty for victims. But in m…

Join Urban on 3/12 @ 2:30 p.m. ET for a virtual #event on how localities can enhance case processing efficiency and reduce court delays that contribute to increased #jail use. Participants will gain insights from Clark County, NV, and Harris County, TX. #LiveatUrban

Nonprofit Leaders’ Concerns About Finances, Programming, and Workforce Challenges Intensified from 2024 to 2025 Evidence of shifts in the pressures nonprofits are facing can help funders, policymakers, and local leaders better understand and address the sector’s most p…

Nonprofits across the US have faced numerous challenges in the past year, from funding disruptions and staff reductions to decreased levels of community trust. New Urban #research outlines #nonprofit leaders’ biggest concerns—and what funders, local leaders, and policymakers could prioritize.

An Overview of the Rent Reporting Landscape for State and Local Policymakers Rent reporting—the practice of providing data on rent payments to at least one of the three major consumer credit bureaus—has grown substantially over the la…

As #rent reporting expands, state and local #policy can help renters build credit while minimizing risks. Urban’s #research analysis outlines the landscape and key decision points for state and local policymakers.

Learn more.

This line chart titled "Share of Student Loan Borrowers with At Least One Delinquency in the Previous 24 Months, by Debt Type" from 2015 to 2025 shows trends in student loans, auto loans, credit cards, and mortgages. Delinquency rates for student loans remain consistently higher, decreasing slightly until 2020, then rising towards 2025. Source: Urban Institute analysis of credit bureau data.

After a three-year COVID-19 payment pause, most federal #studentloan borrowers resumed payments in late 2023, with key protections ending in 2024. This Urban brief uses credit bureau #data to track payment progress post restart and compares it with prepandemic outcomes. https://urbn.is/4bceNT2

State of the Safety Net As states face potential funding cuts and shifting policies, understanding who is eligible, who participates, and where gaps exist is crucial for informing e…

Join the Urban Institute on 3/6 @ 12 p.m. ET for a virtual discussion on the State of the Safety Net Initiative web #tool that provides eligibility and participation estimates for seven different social safety net programs.

Register now.
#LiveatUrban

The illustration shows a group of people labeled as "Anthony, Lisa, Judy, and Morgan." They are gathered around a vehicle with some interacting at a table and one pushing a cart. Text at the top reads "Meet family members Anthony, Lisa, Judy, and Morgan." The image includes a source note: "How the tax system can better support all families."

A blue illustration of people in a household setting, with text overlay discussing challenges caregivers face in claiming children on tax returns when they live in multiple households. The source is Urban Institute.

In a fourth story examining how the #tax system can better support all #families, @taxpolicycenter.bsky.social experts explore how caregivers raising a #child living in multiple households face challenges claiming them on returns—and what Congress & the IRS could do to help. https://urbn.is/4aUBWbv

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…

In December 2025, Urban’s convening on unlocking #Black prosperity equipped participants with the #research insights and tools needed to make #data-driven decisions that create meaningful, lasting impact. Access archived event footage and materials.

A person is smiling and looking at a smartphone while sitting in a workshop filled with tools. The text overlay reads: "The Future of Fintech: How Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Our Financial Lives," with event details: "Tuesday, March 10 | 3 PM-5 PM EST | Hybrid." The bottom of the image has the hashtag "#LIVEATURBAN" and a "U" logo.

How are #AI-driven tools, crypto, sports betting, and other #financial technologies shaping consumers' lives?

Join Urban on 3/10 @ 3 p.m. ET for a hybrid event on #Fintech and how to embrace innovation while prioritizing consumer safety. https://urbn.is/4cdkXmT #LiveatUrban

A flowchart with three connected boxes and arrows. The first box, "Analyzing the Status Quo," is outlined in pink and discusses existing land use policies and regulations. The second box, "Invisible Barriers," is outlined in gray and explores the exclusionary impacts of those policies. The third box, "Tracing History," is outlined in blue and encourages comparing present and past land use practices, mentioning redlining and urban renewal.

Zoning & land-use policies impact everything from #housing to connection—yet many #communities have limited influence. This guide offers #strategies to help community planning academy administrators facilitate convos where residents can help influence more inclusive futures. https://urbn.is/4qVrQgv

The State of the Union Is Expected to Focus on Affordability. What Does the Evidence Say Works? Addressing the affordability crisis will require a broad set of strategies from every level of government, including policies that tackle housing, health car…

With #affordability expected to be the focus of tomorrow’s State of the Union, Urban experts examine federal proposals and actions across housing, health care, and wealth building—and what the #evidence shows. Explore the findings and #solutions.

Blue wave illustration on the cost of tariffs as levied vs. on final goods and services from the Tax Policy Center (TPC).

Curious about #tariffs following the latest US Supreme Court ruling? Explore how tariffs on imports flow through various sectors of the #economy and how they affect federal revenue, households, and more using the @taxpolicycenter.bsky.social Tariff Tracker. https://urbn.is/4tRMK2M

New Evidence Underscores Why Neighborhoods Matter and How Policies Can Improve Lives New, decades-long analysis proves that public policies can improve children’s success in life by enabling them to grow up in resource-rich neighborhoods.

New evidence shows that investing in #neighborhoods can provide long-term benefits for #children and families. In this Urban Wire post, experts explore how place-conscious public policies improve people’s lives and ways local leaders can turn this #research into action.

Learn more.

Bar chart titled "Composition of Aggregate Household Assets in 2022, by Race and Overall." It displays asset types: primary residence, other financial assets, retirement, stocks and bonds, business equity, vehicle and other nonfinancial assets, and other residence. Categories are divided into three groups: Black, White, and Overall. Percentages vary across groups, with primary residence being a significant portion under each. Data sourced from Urban Institute analysis of 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.

Black individuals are less likely to form businesses, and Black #families are less likely to hold business equity.

This Urban report explores barriers for Black #smallbusiness owners and offers #policy solutions to support their growth. Access the findings. https://urbn.is/4apGyY1

Trump’s Proposed Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Could Affect More Than 160 Million Americans An interest rate cap would reduce borrowing costs for some Americans but could also reshape who can access credit, potentially pushing many into high-cost al…

New #research estimates that 164 million Americans could potentially be affected by Trump's proposed #creditcard interest rate cap of 10%. While this rate cap could reduce borrowing costs, it would also reshape credit access.

In this new Urban Wire post, experts assess the #policy implications.

The map shows Washington, DC, highlighting areas with affordable housing units built from 2015 to 2024. Different colors represent the number of units and subsidy types: planned development with subsidies, inclusionary zoning, and planned development without subsidies. The map includes a legend and is sourced from DC government data.

Housing in #DC is becoming increasingly out of reach as rents and home values outpace incomes. This Urban report examines the costs and implementation of inclusionary zoning—and offers #policy approaches to achieving inclusionary #housing.

Explore the findings. https://urbn.is/4tIkCyT

Illustration of diverse family members in a series of scenes. One depicts a family of three, another shows an adult and child with a backpack on, a third shows a child playing soccer, and a fourth shows a child playing piano while an adult observes next to them. Text mentions "Grant, Shay, and Sophie."

The image contains a blue illustration depicting scenes of a family. There is text stating that some families with low incomes aren't required to file taxes, but they miss out on crucial benefits. The source is "How the Tax System Can Better Support All Families."

In this third story examining how the #tax system can better support all #families, @taxpolicycenter.bsky.social explores how some families with low incomes miss out on crucial #benefits because they are not required to file taxes—and ways to connect them to the tax system. https://urbn.is/4aq2VN6