An Early Assessment of Opportunity Zones for Equitable Development Projects

An Early Assessment of Opportunity Zones for Equitable Development Projects: Nine Observations on the Use of the Incentive to Date. Urban Institute. Brett Theodos et al. June 17, 2020

Opportunity Zones (OZs) are gaining momentum, and now that the rules regulating them are clearer, investors, local officials, developers, and businesses have been engaging with the incentive. In the two years since the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 created the incentive and Treasury-designated Zones, hundreds of Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs) have been created, and OZ investment was beginning to flow until the COVID-19 crisis began. But has this capital been reaching projects that benefit low- and moderate-income households and communities? Although the program is still maturing, and the COVID-19 crisis now poses new challenges whose resolution is unknown, this report offers an early, qualitative assessment of how well OZs have channeled capital into projects aligned with equitable development goals. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

[PDF format, 52 pages].

Responding to a Crisis: The National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, 2008-2018: A Capstone Evaluation

Responding to a Crisis: The National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, 2008-2018: A Capstone Evaluation. Urban Institute. Corianne Payton Scally et al. February 13, 2019

In 2007, as the scale and urgency of the housing crisis became clear, Congress authorized an emergency program to help Americans in danger of losing their homes. Between 2008–18, the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program helped homeowners in need by substantially boosting the nation’s capacity for foreclosure counseling. Implemented by NeighborWorks America®, the program served more than 2 million homeowners, helped standardize foreclosure counseling practices, and fostered stronger relationships among program administrators, housing counseling agencies, and loan servicers. The NFMC program’s its impact on homeowners, housing counseling providers, and the housing counseling field will continue to be felt for years to come. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

[PDF format, 52 pages].

Family Residential Instability: What Can States and Localities Do?

Family Residential Instability: What Can States and Localities Do? Urban Institute. Brett Theodos, Sara McTarnaghan, Claudia J. Coulton. May 3, 2018

 Residential instability can disrupt employment, finances, health, education, social networks, and more. And yet, too little policy attention has been devoted to the issue. States and localities have critical roles to play in creating integrated solutions to a complex challenge, but to date, their strategies have largely been confined to specific sectors and institutions, when more cross-cutting and holistic approaches are needed. This brief details steps that states and localities can take in several areas, including affordable housing, education, law, health, and human services, to minimize the occurrence or mitigate the consequences of residential instability. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

 [PDF format, 24 pages].