The Latinx community is the largest ethnic group in America today and a major force contributing to—and reshaping—the economic, social, and cultural fabric of our society. The Urban Institute delivers timely data and evidence that deepen understanding of the diverse experiences of Latinx people and demonstrate how various policies, programs, and practices affect their lives. Our work provides policymakers, advocates, philanthropists, and other change agents with the facts they need to advance opportunity, equity, and upward mobility for Latinx people.
This page curates Urban research and other products relevant to the Latinx community. We welcome conversations with and questions from changemakers across the country as we continue to develop this body of work and our engagement with Latinx people. To reach one of our experts, please email externalaffairs@urban.org.
Note: We’ve chosen to use “Latinx” because it may be more inclusive of the way members of this population self-identify, but we also recognize that not every member of this population identifies with the term. We know that language is constantly evolving—and so will we.
Urban Wire
Immigrant Families Hit Hard by the Pandemic May Be Afraid to Receive the Help They Need
COVID-19 has heightened the consequences of recent policies that have deterred immigrants from receiving federal safety net assistance.
Urban Wire
How Philanthropy Can Partner with Government to Meet Critical Needs during COVID-19
Although philanthropy cannot replace an effective and assertive government response, it can enhance it.
Urban Wire
Latinx Unemployment Is Highest of All Racial and Ethnic Groups for the First Time on Record
Understanding the disproportionate unemployment risk facing Latinx people can inform strategies to help workers hit hardest by the COVID-19 employment crisis.
Urban Wire
How COVID-19 Is Affecting Black and Latino Families’ Employment and Financial Well-Being
To help them through the current crisis, immediate efforts to increase access to jobs and prevent unsustainable increases in debt will be particularly beneficial.
Urban Wire
Hispanic Homebuyers Will Be Critical for the Next Housing Market Recovery. Here’s Why They May Struggle.
Hispanic homebuyers contributed significantly to the post-2007 housing recovery, but the Hispanic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis may not be as robust.
Urban Wire
Essential Construction Work during the Pandemic Needs to Prioritize Worker Safety
"We must treat workers with the same value that we attribute to their work."
Urban Wire
What Do “Stay-at-Home” Orders Mean for Families in Unsafe or Unrepaired Homes?
Because staying at home is the best chance to slow the pandemic’s spread, policymakers can step in to ensure all homes are safe for families.
Urban Wire
How Efforts in Two Cities Are Increasing Economic Opportunity for Young Men of Color
A new report explores promising approaches to closing racial economic opportunity gaps.
Urban Wire
Separating Race from Ethnicity in Surveys Risks an Inaccurate Picture of the Latinx Community
How should Latinx Americans identify their race on the 2020 Census? “White”? “Amerindian”? “Mixed”? “Other”?
Urban Wire
Four Strategies to Maximize Latinx-Focused Philanthropy and Charitable Efforts
Increases in the Latinx population and overall philanthropic giving have not yet translated into more charitable investments for the Latinx community.
Urban Wire
How Social Scientists Can Incorporate a “Latinx Lens” in Their Work
Latinx perspectives need to be more accurately represented and thoughtfully captured in public policy.
Urban Wire
What Do We Know about Section 1325?
Section 1325 is a federal law that makes “illegal entry” into the United States a criminal offense.
Urban Wire
Five Ways the “Public Charge” Rule Is Affecting Immigrants in America
National survey estimates show how the rule dampens immigrant families' participation in programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
Urban Wire
Mapping the Hispanic Homeownership Gap
Of 100 US cities analyzed, only 2 in Texas have closed the gap between white and Hispanic homeownership rates.
Urban Wire
How Uncertainty Surrounding the “Public Charge” Rule Leads to Hardship for Immigrant Families
Interviews with 25 adults in immigrant families reveal the unique challenges posed by fear and misinformation.
Urban Wire
With Public Charge Rule Looming, One in Seven Adults in Immigrant Families Reported Avoiding Public Benefit Programs in 2018
A new report provides evidence of “chilling effects” on immigrant families’ participation in safety net programs.
Urban Wire
Four financial challenges facing Hispanic Americans
Young Hispanic Americans are adding to their student loan debt but not to their savings.
Urban Wire
Seven strategies to boost Hispanic homeownership
Improving Hispanic homeownership is an investment in both the prosperity of Hispanic Americans and in the future of the nation’s economy.
Urban Wire
Years of tightening immigration enforcement paved the way to “zero tolerance”
Immigrant families who cross the border are now targeted by federal criminal law, rather than the civil immigration system.
Urban Wire
Changing immigration policies may prevent human trafficking survivors from seeking help and justice
Interviews with 80 survivors of human trafficking reveal their steps to accessing justice and the barriers standing in the way.
Urban Wire
Can nonprofits and philanthropy help fill gaps in the crisis response for Puerto Rico?
Delays in the federal response to provide aid to Puerto Rico has placed increased pressure on nonprofits to help meet humanitarian needs.
Urban Wire
Building America: The immigrant construction workforce
We should recognize the contributions of immigrant construction workers who are vital to our economy.
Urban Wire
We don’t know how many Latinos are affected by the criminal justice system
Latinos are a fast-growing portion of both the US population and the correctional population, but we don’t know how many Latinos are in prison, on probation, or arr
Urban Wire
Why are debt collections so prevalent in black and Latino neighborhoods?
The link between race and debt sustains even after accounting for area income, unemployment, levels of education, and home values, all of which explain why some place
Urban Wire
Latinos and African Americans: Shared experiences, shared solutions
How to stop the cycle of disadvantage and exclusion of Latino communities