Urban Institute: Housing

Has Foreclosure Counseling Helped Troubled Homeowners? : Evidence from the Evaluation of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program is a special federal appropriation, administered by NeighborWorks America, designed to support a rapid expansion of foreclosure intervention counseling in response to the nationwide housing crisis. This brief summarizes the final results of the Urban Institutes evaluation of the first two rounds of the NFMC program. Overall, the program is having its intended effect of helping troubled homeowners by improving the quality of mortgage modifications, increasing the frequency and sustainability of cures of delinquencies and foreclosures, and reducing the number of foreclosure completions for counseled homeowners.

National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program Evaluation: Final Report Rounds 1 and 2

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program is a special federal appropriation, administered by NeighborWorks America, designed to support a rapid expansion of foreclosure intervention counseling in response to the nationwide housing crisis. This report presents the final results of the Urban Institutes evaluation of the first two rounds of the NFMC program. Overall, the program is having its intended effect of helping troubled homeowners by improving the quality of mortgage modifications, increasing the frequency and sustainability of cures of delinquencies and foreclosures, and reducing the number of foreclosure completions for counseled homeowners.

Supportive Housing for the Disabled Reentry Population : The District of Columbia Frequent Users Service Enhancement Pilot Program

paffairs@urban.org ( Jocelyn Fontaine, Douglas Gilchrist-Scott, Aaron Horvath ) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Using qualitative and quantitative data, this report discusses the history, performance, and progress of the District of Columbia Frequent Users Service Enhancement Pilot Program, implemented by the Corporation for Supportive Housing. As a supportive housing reentry program focused on disabled individuals with histories of homelessness and incarceration, the program intended to provide housing and coordinate services for 50 "frequent users" leaving the city jail. Over the first year of operations, the program successfully identified and targeted more than a dozen frequent users and linked them to supportive housing through effective cross-system coordination. Policy implications of the evaluation findings are discussed.

Evaluation Design for the Next Phase Evaluation of the Assets for Independence Program, Final Literature Review

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Based on our review and synthesis of the individual development account (IDA) literature, findings in this report include that IDA accounts (in the short-term, five years after program entry) help low-income families become homeowners, start or expand a business, or pursue secondary education. Studies to date have found no relationship between IDA program participation and net worth. The report reviews empirical evidence on the effect of IDA program participation and project design features on outcomes and highlights remaining gaps in the literature.

How the Government Can Solve the Housing Crisis

paffairs@urban.org ( Robert Cherry, Robert I. Lerman ) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Foreclosed homes are a major drag on the housing market and a reason why housing prices continue to fall and new housing construction is stalled. Institute fellow Robert Lerman and Brooklyn College's Robert Cherry explain, in a commentary for CNN.com, an innovative way a million of these properties could provide families with housing instead of sitting empty, take pressure off rental rates, and boost construction jobs.

Is Poverty Incompatible with Asset Accumulation?

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

Is poverty incompatible with asset accumulation? We examine whether the poor can and do save and whether they are able to build up assets over time. Data are presented from household surveys, as well as from programs targeted at helping families accumulate assets. Presenting and evaluating the state of knowledge provides a new lens on whether the current income-based safety net could better serve poor families by having an asset building component. Conventional thinking is that families that are income poor cannot save. This chapter shows that this thinking is inaccurate; poverty does not have to be incompatible with asset accumulation.

Towards Evidence-Based Sustainable Communities : Report on Survey of Urban Sustainability Centers in the U.S. Universities

paffairs@urban.org ( Hilda Blanco, Genevieve Giuliano ) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

In an effort to better understand existing capacity for research on urban sustainability, researchers from the Center for Sustainability at USC conducted a survey of urban sustainability centers at U.S. universities. This analysis is the first phase of a larger project geared towards identifying a research agenda and developing common performance metrics to support federal sustainability initiatives. Results of the survey of 25 sustainability centers indicate that they are unevenly distributed throughout the country, operate on relatively low budgets, and face challenges securing funds for interdisciplinary sustainability research. A survey of current research activities suggests needed synthesis projects and framing papers on an array of sustainability topics.

Rental Market Stresses: Impacts of the Great Recession on Affordability and Multifamily Lending

paffairs@urban.org ( Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University ) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

Analysis of the conditions of rental markets in the wake of the Great Recession reveals a troubling forecast for multifamily properties and the households that inhabit them. Despite increasing rental vacancies since the beginning of the housing bust, the number of low and extremely low income renters swelled, resulting in notable increases in households paying over acceptable levels on rent. Further, even as the rental property climate improves in some metropolitan areas, tenuous rental income and increases in operating costs will expose marginally viable properties to increased financial risks. For renters, this amounts to deteriorating physical conditions and a lower supply of decent, affordable housing. From What Works Collaborative, a partnership of academia and policy think tanks including the Urban Institute.

Neighborhood Early Warning Systems: Four Cities' Experience and Implications for the District of Columbia

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

To alert community stakeholders to buildings at risk, institutions in several cities created neighborhood early warning systems (NEWS) in the 1980's and 1990's. These online systems integrated and mapped public administrative data to pinpoint deterioration in housing. City agency staff, housing practioners, and neighborhood groups consulted NEWS to locate troubled properties or to craft strategies to revive distressed neighborhoods. This paper reviews four neighborhood early warning systems Chicago NEWS, Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Information System, and the Minneapolis Neighborhood Information System to explore the value and feasibility of developing a system for Washington, D.C.

A Silver Lining with Holes? Losses and Gains in Homeownership for Families with Children during the Foreclosure Crisis

paffairs@urban.org ( Leah Hendey, C. Eugene Steuerle ) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

Using data from the Making Connections Cross-site Survey, this brief explores movement into and out of homeownership for families with children in selected low-income neighborhoods. We find that poor families and those with less home equity are more likely to move out of homeownership. With the reduction in home prices in many areas, brought on by the housing crisis, there are increasing opportunities for affordable homeownership. However, we find that two-parent and Hispanic families may be relatively more likely, and blacks and single-parent families relatively less likely, to take advantage of these new chances for homeownership.

Improving Home Affordability through Low Interest Rates : How Much Would Homeowners in Low-Income Areas Save?

paffairs@urban.org ( Robert I. Lerman, Leah Hendey ) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Using data from the Making Connections Cross-site Survey, this fact finds that, on average, families would save about $276 per month in mortgage payments with a new five percent interest rate, 30-year mortgage. Lower interest rates both increase housing affordability and allow families to accumulate equity in their homes more quickly. This fact highlights the importance of improving financial literacy, information and education around mortgage pricing, and of helping families build good credit. Families included in the data live in selected low-income neighborhoods in six cities and were surveyed as part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections initiative.

Statement on Housing Foreclosures in the District of Columbia : Before the Council of the District of Columbia, Public Oversight Roundtable on Government Home Foreclosure Prevention Programs

paffairs@urban.org ( Peter A. Tatian ) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

In this testimony before members of the D.C. City Council, Peter Tatian, senior researcher in the Urban Institute's Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center and director of NeighborhoodInfo DC, presents recent data showing that, although foreclosure activity has slowed in recent months, many D.C. homeowners are still having difficulty paying their mortgages, which puts them at risk of foreclosure down the road. These data suggest that the city should continue to take steps to protect homeowners, renters, and neighborhoods from the negative impacts of foreclosures.

Opportunity-Rich Schools and Sustainable Communities : Seven Steps to Align High-Quality Education with Innovations in City and Metropolitan Planning and Development

paffairs@urban.org ( Deborah McKoy, Jeffrey M. Vincent, Ariel H. Bierbaum ) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Policies and strategies at all levels of government are increasingly associating educational outcomes with community planning and housing. Challenges remain for local officials and practitioners trying to align these policy areas, including persistent spatial inequity and rigid institutional silos. This report develops seven steps to link education and planning policy at the local level. The authors draw from a national scan of model activities, interviews with key experts and agency staff members, and the authors' experience working with local governing bodies. The report identifies practical solutions that encompass assessing the current educational environment, engaging the community, strategic planning and implementation of investment, and institutionalizing successful innovations.

A Rent Control Report for the District of Columbia

paffairs@urban.org ( Peter A. Tatian, Ashley Williams ) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

This report summarizes the work of NeighborhoodInfo DC in compiling a list of residential properties potentially subject to rent control regulation in the District of Columbia under the D.C. Rent Stabilization Program. Despite its importance, at present there is no definitive list or database of properties subject to rent control. The report provides a basic overview of rent control in D.C., methods for compiling the database, basic characteristics of those properties and owners, and the limitations. Based on this work, our initial estimate is that there are currently 4,818 properties with 79,145 housing units potentially subject to rent control regulation in the city.

Where Kids Go: The Foreclosure Crisis and Mobility In Washington, D.C.

paffairs@urban.org ( Jennifer Comey, Michel Grosz ) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

The ripple effects of the foreclosure crisis have created increased instability for children and families. In this brief we focus on two such sources of instability in the lives of public school students in Washington, D.C.: moving homes and switching schools. We find high rates of residential and school mobility for students in general, and even higher rates associated with students who lived in buildings that entered the foreclosure process. These mobile students tended to stay in the same neighborhood or move to areas that were similarly poor and high-crime. In this policy brief, we make a series of low-cost recommendations to school districts and nonprofit housing counseling agencies in order to minimize the harm of additional instability on children.

Savings and Hardship Avoidance Among Households Headed by People with Disabilities: Implications for SSI

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory B. Mills, Sisi Zhang ) — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

For households headed by persons with disabilities, savings can provide near-term protection against hardship. Analysis of longitudinal data from the 2001 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation indicates that households with $2,000 or more in liquid assets (interest-earning assets held at financial institutions) are better able to avoid subsequent hardships such as forgone doctor visits and missed utility payments, compared to those with smaller (or no) asset holdings. This evidence has implications for possible increases in the resource limits for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, now $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Foreclosure Monitor, Winter 2011

paffairs@urban.org ( Leah Hendey, Rebecca Grace, Zach McDade, Peter A. Tatian ) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Foreclosure Monitor and its accompanying County Profiles are co-published quarterly by NeighborhoodInfo DC and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.The Monitor gives a snapshot of the impact of foreclosures on the region, as well as broader sales market trends.The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area continued to experience historically high rates of foreclosure and mortgage delinquency through 2010. The housing market appears to have stabilized in many parts of the region over the past year.

Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Foreclosure Monitor: Technical Appendix, March 2011

paffairs@urban.org ( Kathryn L.S. Pettit, Zach McDade, Leah Hendey ) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Foreclosure Monitor is a quarterly publication co-published by NeighborhoodInfo DC and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The Monitor gives a snapshot of the current impact of foreclosures on the region, as well as the broader sales market context. The technical appendix describes the geography of the data and the methodology used to adjust the data and produce the indicators from the LPS Applied Analytics data on mortgage performance.

Cutting Carbon Costs: Learning from Germany's Energy Saving Program

paffairs@urban.org ( Anne Power, Monika Zulauf ) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Germany is leading the way in developing "green" technologies and has the most ambitious energy-saving program in Europe, aiming for a 30 percent reduction in energy usage by 2020, and a 30-percent renewable energy share, consisting mainly of biomass, wind, and solar. Germany's experience - its success and lessons learned - provide a solid evidence base from which nations like the United States can "leapfrog" Europe, and tackle even more pressing energy and climate change demands through deliberate public and private action.

After Fannie and Freddie, A Role for Government In Mortgages?

paffairs@urban.org ( Donald Marron ) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron rethinks the government's participation in mortgage markets.

The Potential for Public-Private Partnerships: Philanthropic Leaders Housing as a Platform

paffairs@urban.org ( M. Katherine Kraft, Rebecca R. Riley ) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

This paper reports on the opportunities and challenges of creating partnerships between foundations and government agencies in promoting housing as a platform. Through discussions with philanthropists, the authors examine evidence for "housing as a platform" and assess the challenges that impede public private partnerships. They find that there is a wide interpretation of philosophies that can make partnerships more difficult to establish. While foundation leaders harbor considerable skepticism about developing effective partnerships, they also recognize the benefits of collaborating with public agencies. The authors identify specific topics related to HUD's strategic interests where improvement might advance closer relationships between HUD and private foundations.

Urban Institute Project Will Test Services Aiding Low-Income Public Housing Residents and Their Communities

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Urban Institute launched a project in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago testing innovative ways for human service providers to help impoverished residents find and keep jobs, assets, and stay healthy. The three-year, approximately $6-million initiativecalled Housing Opportunities and Services Togetherwill evaluate ways to coordinate public housing and human services to maximize positive outcomes for parents and children.

Effects from Living in Mixed-Income Communities for Low-Income Families : A Review of the Literature

paffairs@urban.org ( Diane K. Levy, Zach McDade, Kassie Dumlao Bertumen ) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

There continues to be considerable interest in the potential of mixed-income housing and neighborhoods to alleviate poverty, desegregate neighborhoods in terms of household income, and revitalize neighborhoods. This annotated literature review, prepared with support from the Casey Foundation, surveys the research on mixed-income housing that focuses on the impact on low-income children and adults. The review examines definitions of mixed-income, hypothesized benefits for low-income families, evidence of benefits, and viability of mixed-income areas over time. It concludes by identifying research gaps that foundations might consider addressing through the support for future work.

Challenges and Policy Options for Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing near Transit and in Other Location-Efficient Areas

paffairs@urban.org ( Rick Haughey, Ryan Sherriff ) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

One goal of the new Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities is the promotion of affordable housing near transit. This report synthesizes discussions with practitioners and experts about the challenges of addressing this goal. These focus areas include developing inclusive, sustainable communities, ensuring long-term affordability, serving low-income residents, and promoting affordable housing in the broader neighborhood.

Connecting Residents of Subsidized Housing with Mainstream Supportive Services: Challenges and Recommendations

paffairs@urban.org ( Rebecca Cohen ) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

This report outlines a series of non-statutory policy options that HUD could adopt to improve access to mainstream supportive services by residents of subsidized housing. These policy options respond to commonly reported challenges, including lack of onsite specialized capacity, limited and unreliable funding, and constraints on the use of common space to deliver services.In addition to policy recommendations, this report identifies four critical pathways to improving access: promoting co-location and coordination among housing and service providers, enabling housing providers to use existing funding more effectively, supporting access to service coordinators, and developing and initiating a forward-looking research agenda.

Long-Term Low Income Housing Tax Credit Policy Questions

paffairs@urban.org ( Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University ) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

In response to the federal government considering broader issues surrounding the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program this paper compiles research findings and discussion from industry experts that can inform changes to the program moving forward. The consensus is that the LIHTC program is durable, politically resilient and benefits from its enabling legislation as part of the tax code, its wide geographic scope, and its state-level implementation. There are a number of longer-term questions about the future of the program, however. This report discusses responses from experts surrounding program targeting, tax credit investment demand, and ongoing asset management for LIHTC properties.

Housing Production Needs for the District of Columbia

paffairs@urban.org ( Margery Austin Turner ) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

Policymakers who are developing city housing strategies need solid estimates of the level of production required to accommodate anticipated growth. This Housing in the Nation's Capital Brief provides estimates of the number of new housing units needed between 2005 and 2020, under alternative assumptions about the mix of households that can be attracted to live in the city. Commissioned by the Fannie Mae Foundation, the brief supported the work of the District of Columbia's Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force by providing reliable estimates of the scale of production that would be required to support the city's aspirations for growth.

Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Foreclosure Monitor - Fall 2010

paffairs@urban.org ( Leah Hendey, Zach McDade ) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Foreclosure Monitor and its accompanying County Profiles are co-published quarterly by NeighborhoodInfo DC and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.The Monitor gives a snapshot of the impact of foreclosures on the region, as well as broader sales market trends.Although 126,400 households were at least 30 days late on their mortgage payments or in foreclosure in September 2010, the regional foreclosure rate decreased 0.5 percentage points from a year ago to 2.3%. In the sales market, prices have stabilized in 2010, but the sales volume declined 15% in the past year to 4,900 sales.

Preliminary Analysis of National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program Effects : September 2010 Update

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program is a special federal appropriation, administered by NeighborWorks(R) America, to support a rapid expansion of foreclosure intervention counseling in response to the nationwide foreclosure crisis. This report updates preliminary analyses measuring the effect of the NFMC program on counseled homeowners. Overall, our analysis suggests that the program is having its intended effect of helping homeowners facing loss of their homes through foreclosure, specifically by increasing the likelihood of foreclosure cures, lowering borrowers monthly mortgage payments, and improving the sustainability of loan modifications that cure serious delinquencies and foreclosures.

Evaluating Community and Economic Development Programs : A Literature Review to Inform Evaluation of the New Markets Tax Credit Program

paffairs@urban.org ( Martin D. Abravanel, Nancy M. Pindus, Brett Theodos ) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Numerous programs administered by scores of federal, state and local government entities have supported community and economic development through grants, loans, loan guarantees, tax credits, and other means. The most recent such federal program involves New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs), which encourage private capital investment in low-income communities that are, or are perceived to be, high investment risks. In preparation for designing an evaluation of NMTCs, this document reviews the broad literature on community and economic development programs to identify key evaluation concepts, questions, methods and measures, as well as to highlight significant challenges inherent in evaluating these programs.

An Overview of the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration : Brief 1

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Supporting Vulnerable Public Housing Families policy briefs present findings from the evaluation of the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration, an innovative effort to test the feasibility of using public and assisted housing as a platform for providing services to vulnerable families. The Demonstration involved a unique partnership of city agencies, researchers, social service providers, and private foundations, including the Urban Institute, the Chicago Housing Authority, Heartland Human Care Services, and Housing Choice Partners. The briefs in this series describe service implementation and costs, along with participant outcomes across four domains: employment, health, housing and relocation, and children and youth.

A New Model for Integrating Housing and Services : Brief 2

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration provided vulnerable public housing residents from two Chicago Housing Authority developments with intensive case management services, transitional jobs, financial literacy training, and relocation counseling. The Demonstration was remarkably successful in implementing a wraparound service model. The lead service provider kept residents highly engaged even as they relocated with vouchers or to mixed-income housing. Participants perceived improvements in service quality and delivery, and providers felt more effective and engaged. The additional costs for the intensive services were modest, suggesting that it would be feasible to take a carefully targeted intensive service model to scale.

Moving "Hard to House" Residents to Work: The Role of Intensive Case Management : Brief 4

paffairs@urban.org ( Joe Parilla, Brett Theodos ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration was an innovative effort to test the feasibility of providing wraparound supportive services, including work supports, for vulnerable public housing families. This brief explores the employment experiences of Demonstration participants. Surprisingly, despite an extremely difficult labor market, employment increased. Further, the intensive Transitional Jobs program appears to have contributed to these employment gains. Yet, despite increases in employment, the economic situation for most Chicago Housing Authority families remains tenuous. For those who remained unemployed, the Demonstration's services failed to address a multitude of personal and structural barriers to work.

Tackling the Biggest Challenge: Intensive Case Management and CHA Residents' Health : Brief 3

paffairs@urban.org ( Susan J. Popkin, Liza Getsinger ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Urban Institute's HOPE VI Panel Study highlighted the health crisis hidden in distressed public housing developments in Chicago and in other communities across the nation. As a result of the HOPE VI research, one key goal of the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration was to improve participants' mental and physical health. This brief reviews the findings from the Demonstration, considers possible explanations for differences from the Panel Study, and discusses the implications for policy and practice. Participants' health did not deteriorate over time, and their anxiety levels improved. Unfortunately, rates of chronic illness and mortality remain extremely high.

Relocating Vulnerable Public Housing Families : Brief 5

paffairs@urban.org ( Brett Theodos, Joe Parilla ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration was an innovative effort to improve the circumstances and life chances of CHAs most vulnerable families, with the goal of ensuring stable housing in better conditions. This brief explores relocation outcomes for Demonstration participants, including their experiences with relocation services. Generally, participants live in much better housing in neighborhoods where they feel safer. However, most still live in public housing, and their new neighborhoods are still poor, racially segregated, and crime ridden. To better serve vulnerable families, relocation counseling needs to be intensive, long term, and integrated with other services.

Reaching the Next Generation: The Crisis for CHA's Youth : Brief 6

paffairs@urban.org ( Liza Getsinger, Susan J. Popkin ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

By the late 1990s, the Chicago Housing Authority's troubled developments were home to thousands of vulnerable residents, many of them children.The hypothesis of the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration was that using a family-focused approach would benefit both children and parents. While the Demonstration successfully engaged adults, there is no evidence that these benefits produced better outcomes for children and youth. Instead, the findings paint a portrait of children in crisis. This brief profiles these vulnerable children and suggests strategies for building on the successes of the Demonstration to improve the life chances of CHA's children and youth.

Supporting Vulnerable Public Housing Families: An Evaluation of the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration intended to test the feasibility of providing intensive case-management services, transitional jobs, financial literacy training and mobility counseling for vulnerable families. This presentation highlights findings from briefs on the service implementation and costs, along with participant outcomes across four domains: employment, health, housing and relocation, and children and youth.

Balancing Affordability and Opportunity: An Evaluation of Affordable Homeownership Programs with Long-term Affordability Controls