An online questionnaire illuminates the root causes of homelessness, debunking some common myths about unhoused people in America.
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.
FULL STORY: How Much Do You Know about Homelessness in America?
How To End Homelessness: The Houston Model
While the numbers of unhoused people in other major U.S. cities grow, Houston has managed to effectively end veteran homelessness and house more than 26,000 people since implementing a ‘Housing First’ approach a decade ago.
Federal Funding To Boost Supportive Housing Efforts
The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a $365 million package aimed at efforts to reduce homelessness and provide outreach and care for people lacking adequate housing.
How Houston Is Eliminating Chronic Homelessness
Taking a comprehensive ‘Housing First’ approach, the city of Houston has cut homelessness by 63 percent in the last decade.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Caltrans
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.
