Community Development Research Briefs
Research Briefs feature data and commentary on emerging community development trends.
2019
Climate Adaptation Investment and the Community Reinvestment Act
Posted June 16, 2019
This report introduces the field of climate adaptation finance and explains its connection to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) within the context of the disaster provisions guiding pre- and post-disaster investments. In a demonstration of need, the report provides evidence of the spatial concentration of disaster declarations in areas with CRA-eligible populations. It highlights existing innovative and hypothetical investments within a broader context for stimulating greater pre-disaster planning and investment.
On the Sidelines of the Hot Economy
Posted May 31, 2019
While the current economy is often characterized as “hot,” marked by low unemployment, stable prices, and sustained economic growth, many residents are not enjoying the prosperity reflected in the aggregate measures of economic well-being. This report focuses on those who have not reaped the benefits of recent sustained growth in the economy. The report highlights groups who have faced barriers to economic participation and documents interrelated rising costs—particularly for housing, transportation, and childcare—that contribute to keeping people on the sidelines of the economy.
At What Cost? Student Loan Debt in the Bay Area
Posted April 23, 2019
For most Americans, an investment in higher education is a key driver of economic security and mobility. However, rapidly rising costs of attendance, combined with stagnant wages and inadequate support systems for vulnerable borrowers have resulted in outcomes that are at odds with our collective vision of higher education as a crucial foundation for achieving the American Dream. This report highlights the local contours of this issue in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region, particularly for low-income communities and communities of color, using Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax Data.
Funds for Kickstarting Affordable Housing Preservation and Production: Lessons for New Investors
Posted March 14, 2019
A shortage of affordable homes for workers and families at all income levels across the country calls for innovative solutions. Over the past decade, a variety of public-private loan funds have developed to kick-start construction and preservation of affordable housing. This report breaks down how these funds fit into the process of developing and preserving affordable housing and shares lessons for those who are considering starting or investing in a fund.
Testing Our Hypotheses on Equitable Development: Midcourse Learning and Adapting Through SPARCC
Posted January 15, 2019
This report examines four key hypotheses that drove the development of the Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC). It details the experiences and learning among the six SPARCC regions and how these insights have shaped the evolution of the initiative.