Quiz: How Well Do You Understand the Homelessness Crisis?

An online questionnaire illuminates the root causes of homelessness, debunking some common myths about unhoused people in America.

1 minute read

March 2, 2023, 5:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Los Angeles Protest

Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock

A new interactive quiz from the Urban Institute’s Housing Matters Initiative tests your knowledge about the homelessness crisis in America, offering valuable insights along the way.

The quiz traces the history of the modern crisis to its roots in the 1980s, “when the number of renters with low incomes started to greatly outpace the number of available affordable housing units.” 

In another question, it emphasizes the strong link between housing costs and homelessness rates. “Research shows the correlation with homelessness isn’t as strong for other factors such as poverty or unemployment rates, mental or behavioral health disorder or substance use rates, or even weather.” And while many people point to federal housing assistance as a way to access affordable housing, only 20 percent of qualifying people receive it.

With each answer, the quiz includes links to more in-depth resources that can help readers understand the causes and potential solutions for helping the rising number of unhoused Americans and improving housing affordability. Take the quiz for yourself at the source link below.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 in Housing Matters

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.

The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

May 30, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Denver City Hall building with green lawn and red flowers in front, Denver, Colorado

Denver Makes ADU Rules More Flexible

The city hopes adjusting its regulations for accessory dwelling units will make the process more affordable for residents and help ease the city’s housing crunch.

43 minutes ago - Denverite

Interstate 55 with cars and green freeway signs in Chicago, Illinois

Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation

Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.

1 hour ago - Chicago Tribune

Close-up of front og MARTA public transit bus in Atlanta, Georgia with logo wrap

What Is ‘Arterial Rapid Transit?’

Atlanta is planning to build ‘BRT lite,’ a version of bus service that offers signal priority and fewer stops but keeps buses in mixed-traffic lanes.

2 hours ago - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.