Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/ChristopherHayes

While the increase in gas prices has increased costs for all commuters, workers from households whose income is below the federal poverty level pay a larger proportion of their income for gas. This fact sheet uses data from the 2006 American Community Survey to quantify the relative burden of gas use for commuting.

This report presents customer satisfaction outcomes and a limited number of other indicators based on a sub-sample of the same assisted firms that were targeted in the more rigorous, quantitative performance analyses (Brash and Gallagher, 2008). Analyses of the Survey of Assisted Businesses found only minor differences between 504, 7(a), and MicroLoan recipients in overall satisfaction indicators, but more substantial differences in uses of loan proceeds and other sources of financing. Most respondents were satisfied, although overall satisfaction was apparently lower in the SBIC program.

This report synthesizes the findings, conclusions, and policy recommendations derived from six reports generated by our evaluation of SBA's 7(a) Loan Guaranty, CDC 504 Loan, MicroLoan, and SBIC programs. The various studies were conducted to address three key research questions of particular interest to SBA and its constituents: 1) Does SBA assistance help the firms that receive it? 2) To what extent does SBA assistance serve its market? 3) Do SBA programs duplicate or overlap with other public sector programs?

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the largest of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments's formula block grant programs. This study examines whether readily available data sources can be used to track the outcomes of activities funded with CDBG. The study concludes that two data elements--median home loan amount and the number of businesses--have potential as tools for helping local communities measure the effects of concentrated CDBG expenditures, but additional research is needed. This initial work does not support the use of this methodology for a national performance measure applicable to all CDBG programs; however, these measures may be useful to communities interested in assessing their own community development performance and in furthering their understanding of the neighborhood effects of past CDBG investments.

This report and data book summarizes the responses to a survey of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) key program implementation partners -- intermediaries who work with HUD to deliver services and benefits. In the survey, a national sample of 2,244 mayors, directors of community development, public housing, and fair housing agencies, and owners of multifamily housing properties were asked to assess their relationship with HUD and evaluate HUD performance in working with them to serve the Department's ultimate customers. The survey is responsive to the mandate of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), which requires Federal agencies to establish performance standards and measure progress against those standards over time. Most of HUD's partners express satisfaction with various aspects of the Department's performance, yet there are those who are dissatisfied -- in some instances, to the point of alienation.

Parks, a vital part of healthy urban communities, must serve many users' needs. Information about park usage helps park managers and community leaders to plan park development, allocate scarce resources, and manage day-to-day park operations. This manual was developed from an evaluation of the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund's Urban Parks Initiative, an ongoing effort to improve the quality and quantity of urban parks for public use and to disseminate strategies for effective park development. Through case studies, the authors introduce park managers to various data collection methods and data uses. The more familiar park managers are with these techniques, the more pertinent their information will be, and the more prepared they will be to serve park users.

The Urban Institute has pilot tested "community scorecards" consisting of a standard set of key indicators, ranging from economics to education to accessibility, that can be used for virtually any U.S. city. For the pilot studies described in this report, Fannie Mae Partnership Offices used the scorecards to evaluate 124 indicators in three pilot cities. This report explains the scorecard concept, discusses how the idea was extended and applied for pilot testing, and draws conclusions about how Fannie Mae might best follow up on what has been learned.

This study reviews data on population and household trends in Washington, D.C., to shed light on prospects for future growth in the city. It examines whether the data suggest that it is possible to increase the city's population and, if so, how that might be accomplished. Included are comments from two meetings of a working group convened as part of the strategic planning process to discuss prospects for attracting and retaining residents. Also included is a discussion of patterns of demographic change in the period 1990-1996 and the results of a survey on reasons for moves to and from the city.

This report presents and interprets several important indicators of conditions and trends in Washington, D.C., and environs. The report has three main sections. The first section focuses on the District's economy, the second section presents data on recent trends in physical investment in the city, and the next section presents an array of indicators on population and social conditions. The report suggests next steps for an ongoing system of indicators for the city.

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