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The Research Library

An open, searchable library of the authoritative sources behind our work — the data, reports, dashboards and datasets on housing and food insecurity that we start from. International and national, down to North Carolina and Asheville/WNC.

2007 sources 689 web domains 25 topics 4 countries / regions

New here? Start with the overview. This is a starting point, not the only source — a broad, vetted base to begin from, not the last word on any question. Search by keyword, or filter by topic, source type, scope (international, national, North Carolina, or local), or authority tier. Every link opens the original source.

AMA Journal of Ethics — Deinstitutionalization of People with Mental Illness: Causes and Consequences (2013)

primary-govnationalarticleAMA Journal of EthicsHomelessness & HUD data

Authoritative review of U.S. deinstitutionalization history and its consequences (homelessness, incarceration), with bed-ratio statistics relevant to the institutionalization debate.

Datapoints: 1955 peak: ~340 state psychiatric beds per 100,000; 2010: 43,318 occupied beds (14.1 per 100,000); ~16% of incarcerated population has severe mental illness; 1955 peak ~340 beds per 100,000; 2010 ~14 per 100,000; 340 beds/100,000 (1955) vs 14.1 (2010); ~16% of incarcerated population with severe mental illness; Transinstitutionalization to jails/prisons

AAP: Care for Children Facing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

othernationalguidelineAmerican Academy of PediatricsHomelessness & HUD data

AAP policy statement providing clinical guidance for pediatricians caring for children and adolescents who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, covering health risks and care-coordination recommendations.

Datapoints: Health risks associated with child/family homelessness; Clinical recommendations for screening and care coordination; Advocacy guidance on housing supports

ACLU — One Year Since Grants Pass: Tracking the Criminalization of Homelessness

othernationaldashboardAmerican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)Homelessness & HUD data

ACLU tracker documenting the legislative aftermath of the Grants Pass decision: hundreds of camping-ban and anti-homelessness bills and laws across states.

Datapoints: 320+ bills introduced post-Grants Pass; ~220 anti-homelessness laws enacted; 320+ bills / ~220 laws after the ruling; 320+ bills / ~220 laws introduced or passed; State-by-state criminalization trend

Coldwell & Bender (2007) — Effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment for Homeless Populations with SMI (Am. J. Psychiatry)

othernationalreportAmerican Journal of PsychiatryHomelessness & HUD data

Meta-analysis (10 studies, 5,775 subjects) finding Assertive Community Treatment gives significant advantages over standard case management in reducing homelessness and symptom severity; source of the commonly cited ~37%/~26% effect sizes.

Datapoints: 10 studies, 5,775 subjects; ~37% greater reduction in homelessness vs. standard case management (RCT subgroup); ~26% greater improvement in symptom severity

Tsemberis, Gulcur & Nakae 2004 — Housing First RCT (AJPH)

othernationalreportAmerican Journal of Public HealthHomelessness & HUD data

Foundational randomized controlled trial (N=225 chronically homeless adults with dual diagnosis) comparing immediate Housing First vs treatment/sobriety-contingent control; Housing First was superior on housing retention with no clinical penalty and no increase in substance use.

Datapoints: ~80% housing retention vs sobriety-contingent control; no between-group difference in substance use (alcohol P=.35, drug P=.42) or psychiatric symptoms (P=.85); treatment-contingent control had higher service utilization yet no better outcomes; PMID 15054020, AJPH 2004;94(4):651-656; RCT N=225, 24-month follow-up, ~80% retention; No between-group difference in substance use or psychiatric symptoms; PMID 15054020; doi:10.2105/AJPH.94.4.651

Tsemberis, Gulcur & Nakae (2004) — Housing First, Consumer Choice, and Harm Reduction (AJPH)

primary-govnationalreportAmerican Journal of Public Health (PubMed record)Homelessness & HUD data

The foundational Housing First randomized controlled trial (AJPH 2004;94:651-656): 225 chronically homeless adults with serious mental illness in NYC randomly assigned to Housing First vs. treatment-first/linear care; Housing First obtained housing earlier and retained it without sobriety preconditions.

Datapoints: 225 chronically homeless adults randomized in NYC; Participants homeless >=6 months with Axis I severe mental illness; Housing First group obtained housing earlier and retained it; Funded by SAMHSA/CSAT grants; RCT, N=225 chronically homeless dual-diagnosis adults; ~80% housing retention; no difference in substance use or psychiatric symptoms; Treatment-contingent control used more SA treatment; N=225 RCT; Housing obtained earlier; ~80% retention; No between-group difference in substance use or psychiatric symptoms

Housing First, Consumer Choice, and Harm Reduction for Homeless Individuals With a Dual Diagnosis (Tsemberis et al. 2004)

othernationalreportAmerican Journal of Public Health (Tsemberis, S., Gulcur, L., Nakae, M.)Homelessness & HUD data

Foundational NYC Housing First RCT (N=225 chronically homeless, mentally ill) establishing the model's housing-retention superiority and clinical safety.

Datapoints: ~80% housing retention vs sobriety-contingent Continuum-of-Care control; F(4,137)=27.7, P<.001; No significant between-group differences in alcohol use, drug use, or psychiatric symptoms over 24 months

Cities Leading the Way: Housing Case Studies from Four U.S. Cities

established-research-orgnationalreportBipartisan Policy Center (with Capital One Insights Center and U.S. Conference of Mayors)Homelessness & HUD data

Case-study report documenting local housing-supply solutions in four cities, covering vacant-property activation, zoning reform for missing-middle housing, permitting streamlining, and coordinated homelessness funding.

Datapoints: Columbia, SC: activating vacant properties; Kansas City, MO: shared-data homelessness funding coordination; Manchester, NH: missing-middle zoning reform; San Diego, CA: permitting streamlining

Homelessness, Housing Markets, and Federal Policy: Local Lessons and Policy Implications

established-research-orgnationalreportBipartisan Policy Center, J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing PolicyHomelessness & HUD data

Report linking homelessness to housing-market affordability through local case studies (Chattanooga, Seattle, Salt Lake City) and analyzing federal policy implications and root causes.

Datapoints: Housing costs show the strongest correlation with homelessness rates across all 50 states; Family homelessness rose 39% in 2024; Older adults are the fastest-growing homeless segment; Veteran homelessness down 55%+ since 2010

U.S. Opinions on Housing Affordability (poll)

established-research-orgnationalreportBPC J. Ronald Terwilliger Center, National Housing Conference, and Morning ConsultHomelessness & HUD data

National public-opinion poll (2,200 adults, May 2024) on housing affordability, rent/utility burden, homeownership interest, and perceptions of homelessness, with bipartisan policy-support breakdowns.

Datapoints: 74% say lack of affordable homes is a significant problem; 49% of renters had difficulty paying rent in the past 12 months; 24% of homeowners fell behind on utility bills; 52% report increased homelessness in their community; 87% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans support increasing affordable housing supply

BJA Corrections & Reentry Topic Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubBureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of JusticeHomelessness & HUD data

Topic hub aggregating BJA's corrections and reentry programs, including behavioral-health collaboration, substance-use treatment, and housing/reentry demonstrations relevant to the social determinants of justice-involved homelessness and instability.

Datapoints: Second Chance Act and National Reentry Resource Center programs; COSSUP and RSAT substance-use programs; Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

BJA Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubBureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of JusticeHomelessness & HUD data

Federal grant program addressing the housing needs of justice-involved individuals returning to the community, directly linking reentry, homelessness prevention, and housing stability.

Datapoints: Housing demonstration grants for reentry populations; Focus on stable housing as a reentry/recidivism outcome; Part of BJA's broader corrections and reentry portfolio

Point-in-Time homelessness report coverage (2026)

othernationalarticleCalMattersHomelessness & HUD data

Nonprofit-newsroom analysis of the federal HUD Point-in-Time count showing homelessness declines in California and nationally, useful as a sourced read of the annual PIT data.

Datapoints: Year-over-year national homelessness change; HUD Point-in-Time count interpretation

CDC Stacks repository

primary-govnationalorg-hubCenters for Disease Control and PreventionHomelessness & HUD data

CDC's free public archival repository of CDC-published scientific products, journal articles, guidelines, MMWR reports, and recommendations, searchable by topic including homelessness, food insecurity, and social determinants of health.

Datapoints: Full-text archive of CDC reports, guidelines, and MMWR series; Searchable by subject and CDC document ID; Source for social-determinants-of-health and homelessness/health reviews; Original-format CDC reports, journal articles, and guidelines; SDOH modules added to BRFSS/PRAMS assessing food insecurity, housing, economic stability; Case stories on braiding/layering funds for housing and food insecurity

Homelessness and Health: A Systematic Review (CDC Stacks)

primary-govnationalreportCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Stacks repository)Homelessness & HUD data

CDC-archived systematic review examining the bidirectional relationship between homelessness and health (mental health, substance use) and comparing Treatment First versus Housing First approaches. Directly relevant to homelessness policy and social determinants of health.

Datapoints: ~2.1 million persons per year in the U.S. experience homelessness; Poor health is both a cause and consequence of homelessness; Contrasts 'Treatment First' (housing-ready requirement) with 'Housing First'; Hosted on CDC Stacks, CDC's archival repository of guidelines and scientific products

Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstrations - Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN)

primary-govnationalguidelineCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. HHSHomelessness & HUD data

Federal authority and guidance for state Section 1115 waivers that let Medicaid pay for health-related social needs such as housing instability, homelessness, and nutrition insecurity. Documents approved housing and food supports states can offer.

Datapoints: approved HRSN services (rent/temporary housing & utilities up to 6 months); nutrition supports (up to 3 meals/day for up to 6 months); housing supports, nutrition supports, case management categories; state-by-state demonstration approvals

Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

primary-academicnationalorg-hubChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoHomelessness & HUD data

Policy research center producing applied research on child and family well-being, youth and family homelessness, and poverty. Home of the Voices of Youth Count national study on youth homelessness prevalence and risk factors.

Datapoints: Voices of Youth Count national prevalence estimates; 1 in 10 young adults (18-25) and 1 in 30 adolescents (13-17) experience homelessness annually; 4.2 million youth homeless in prior year (broad definition); Risk-factor analysis (LGBT, race, education, income); 1 in 10 young adults (18-25) experience homelessness over a year; ~1 in 30 adolescents (13-17); ~4.2 million youth experience homelessness annually; Elevated risk for Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ youth, young parents, and non-graduates; Education outcomes linked to youth homelessness

Chapin Hall Youth Homelessness Impact Area

primary-academicnationalorg-hubChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoHomelessness & HUD data

Research hub aggregating Chapin Hall's body of work on preventing and ending youth and young-adult homelessness, including the Voices of Youth Count reports, counting methodology, and policy briefs.

Datapoints: Series of nine reports on youth experiencing homelessness; Prevalence estimates for unaccompanied youth homelessness; Counting/measurement methodology guidance; Prevention and policy research; Youth/young-adult homelessness prevalence estimates; Risk and protective factors for youth homelessness; Policy briefs and evidence reviews

The Count - Voices of Youth Count Policy Brief

primary-academicnationalreportChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoHomelessness & HUD data

Policy brief from the Voices of Youth Count initiative on accurately counting youth homelessness, examining the limits of point-in-time counts and presenting national prevalence-based estimates and methods for better local enumeration.

Datapoints: prevalence-based national youth homelessness estimates (1 in 10 young adults; 1 in 30 adolescents); gaps between point-in-time counts and true prevalence; recommendations for improving local youth counts; Methodological gaps in HUD point-in-time counts for unaccompanied youth; Hidden / couch-surfing homelessness not captured by shelter-based counts; Recommendations for combining household survey and administrative data

Voices of Youth Count Report (full PDF)

primary-academicnationalreportChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoHomelessness & HUD data

Full-length national report from the Voices of Youth Count study documenting the scale and lived experience of youth and young-adult homelessness across the U.S.

Datapoints: National prevalence estimates of youth (13-17) and young adult (18-25) homelessness; Subpopulation risk multipliers (LGBTQ youth, unmarried parenting youth, those lacking a HS diploma/GED); Geographic distribution across rural and urban counties

Voices of Youth Count: Missed Opportunities - Youth Homelessness in America

primary-academicnationalreportChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoHomelessness & HUD data

National research initiative (Voices of Youth Count) estimating the prevalence and characteristics of youth and young-adult homelessness in the United States.

Datapoints: 1 in 10 young adults (ages 18-25) experience some form of homelessness over a year; 1 in 30 adolescents (ages 13-17) experience homelessness over a year; Risk factors and disparities by race, LGBTQ status, parenting, and education; Full Voices of Youth Report PDF available

Voices of Youth Count: National Report (Missed Opportunities)

primary-academicnationalreportChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoHomelessness & HUD data

The most comprehensive national study of youth homelessness prevalence, based on a survey of 26,000+ U.S. households in 2016-2017. Reports the share of teens and young adults who experience homelessness over a year.

Datapoints: 1 in 10 young adults ages 18-25 experience homelessness over one year; 1 in 30 youth ages 13-17 experience homelessness over one year; Estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults homeless in the prior year (~700,000 ages 13-17); Risk factors: LGBTQ, Black/Hispanic, unmarried parenting, no high school diploma; 1 in 30 adolescents (ages 13-17) experience some form of homelessness over 12 months; 1 in 10 young adults (ages 18-25) experience homelessness over 12 months; Elevated risk for LGBTQ youth, Black/Hispanic youth, and those without a high school diploma; Overlap of running away, couch surfing, and literal homelessness

Child Trends Foster Youth Housing Stability Data

established-research-orgnationalreportChild TrendsHomelessness & HUD data

Analysis of housing stability outcomes for foster youth, finding roughly two-thirds remain stably housed through age 21 (FY2024 data), drawn from federal foster-care outcome data.

Datapoints: ~two-thirds of foster youth stably housed through age 21; housing security at age 21; FY2024 foster-care outcomes

Cicero Institute — Homelessness issue hub & 'Rejecting Housing First' report

othernationalorg-hubCicero InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Cicero Institute's homelessness policy hub, the origin of the anti-Housing-First model legislation (camping bans + shift money from housing to treatment) that propagated to ~15 states and informed EO 14321. Advocacy source documenting the policy position, not independent fact.

Datapoints: Rejects Housing First; advocates treatment-first + camping bans + civil commitment; Model bills introduced in ~15 states, passed in ~8; Cicero Action lobbying arm; ~$10M annual budget from undisclosed donors; Rejection of Housing First; Camping-ban and civil-commitment advocacy; Anti-Housing First framing; 8-20 PSH-units cost claim

Cicero Institute — Housing First Critique & Camping-Ban Model Legislation

othernationalreportCicero InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Advocacy organization (founded by Joe Lonsdale) opposing Housing First and promoting treatment-first/abstinence-based policy and camping-ban model legislation adopted in multiple states. Contested advocacy source documenting the treatment-first policy position.

Datapoints: 'Rejecting Housing First' (Oct 2024); model camping-ban legislation behind laws in AZ, MO, TN, IA, GA, FL, WI, KY; Oct 2025 survey: 64% support easier involuntary commitment for those with violent tendencies

Cicero Institute — Rejecting Housing First (Oct 2024)

othernationalreportCicero InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

The founding anti-Housing-First brief underpinning the federal policy shift.

Datapoints: Argument to repeal Housing First mandates; 8-20 PSH-units claim (disputed)

Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse — NAEH v. HUD (Case 47422)

othernationalorg-hubCivil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse (University of Michigan)Homelessness & HUD data

Primary docket record for National Alliance to End Homelessness v. HUD (1:25-cv-00636, D.R.I., Judge Mary S. McElroy), the litigation over HUD's Nov 13, 2025 rescission of the two-year CoC NOFO, including the December 2025 preliminary injunction.

Datapoints: docket 1:25-cv-00636 (D.R.I.), Judge Mary S. McElroy; preliminary injunction granted December 23, 2025; HUD ordered to process FY24-25 CoC renewals under original notice; Docket 1:25-cv-00636 (D.R.I.); December 2025 preliminary injunction enjoining HUD's NOFO rescission; Filed December 1, 2025; APA and constitutional claims; Docket 1:25-cv-00636 (D.R.I.), Judge Mary S. McElroy; December 2025 preliminary injunction against HUD's CoC rescission; Filed December 1, 2025; APA claims; Preliminary injunction history

CDC Community Guide / CPSTF — Housing First Programs (Social Determinants of Health)

othernationalguidelineCommunity Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) / CDC The Community GuideHomelessness & HUD data

Official CPSTF recommendation page for Permanent Supportive Housing with Housing First, reporting a median 88% greater decrease in homelessness and median 41% greater housing stability versus comparison conditions, and that economic benefits exceed costs in the U.S.

Datapoints: Median 88% greater decrease in homelessness vs Treatment First; Median 41% greater housing stability; CPSTF recommends PSH with Housing First; benefits exceed costs; CPSTF recommends PSH with Housing First; Median 88% greater decrease in homelessness; median 41% greater housing stability; Homelessness reduced 88% vs Treatment First (single study); Housing stability +41% median (6 studies); Reduced hospitalization and ED use

The HUD Homeless Assistance Grants: Programs Authorized by the HEARTH Act (CRS RL33764)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research ServiceHomelessness & HUD data

CRS report describing HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants (originally authorized by the 1987 McKinney-Vento Act and restructured by the 2009 HEARTH Act), including the Continuum of Care, Emergency Solutions Grant, and program funding history.

Datapoints: Structure of HUD McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs; Continuum of Care (CoC) Program design; Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) eligible activities; HEARTH Act statutory changes and authorization history; Federal homeless assistance appropriations history

CRS IN12626 — HUD's FY2025 CoC Program Competition

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service (via Congress.gov)Homelessness & HUD data

Congressional Research Service insight explaining the FY2025 HUD CoC competition mechanics, including the cap on permanent supportive housing funding.

Datapoints: 30% PSH funding cap (down from ~87%); Explains NOFO tier mechanics; 30% PSH cap (down from ~87%); CoC NOFO mechanics

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service, Library of CongressHomelessness & HUD data

Official public repository of nonpartisan CRS reports for Congress, searchable by keyword and topic. Authoritative primary-source explainers on SNAP, school meals, housing assistance, homelessness (HEARTH/CoC), TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP, the Farm Bill, and poverty measurement (host returns 403 to automated fetchers but is a live, working public site).

Datapoints: Nonpartisan analyses of federal nutrition and housing programs; Program funding, eligibility, and reauthorization summaries; Searchable by topic and report number; nonpartisan analysis for Congress; topics: SNAP, housing assistance, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP, poverty; full-text search and browse; PDF and HTML downloads; SNAP/WIC program primers and funding analyses; Federal housing assistance and McKinney-Vento homelessness reports; TANF and poverty-measure explainers; Reports identified by CRS product number (e.g., R-series, IF-series)

Zero Returns to Homelessness Explainer

established-research-orgnationalreportCouncil of State Governments (CSG) Justice CenterHomelessness & HUD data

Explainer introducing the Zero Returns to Homelessness initiative, adapting the functional-zero homelessness measurement concept to people reentering communities after incarceration. Frames reentry housing as cross-system corrections + housing collaboration.

Datapoints: Functional-zero concept applied to reentry housing; Barriers: affordable-housing scarcity, policy obstacles, criminal-record stigma; Corrections-housing cross-system collaboration model

CSG Justice Center

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCouncil of State Governments Justice CenterHomelessness & HUD data

Nonprofit working with all 50 states on criminal-justice reform, including reentry-to-housing connections and recidivism data. Relevant to the intersection of incarceration, homelessness, and stable housing.

Datapoints: Reentry 2030 initiative (projected to keep 500,000+ people out of prison; $43B savings); 50 States, 1 Goal: Recidivism Rate Trends Over the Past Decade; Cross-system permanent-supportive-housing solutions for justice-involved people

Dennis P. Culhane Homelessness Research Publications

othernationalorg-hubDennis P. Culhane (University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice)Homelessness & HUD data

Personal research repository of one of the foundational scholars on homelessness measurement, who documented the cost-effectiveness of supportive housing and helped build the HMIS/AHAR data infrastructure used to count homelessness nationally.

Datapoints: population estimation and demographic trends in homelessness (68 publications); housing interventions / supportive housing cost studies (60 publications); HMIS and AHAR data methodology studies (26 publications); patterns of chronic vs. transitional homelessness

1811 Eastlake JAMA study info (Larimer et al. 2009, DESC)

othernationalreportDowntown Emergency Service Center (DESC) / JAMA (Larimer, M.E., et al.)Homelessness & HUD data

Information sheet on the 1811 Eastlake JAMA study of public-cost savings from housing chronically homeless persons with severe alcohol problems without an abstinence requirement.

Datapoints: Reported large public-cost savings (widely cited ~$4M/year) from housing chronic public inebriates

Executive Order 14379 — Great American Recovery Initiative (Federal Register)

primary-govnationalguidelineFederal Register / GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)Homelessness & HUD data

Full text of EO 14379, 'Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative' (signed Jan 29, 2026; published Feb 3, 2026, 91 FR 5081). Establishes a White House Great American Recovery Initiative; contains no appropriations, dollar amounts, deadlines, or explicit Housing First/harm-reduction conditions.

Datapoints: EO 14379, 91 FR 5081-5083; Four operative sections; no funding conditions or dollar figures in text; Co-chaired by HHS Secretary and a White House Senior Adviser for Addiction Recovery

Executive Order 14321 — Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets

primary-govnationalguidelineFederal Register / The White HouseHomelessness & HUD data

Full Federal Register text of EO 14321 (signed July 24, 2025; published July 29, 2025, 90 FR 35817), which redirects federal homelessness policy away from Housing First toward treatment-conditioned models, civil commitment, and camping-ban enforcement priorities. The authoritative primary source for the 2025-26 federal policy shift.

Datapoints: signed July 24, 2025; published July 29, 2025; Sec. 5(a) directs ending support for 'housing first' policies; Sec. 5(b) treatment-conditioned housing participation; Sec. 4(a) defunds harm reduction / safe consumption; ties ~$4.4B HUD homeless-assistance grants to encampment removal; Sec 2 'Restoring Civil Commitment' directs reversal of precedents limiting civil commitment; Sec 3 directs DOJ/HHS/HUD/DOT to prioritize discretionary grants to jurisdictions enforcing bans on open drug use, urban camping, squatting; Sec 4 bars SAMHSA grants from funding harm reduction / safe consumption; Sec 5 directs HUD+HHS to end Housing First support; No fixed deadlines, no dollar amounts, no new appropriations; Section 5(a): end support for Housing First policies; Section 5(b): treatment as a condition of participation; Section 4(a): no funding for harm reduction / safe consumption; Directs grant priority to anti-camping enforcement jurisdictions; Directs HHS/HUD to end support for Housing First policies; Prioritizes grants to jurisdictions enforcing camping/drug-use bans; Section on restoring civil commitment; no fixed deadlines or dollar amounts; Section 2 Restoring Civil Commitment; Section 3 grant-priority criteria (anti-camping/loitering/drug-use enforcement); Section 4 SAMHSA harm-reduction defunding; Section 5 ending Housing First support; treatment-conditioned housing; No fixed deadlines or dollar amounts in the EO

Executive Order 14321, Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets

primary-govnationalguidelineFederal Register / The White HouseHomelessness & HUD data

July 2025 executive order directing HUD and HHS to step back from Housing First and condition homelessness assistance on treatment participation; basis for subsequent HUD CoC funding rules.

Datapoints: Signed July 24, 2025; 90 FR 35817; Directs HUD/HHS to condition assistance on treatment participation; HUD wrote the principles into a November 2025 funding notice capping permanent housing at a minority of grant dollars

Executive Order 14379 — Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative

primary-govnationalguidelineFederal Register / The White HouseHomelessness & HUD data

Executive Order signed January 29, 2026 (91 FR 5081-5083) establishing the White House Great American Recovery Initiative co-chaired by the HHS Secretary; contains no appropriations, dollar amounts, deadlines, or explicit Housing First/homelessness-grant conditions in its text.

Datapoints: signed Jan 29, 2026; published Feb 3, 2026 at 91 FR 5081-5083; 4 operative sections; no funding conditions or dollar amounts; participating agencies: DOJ, Interior, Education, Labor, HUD, VA, ONDCP, CMS, FDA, NIH; Establishes White House Great American Recovery Initiative; Co-chaired by HHS Secretary and a Senior Advisor; Sec 3 directs prioritizing grants for addiction recovery, prevention, treatment, self-sufficiency; Implemented via RFK Jr.'s $100M investment announcement; Establishes Initiative co-chaired by HHS Secretary; Directs grants supporting addiction recovery; no appropriations or deadlines in text; Establishment of the Great American Recovery Initiative; Section 3 grant-direction toward recovery/prevention

The Great American Recovery Initiative: Trump Executive Order on Addiction (Foley analysis)

othernationalarticleFoley & Lardner LLPHomelessness & HUD data

Foley & Lardner legal analysis of Executive Order 14379 (signed Jan 29, 2026), 'Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative,' which establishes a White House initiative on substance use and opioid use disorder treatment policy. Relevant to the federal addiction/treatment-policy backdrop of the homelessness-institutionalization shift.

Datapoints: EO 14379 signed January 29, 2026; creates a White House SUD/OUD treatment initiative; Five priorities: evidence-based treatment expansion, access-barrier reduction (telehealth/rural), federal agency coordination, public awareness, state-federal collaboration; Notes a subsequent $100 million HHS investment announcement by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Housing First: State of the Science (2025 evidence synthesis)

primary-academicnationalreportHarm Reduction Research & Treatment (HaRRT) Lab, University of Washington (Susan E. Collins)Homelessness & HUD data

Current synthesis of the Housing First evidence base building on Tsemberis's Pathways model, summarizing randomized-trial and meta-analytic findings on housing stability, cost, and well-being.

Datapoints: housing retention rates under Housing First; public-service cost offsets; comparison to treatment-first models

The State of the Nation's Housing 2026

primary-academicnationalreportHarvard Joint Center for Housing StudiesHomelessness & HUD data

Flagship annual report on U.S. housing markets and affordability, documenting cost burdens, homeownership, rents, supply, and homelessness trends.

Datapoints: Share of cost-burdened renter and owner households (paying >30% of income); Severely cost-burdened households (>50% of income); Home prices, rents, and mortgage affordability trends; Housing supply and homelessness counts

Health in Justice Action Lab

othernationalorg-hubHealth in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University School of Law (Boston, MA)Homelessness & HUD data

Interdisciplinary research lab applying a public-health lens to criminal-legal and drug-policy issues, generating peer-reviewed research, coded datasets, and interactive dashboards on substance use, forced treatment, and the criminalization of poverty and addiction. Relevant to the social-determinants and homelessness/treatment-policy strands of the library.

Datapoints: Project portfolio: Access to Substance Use Treatment, Advancing Harm Reduction Through the Law, Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use, Policing & Public Health, Drug Induced Homicide, Prescription Drug Monitoring, Changing the Narrative; Maintains a Comparative Resource Index and Law Atlas legal-mapping collaborations; Publishes peer-reviewed work in Addiction, Health and Human Rights, and Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics

Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership — Chapter 15 (HUD)

othernationalreportHeritage Foundation (Project 2025)Homelessness & HUD data

The Project 2025 HUD chapter (authored by Ben Carson) calling to end Housing First, devolve HUD functions to states/localities, and roll back fair-housing and climate provisions. The doctrinal source for EO 14321 Sec 5. Advocacy/political source documenting the position.

Datapoints: Calls Housing First a 'Far Left' idea to be ended; Proposes devolving HUD functions to states/localities; Repeal AFFH; end disparate-impact enforcement; Restrict noncitizen access to assisted housing; Devolution of HUD functions to states/localities; Proposed program rollbacks (climate, AFFH, noncitizen housing); Time-limit and self-sufficiency framing

HAC Infographics (rural poverty, homelessness, seniors, broadband)

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapHousing Assistance Council (HAC)Homelessness & HUD data

HAC's Infogram channel of data infographics on rural America, including poverty in rural America, rural homelessness, rural seniors, the rural digital divide, Native American/Alaska Native housing, and natural-disaster impacts.

Datapoints: Poverty in rural America; Rural homelessness counts; Rural senior housing need; Rural broadband / digital divide

Continuum of Care (CoC) Grantee Areas (GIS dataset)

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD (Enterprise GIS)Homelessness & HUD data

Authoritative geographic boundaries and funding-status attributes for every HUD Continuum of Care, the geography that ties PIT/HIC counts to specific places like Asheville/Buncombe (NC-501) and the NC Balance of State (NC-503).

Datapoints: CoC boundary polygons by year; CoC numbers/names (e.g., NC-501, NC-503); funding-status and award attributes; joinable to PIT/HIC and Census data

HUD Open Data Site (HUD-eGIS Storefront)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapHUD (Enterprise GIS)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's geospatial data portal offering downloadable shapefiles, web maps, and ArcGIS APIs for CoC boundaries, PIT data joined to geography, CHAS-by-tract, and other housing/homelessness layers.

Datapoints: Continuum of Care (CoC) grantee-area boundaries by year; PIT count data joined to CoC geography; ACS 5-year CHAS estimates by census tract; downloadable shapefiles, GeoJSON, and feature-service APIs

HUD CoC System Performance Measures (Public Tableau Dashboard)

othernationaldashboardHUD (official public Tableau profile)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's interactive public dashboard visualizing all seven System Performance Measures at the CoC level since FY2019, allowing comparison of any community (including the Asheville/Buncombe and NC Balance of State CoCs) across measures and years.

Datapoints: Measure 1 length of time homeless by CoC; Measure 2 returns to homelessness; Measure 3 number of homeless persons; Measure 4 income growth; Measure 5 first-time homeless; Measure 7 successful placements/retention

CoC GIS Tools

primary-govnationaltoolHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

Annual GIS toolkits HUD posts for each CoC, bundling boundaries, HUD geocodes, Preliminary Pro Rata Need, HIC data, and Census demographics so communities can map and evaluate their homeless-response geography.

Datapoints: CoC boundaries and HUD geocodes; Preliminary Pro Rata Need (funding) figures; Housing Inventory Count mapped; Census demographics for the CoC area

CoC Homeless Populations and Subpopulations Reports

primary-govnationalreportHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

Year-by-year CoC-level reports breaking the PIT count into household types and subpopulations, downloadable for every Continuum of Care including NC's.

Datapoints: households with/without children, households of only children; chronically homeless individuals and families; veterans, unaccompanied youth, parenting youth; victims of domestic violence, persons with HIV, substance use, mental illness

CoC Performance Profile Reports

primary-govnationalreportHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

Per-CoC snapshot profiles combining PIT, HIC, System Performance Measures, and CoC Program competition data into a single performance picture for each Continuum of Care.

Datapoints: PIT count summary for the CoC; HIC bed inventory summary; system performance indicators (length of time, returns, exits); CoC competition / funding context

CoC Program Reports, Program Data, and Program Rents

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

Data on HUD's competitive Continuum of Care grant program, including awards by CoC, grant inventory, and Fair Market Rent / program rent figures used in CoC funding.

Datapoints: CoC Program competition awards by year and by CoC; grant inventory worksheets; program rents / FMR figures used for renewals; funding-status data for each CoC

CoC System Performance Measures

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's required system-level performance metrics for every Continuum of Care, covering how well a community's whole homeless-response system performs rather than individual projects. Includes downloadable national and CoC-level data since FY2015/2019.

Datapoints: length of time persons remain homeless; returns to homelessness (6/12/24 months); number of homeless persons (PIT and annual); employment and income growth; first-time homelessness; successful placement to/retention of permanent housing

Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's central page for the Continuum of Care program, the governance and funding structure through which nearly all federal homelessness data is generated and reported at the community level.

Datapoints: CoC program requirements and competition; links to PIT/HIC, system performance, and GIS tools; coordinated entry and program-type definitions

HMIS: Homeless Management Information System

primary-govnationalorg-hubHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's hub for the local information systems CoCs use to collect client-level data on people experiencing homelessness; defines the data standards (Universal and Program-Specific Data Elements) that make national reporting comparable.

Datapoints: Universal Data Elements (UDEs); Project Descriptor Data Elements; program-specific data elements; HMIS data standards governing all CoC client records

Homelessness Data (HUD Exchange landing)

primary-govnationalorg-hubHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

The umbrella entry point linking all of HUD's homelessness data products (PIT/HIC, AHAR, System Performance Measures, Stella, LSA, performance profiles), useful as a navigation hub for the entire federal homelessness data ecosystem.

Datapoints: links to PIT/HIC, AHAR, SPM, LSA, Stella; homeless-assistance program guidance; data-collection notices and reporting tools; Point-in-Time (PIT) counts of sheltered/unsheltered homelessness by CoC; Housing Inventory Count (HIC) beds/units by program type; AHAR national and CoC-level homelessness estimates; System Performance Measures (length of stay, returns, first-time homeless)

Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA)

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

HUD guide explaining the Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) and how communities submit LSA data that feeds the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, the source of national homelessness statistics.

Datapoints: demographics of people served in HMIS; length of time homeless; exit destinations; returns to homelessness; household-type and system-use patterns over the Oct 1 - Sep 30 year; LSA submission process and schedule; How LSA data feeds the AHAR to Congress; HMIS data requirements for LSA; Continuum of Care reporting responsibilities

Stella P (Stella Performance) and System Modeling

primary-govnationaltoolHUD ExchangeHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's analysis tool that turns a CoC's LSA data into visual performance maps, letting communities see length of time homeless, exits to permanent destinations, and returns to homelessness, and model an optimized system.

Datapoints: length of time people remain homeless (visualized); exits to permanent destinations; returns to homelessness; system flow and equity breakdowns by household type and race/ethnicity

HUD Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC)

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD Exchange / Office of Community Planning and DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's reference hub explaining the annual PIT count and HIC, the methodology each CoC must follow, the data-collection notices, and how communities submit counts through the Homelessness Data Exchange.

Datapoints: single-night sheltered/unsheltered counts; bed and unit inventory by program type; CoC-level data; subpopulation counts; PIT count methodology (single night in last 10 days of January); unsheltered count required in odd years; sheltered count every year; HIC five program-type bed/unit categories; annual data collection notices and submission guidance

HDX 2.0 (Homelessness Data Exchange, version 2.0)

othernationaltoolHUD Office of Community Planning and DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

The web-based data-collection platform CoCs use to submit PIT counts, HIC inventory, System Performance Measures, and Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) data to HUD. Primarily an authenticated reporting tool, but the system of record for the national homelessness data pipeline.

Datapoints: PIT and HIC submission portal; System Performance Measures (Sys PM) submissions; LSA (Longitudinal Systems Analysis) data uploads feeding the AHAR; CoC data-quality validation

2024 AHAR Part 1: PIT Estimates of Homelessness in the U.S.

primary-govnationalreportHUD Office of Policy Development & Research (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

The 2024 edition of HUD's Point-in-Time estimates of homelessness, based on counts conducted in January 2024. Reports the highest national homeless count since data collection began in 2007, with state- and CoC-level detail and downloadable PIT/HIC tables.

Datapoints: total persons experiencing homelessness on a single January night, 2024; sheltered vs. unsheltered split; chronic homelessness, veteran homelessness, family/child homelessness; year-over-year change vs. 2023; state and CoC breakdowns; 771,480 total people experiencing homelessness on a single night (2024); 497,256 sheltered and 274,224 unsheltered; 152,585 chronically homeless individuals; 32,882 veterans experiencing homelessness (down 8% from 2023); Breakdowns by household type (families with children, unaccompanied youth); Demographic breakdowns by race/ethnicity, gender, age; State- and CoC-level estimates

2025 AHAR Part 1: PIT Estimates of Homelessness in the U.S.

primary-govnationalreportHUD Office of Policy Development & Research (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

The 2025 edition of HUD's Point-in-Time estimates of homelessness, based on counts conducted in January 2025. Provides the most current national, state, and CoC-level snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness with downloadable PIT and Housing Inventory Count tables.

Datapoints: 2025 single-night national PIT count, sheltered and unsheltered; state-by-state homelessness tables (including NC's 15,512 figure); chronic, veteran, youth, and family subpopulations; disaster-driven increases noted for 2025; National single-night PIT count of people experiencing homelessness (2025); Sheltered vs. unsheltered counts; Chronically homeless individuals; Veterans experiencing homelessness; Families with children and unaccompanied youth; Demographic breakdowns by race/ethnicity, gender, age; State- and CoC-level estimates and HIC bed inventory

Worst Case Housing Needs (Report to Congress series)

primary-govnationalreportHUD Office of Policy Development & Research (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's biennial Worst Case Housing Needs reports to Congress, measuring very-low-income unassisted renters who pay more than half their income for rent and/or live in severely inadequate housing. Hub links every edition of this authoritative severe-rent-burden series.

Datapoints: number of very-low-income renter households with worst case needs; severe rent burden (>50% of income on rent); severely inadequate housing conditions; shares by income band (e.g., below 30% AMI); trends across recession and recovery; Number of households with worst case housing needs (severe rent burden or severely inadequate housing); Trends over time (2001-present); Breakdowns by income, household type, region, race/ethnicity, and age; Renter-affordability gap vs. assistance supply

All That CHAS: Use Cases for the CHAS Dataset (PD&R Edge)

primary-govnationalarticleHUD Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R Edge)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD PD&R Edge spotlight explaining how state and local governments use CHAS data to assess housing needs, allocate CDBG/HOME funding, and draft Five-Year Consolidated Plans.

Datapoints: CHAS use cases for Consolidated Plans; cost-burden and housing-problem applications; geographic query levels; linkage to CDBG/HOME funding allocations

CHAS: Data Documentation

primary-govnationalguidelineHUD Office of Policy Development and Research (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

Technical documentation for the CHAS dataset, defining the variables, HUD income-level thresholds, and housing-problem categories used in the custom ACS tabulations of housing affordability and need.

Datapoints: HUD income-level definitions (e.g., percent of HAMFI / area median); Housing-problem categories (cost burden, overcrowding, lacking kitchen/plumbing); Cost burden and severe cost burden thresholds; Tenure and household-type cross-tabulations; Table structure and variable codebook

Accessing and Using Census Data for Housing Research (PD&R Edge)

primary-govnationalarticleHUD Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R)Homelessness & HUD data

PD&R Edge featured article (Feb 19, 2026) explaining how housing researchers can access and use Census Bureau data sources for housing analysis, surveying the key surveys and tools relevant to housing affordability and need.

Datapoints: Guidance on Census data sources for housing research; American Community Survey for housing analysis; American Housing Survey applications; CHAS data for housing-need analysis

HUD User PD&R Datasets

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R)Homelessness & HUD data

Central catalog of HUD PD&R datasets including Fair Market Rents, Income Limits, LIHTC database, American Housing Survey, Picture of Subsidized Households, and assisted-housing data used for affordability analysis.

Datapoints: Fair Market Rents (FMR) and Small Area FMRs; Income Limits (very-low, low, moderate); Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property and tenant data; American Housing Survey; Picture of Subsidized Households

HUD Income Limits

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD PD&RHomelessness & HUD data

The authoritative annual dataset of income limits used to determine eligibility for HUD-assisted housing programs, defining Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds for every metropolitan area and county in the United States. It is the canonical source for the 30%/50%/80% AMI bands cited across affordable-housing analysis.

Datapoints: extremely low / very low / low income limits; area median income (HAMFI); by county and household size; 30%/50%/80% Area Median Income limits; income limits by household size; county and metro AMI; Asheville MSA / Buncombe County limits; Area Median Family Income (MFI) by county and metro area; Extremely Low-Income limits (30% AMI); Very Low-Income limits (50% AMI); Low-Income limits (80% AMI); Income limits broken out by household size (1-8 persons); Annual cap on income-limit changes (5%/10% rules since FY2010/FY2024); Section 8 and HOME program income-limit calculations; FY2021 through FY2026 fiscal-year limit tables

HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs)

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD PD&RHomelessness & HUD data

ZIP-code-level Fair Market Rents used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, mandatory in 65 designated metro areas. Provides granular rent estimates plus 90% and 110% payment-standard limits by bedroom count.

Datapoints: ZIP-code-level FMRs; neighborhood rent variation; voucher payment standards by ZIP; SAFMRs by ZIP code and bedroom size (0-4 BR); 90% and 110% payment standard limits per unit size; 65 mandatory SAFMR metro areas; Derived from Census ZCTA standard-quality gross rents

FY2026 Fair Market Rents Documentation System (summary)

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD USER / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent documentation/lookup system providing area-level FMRs and the underlying ACS-based calculations used for voucher payment standards.

Datapoints: FY2026 FMRs by area and bedroom size; Based on 2019-2023 5-year ACS 2-bedroom standard-quality gross rents; Uses OMB 2023 MSA definitions

FY2026 Income Limits Methodology (PDF)

primary-govnationalguidelineHUD USER / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's methodology document for FY2026 Income Limits, which define eligibility thresholds (extremely low, very low, and low income) for HUD housing assistance programs based on area median family income.

Datapoints: Income limit categories: extremely low (30%), very low (50%), low (80%) of AMI; Area Median Family Income derived from ACS table B19113; Adjustments for family size and high/low housing-cost areas; FY2026 area definitions

Statement on FY2026 Income Limits (PDF)

primary-govnationalreportHUD USER / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's official statement accompanying the FY2026 Income Limits release, explaining caps, trends, and year-over-year changes to the income thresholds used across HUD assistance programs.

Datapoints: FY2026 income limit changes and caps; Median family income trends affecting eligibility; Program applicability of income limits

Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)

othernationalorg-hubHuman Services Research Institute (HSRI)Homelessness & HUD data

Nonprofit research institute (50+ years) producing person-centered research and data tools across housing & homelessness, behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, aging, and population health. Hub for the National Core Indicators and related social-services datasets.

Datapoints: housing and homelessness research; behavioral health evaluation; National Core Indicators data; all-payer claims database work; Specialties include Housing & Homelessness and Behavioral Health; Operates National Core Indicators survey programs; Tools: All-Payer Claims Database, Verity Analytics

OpenICPSR / ICPSR social science data archive

primary-academicnationalorg-hubInter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (University of Michigan)Homelessness & HUD data

Large open repository of social science datasets, including many on poverty, housing, food assistance, and homelessness program evaluations.

Datapoints: Replication and program-evaluation datasets; Survey microdata; Longitudinal poverty studies

2025 Homelessness Messaging Toolkit

othernationalguidelineInvisible PeopleHomelessness & HUD data

Invisible People's tested 2025 toolkit for changing the public narrative on homelessness through first-person storytelling, with message recommendations grounded in audience testing.

Datapoints: tested homelessness narrative frames; first-person storytelling guidance; messages to use and avoid

The State of the Nation's Housing

primary-academicnationalreportJoint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard UniversityHomelessness & HUD data

Flagship annual report on U.S. housing markets and affordability, documenting cost burdens, rents, home prices, supply, and homelessness. A reference-class source for housing-affordability statistics.

Datapoints: Cost-burdened renter and owner shares; Home price and rent trends; Housing supply/construction; Homeownership rates by demographic; Affordability gaps; home price-to-income ratios; cost-burdened households; housing production; homeownership rates by race; homelessness trends; number of cost-burdened renter and owner households; median rent and home-price trends; renters paying more than 30% / 50% of income on housing; housing supply and construction trends; homelessness counts; 21.6 million cost-burdened renter households (record high, more than half of all renters); 68% of renters earning below $30,000 are cost-burdened; rents for professionally managed apartments up 26% 2020 to early 2024; loss of 6.1 million rental units under $1,000/month between 2012 and 2022; homeowner and renter cost-burden trends by income band

Peng et al. 2020 — CDC Community Guide / CPSTF Housing First Systematic Review

primary-govnationalreportJournal of Public Health Management and Practice / CDC Community GuideHomelessness & HUD data

Community Guide systematic review (26 studies) underpinning the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendation of Permanent Supportive Housing with Housing First. Reports large reductions in homelessness and gains in housing stability versus treatment-first.

Datapoints: median 88% greater decrease in homelessness vs Treatment First (head-to-head rests on 1 study); median 41% better housing stability (IQI 18%-166%, 6 studies); benefit-to-cost ratio ~1.8:1 (companion economic review); J Public Health Manag Pract 2020;26(5):404-411, PMC8513528; Systematic review of 26 studies; Backs the '88% reduction in homelessness / 41% stability improvement' figures; Basis of the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendation; 88% homelessness reduction (single Treatment-First comparison study); Median 41% housing stability improvement (6 studies, IQI 18-166%); Benefit-to-cost ratio ~1.8:1; Housing First reduced homelessness 88% vs Treatment First (single study); Improved housing stability median 41% (IQI 18-166%); 88% homelessness reduction vs Treatment First; 41% median housing-stability improvement (IQI 18-166%); HIV-specific outcomes; 26 studies through Feb 2018; reductions in homelessness/days homeless; housing-stability outcomes; health-care utilization and emergency-department use; HIV viral-load and mortality outcomes in subgroups; CPSTF recommendation status

Journalist's Resource — Homelessness Solutions: A Research-Based Explainer

othernationalarticleJournalist's Resource (Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center)Homelessness & HUD data

A research-based explainer for journalists synthesizing the peer-reviewed evidence on homelessness causes and solutions. Closest editorial-voice peer and a curated gateway to underlying studies.

Datapoints: Synthesis of peer-reviewed homelessness research; Evidence on Housing First and supportive housing; Curated links to primary academic studies

Manhattan Institute — New Model Legislation Overhauling Federal Homelessness Funding (Eide & Glock)

othernationalreportManhattan InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Manhattan Institute model legislation (Feb 2025) proposing to convert the CoC program to block grants and remove the Housing First mandate, part of the intellectual pipeline behind the federal shift. Advocacy source documenting the position.

Datapoints: Proposes CoC-to-block-grant model bill; Removes Housing First mandate; CoC-to-block-grant model bill; Removal of Housing First mandate; CoC-to-block-grant model

At Home / Chez Soi randomized trial

othernationalreportMental Health Commission of CanadaHomelessness & HUD data

Large multi-site randomized controlled trial (n=2,148) of Housing First for people with mental illness experiencing homelessness, with an associated economic analysis. One of the strongest experimental tests of Housing First.

Datapoints: Housing First substantially improved housing stability vs. usual care; Cost offsets were largest for the highest-need participants (Goering et al. 2014 economic analysis)

At Home/Chez Soi Housing First Randomized Trial

primary-govnationalreportMental Health Commission of Canada / peer-reviewed (Aubry, Nelson, Tsemberis et al.)Homelessness & HUD data

The largest multi-site randomized controlled trial of Housing First for people with mental illness experiencing homelessness, a primary follow-on study to Tsemberis's Pathways work demonstrating residential-stability effects.

Datapoints: RCT housing-stability outcomes; intensive case management vs. assertive community treatment; subgroup effectiveness

MRSC Housing & Homelessness Topic Hub

othernationalorg-hubMunicipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC)Homelessness & HUD data

MRSC's topic hub aggregating practical legal and policy guidance for local governments on homelessness response, shelter siting, encampments, and affordable housing, including its Homelessness and Housing Toolkit for Cities.

Datapoints: Homelessness and Housing Toolkit for Cities; Topic pages on homelessness assistance programs and encampment policy; Local-government legal guidance on public-camping ordinances post-Grants Pass

MRSC — Grants Pass v. Johnson and Homelessness Enforcement

othernationalarticleMunicipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC)Homelessness & HUD data

MRSC, a nonprofit that provides legal and policy guidance to Washington local governments, analyzes the 2024 Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which held the Eighth Amendment does not bar cities from enforcing public camping/sleeping ordinances. Useful background for the wave of state and local homelessness criminalization that followed.

Datapoints: Supreme Court (June 2024) held the Eighth Amendment does not bar penalizing public camping absent shelter; Reverses the Ninth Circuit Martin v. Boise limitation on such ordinances; Relevant to NC bills like HB 781 enabling camping bans; Court ruled the Eighth Amendment regulates penalty types, not whether public-camping offenses can be criminalized; Decision overturned the Martin v. Boise precedent that had blocked such ordinances; Court rejected the argument that insufficient shelter space makes enforcement unconstitutional; Guidance that local ordinances punish acts rather than homelessness 'status'

HUD FY2026 Continuum of Care NOFO ($4.04B)

othernationalguidelineNAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials)Homelessness & HUD data

Summary of HUD's FY2026 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity, allocating $4.04 billion for homelessness programs, with the policy and eligibility framework for the year.

Datapoints: $4.04B for homelessness programs in FY2026; Continuum of Care application framework and priorities

NASEM 2018 — Permanent Supportive Housing: Evaluating the Evidence (Consensus Report)

primary-govnationalreportNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)Homelessness & HUD data

National Academies consensus report on permanent supportive housing and chronic homelessness, including the structural genealogy of modern homelessness (state psychiatric hospital census 535,000 in 1960 to 137,000 in 1980; HUD budget authority ~$29B in 1976 to ~$17B in 1990) and the 2003 federal definition of chronic homelessness.

Datapoints: State psychiatric hospital census 535,000 (1960) -> 137,000 (1980); HUD budget authority ~$29B (1976) -> ~$17B (1990); Federal definition of chronic homelessness (2003); U.S. state psychiatric hospital census fell from 535,000 (1960) to 137,000 (1980); HUD budget authority fell from ~$29B (1976) to ~$17B (1990); 2003 federal definition of 'chronic homelessness'; Convergence of structural causes: SRO loss, gentrification, deinstitutionalization, federal housing retrenchment; State psychiatric census fell 535,000 (1960) to 137,000 (1980); HUD budget authority ~$29B (1976) to ~$17B (1990); Chronic homelessness defined federally in 2003

Housing First (National Alliance to End Homelessness)

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Authoritative explainer of the Housing First model, distinguishing permanent supportive housing (PSH) from rapid re-housing and summarizing the evidence base for prioritizing housing access before services.

Datapoints: PSH one-year housing retention up to 98%; Rapid re-housing households housed after one year: 75-91%; Cost savings averaging $31,545 per person housed over two years; PSH up to $23,000 less per person per year than shelter; Rapid re-housing exits homelessness in ~2 months on average; 75-91% of rapidly re-housed households still housed after one year; Average emergency-services cost savings ~$31,545 per person over two years; Potential annual savings up to $23,000 per consumer vs. shelter

Housing First (Toolkits & Training Materials)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

The National Alliance to End Homelessness's resource hub explaining the Housing First approach to ending homelessness, including the evidence base and implementation guidance. A primary advocacy/research clearinghouse on homelessness policy.

Datapoints: Housing First model definition and core principles; evidence for Housing First effectiveness; implementation toolkits and training materials

National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Leading national homelessness policy organization producing the annual State of Homelessness report, state dashboards, fact sheets, and policy analyses; also lead plaintiff in NAEH v. HUD over the FY26 CoC NOFO.

Datapoints: annual State of Homelessness report; state-level homelessness dashboards; estimate of 97,000 CoC permanent-housing residents at risk under FY26 CoC NOFO (low-end); NAEH v. HUD litigation; NAEH/Morning Consult (May 2025): 69% named rising housing costs the top reason; 72% agreed more affordable housing would reduce homelessness; Gross cost of chronic homelessness ~$35,578/person/yr (NAEH 2017); Homelessness ranks among top voter concerns; Annual State of Homelessness data and state dashboards; Estimated 97,000 residents at risk under FY26 CoC NOFO; Supportive housing is generally cheaper than the public costs of unsheltered homelessness

National Alliance to End Homelessness — Cost of homelessness

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

NAEH research hub on the public cost of chronic homelessness. Standing credible peer/citation source for cost-of-homelessness figures.

Datapoints: Chronically homeless person costs ~$35,578/yr in public services

National Alliance to End Homelessness — State of Homelessness Data Hub

established-research-orgnationaldashboardNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Annual interactive report and map showing the status of homeless populations across the United States, synthesizing HUD PIT data into trends, demographics, and state comparisons.

Datapoints: state-by-state homelessness rates; unsheltered share; demographic disparities; housing-inventory gaps; Total homeless population by state; Chronic homelessness trends; Veteran and youth homelessness; Unsheltered rates; Demographic disparities; national homelessness rate per 10,000; state rankings; system capacity (beds); year-over-year change

Summary of the HEARTH Act

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Plain-language summary of the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, covering its expanded homelessness definition, Continuum of Care consolidation, and performance-based funding.

Datapoints: HEARTH Act signed May 20, 2009; Emergency Shelter Grant renamed Emergency Solutions Grant; Expanded homelessness definition (imminent risk within 14 days); Continuum of Care Program consolidation of three programs; At least 5% of funding reserved for rural programs; Performance-based funding tied to outcomes

What is a Continuum of Care?

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Alliance to End HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Explainer defining the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) structure as the regional planning body that coordinates homelessness housing and services, with its history and core components.

Datapoints: Definition of a CoC as a regional/local planning body; HUD 1995 single-application requirement (McKinney-Vento); Four components: outreach/intake, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing; CoC responsibilities for tracking homelessness and managing assistance

NAEH — FY2026 Continuum of Care Competition NOFO Analysis

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)Homelessness & HUD data

NAEH's detailed analysis of the FY2026 HUD CoC NOFO, documenting that Tier 1 is set at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (down from ~90% in 2024), scoring rewards substance-use-treatment availability and treatment-participation requirements, and the application deadline (Aug 26, 2026).

Datapoints: 200-point Merit Review across three rating areas; Points for prioritizing voluntary AND involuntary treatment / civil commitment; Tier 1 set at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (statutory floor); CoC boards required to include law enforcement and managing courts; Reinterprets statutory 'self-sufficiency'; Tier 1 = 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (vs 90% in 2024); FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act prohibited HUD from setting Tier 1 below 60%; Scoring credit for SUD-treatment availability for >=30% of housing projects; Application deadline August 26, 2026 (conflicting times in NOFO); Tier 1 set at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (down from 90% in 2024); 200-point Merit Review rewarding voluntary and involuntary treatment; Application deadline August 26, 2026; Tier 1 60% of ARD (vs 90% in 2024); 200-point Merit Review across three areas; Scoring for substance-use treatment availability and participation requirements; Reinterpretation of statutory self-sufficiency

NAEH — HUD Policy Changes Threaten Efforts to End Homelessness (97,000 at risk)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)Homelessness & HUD data

NAEH analysis (via its Homelessness Research Institute) estimating that the FY2026 CoC NOFO's 60%-of-ARD Tier 1 change will put at least 97,000 residents of CoC-funded permanent housing at risk of losing housing, explicitly framed as a low-end estimate.

Datapoints: At least 97,000 residents of CoC-funded permanent housing at risk (low-end estimate); Driver: Tier 1 set at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand; At least 97,000 people in CoC-funded permanent housing at risk (low-end estimate); Congress required HUD to set Tier 1 at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (down from 90% in 2024); $1.3B new-project pool prioritizing transitional housing; Tier 2 renewals 'unlikely to be awarded'; 97,000 residents at risk (low-end estimate); Tier 1 60% of ARD effect; PSH-to-transitional redirect

National Alliance to End Homelessness — State of Homelessness

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)Homelessness & HUD data

Annual State of Homelessness report with state-level dashboards, fact sheets, and policy briefs. The closest national peer in format and a standing data source for homelessness counts and rates.

Datapoints: Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) homelessness counts by state; Homeless people per 10,000 population (e.g. ~35 per 100k metric); Sheltered vs. unsheltered breakdowns; State-by-state dashboards and fact sheets; total people experiencing homelessness (771,480 in 2024, +18% YoY); annual service users (1.1M); children experiencing homelessness (148,238, +33%); youth under 25 (205,878); chronic homelessness share; shelter beds and permanent housing units added; doubled-up population (2.9-3.2M); affordable rental homes per 100 ELI households (35); National homelessness counts by state and population; Chronic homelessness and veteran trends

NACo — Litigation Delays New Funding; Congress Directs HUD to Renew CoC Projects

othernationalarticleNational Association of CountiesHomelessness & HUD data

Analysis of Section 244 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (enacted Feb 3, 2026), which directs HUD to renew CoC projects expiring in Q1 2026 with cascading triggers (Q2 by April 1, all remaining by July 1), with awards expected by Dec 1, 2026.

Datapoints: Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026 enacted Feb 3, 2026, Section 244; cascading renewal triggers (Q1 before April 1; Q2 by April 1; all by July 1); HUD expected to announce awards by Dec 1, 2026; Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026, Section 244; Cascading CoC renewal triggers tied to April 1 / July 1, 2026; HUD awards expected by Dec 1, 2026; Section 244 renewal proviso; April 1 / July 1 cascading renewal triggers; Expected awards by Dec 1, 2026

NASP: The Challenges of Homelessness (Principal Leadership / family-educator handout)

othernationalguidelineNational Association of School PsychologistsHomelessness & HUD data

NASP practitioner guidance on identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act, including the federal definition of homeless children and the role of school psychologists and support staff. The broader nasponline.org site is primarily a school-psychology professional hub with limited direct housing/food datasets.

Datapoints: Federal McKinney-Vento definition of homeless students (lacking a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence); Includes children in shared housing (doubled-up), motels, cars, and shelters; Guidance on school-based identification and support roles for homeless students

NASP - Helping Students Experiencing Homelessness

othernationalguidelineNational Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Bethesda, MDHomelessness & HUD data

Professional-association guidance for educators and school psychologists on supporting students experiencing homelessness, framed around McKinney-Vento Act obligations to remove enrollment and attendance barriers. The companion NASP Center hosts the detailed Helping Homeless Students resource.

Datapoints: Estimates ~1.4 million children experience homelessness each year; McKinney-Vento Act entitles homeless children to free appropriate education and a school liaison; Defines homeless children as lacking a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence (shared housing, motels, cars, shelters)

NBER Working Paper 32323 - Homelessness and the Persistence of Deprivation

primary-academicnationalreportNational Bureau of Economic ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

First large nationally representative study of homeless adults, linking the 2010 Census to administrative tax and benefit records. Finds homelessness is rooted in long-term severe deprivation rather than sudden shocks, with most homeless adults connected to the labor market or safety net yet persistently very poor.

Datapoints: ~50% of homeless adults had formal employment during their homeless year; near-universal work or safety-net program participation; persistently low incomes across the decade surrounding homelessness; SNAP and housing-assistance participation rates among homeless adults

NBER Working Paper 31843 - Life and Death at the Margins of Society

primary-academicnationalreportNational Bureau of Economic Research (Bruce D. Meyer, Angela Wyse, Ilina Logani)Homelessness & HUD data

Examines mortality of the U.S. homeless population using linked Census and administrative records, quantifying excess mortality and shortened life expectancy among people experiencing homelessness.

Datapoints: mortality rates of sheltered vs unsheltered homeless adults; excess mortality relative to housed population; life expectancy estimates for the homeless population; cause-of-death distribution

NBER Working Paper 26232 - Reducing and Preventing Homelessness

primary-academicnationalreportNational Bureau of Economic Research (William N. Evans, David C. Philips, Krista J. Ruffini)Homelessness & HUD data

A review of the evidence on interventions to reduce and prevent homelessness and a research agenda. Synthesizes findings on emergency financial assistance, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, and Housing First.

Datapoints: effectiveness of homelessness-prevention financial assistance; permanent supportive housing outcomes; Housing First evidence review; cost-effectiveness comparisons of homelessness interventions

McKinney-Vento Determining Eligibility (NCHE)

primary-govnationalguidelineNational Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)Homelessness & HUD data

Federal technical-assistance resource compiling tools and guidance for school districts to determine eligibility for McKinney-Vento homeless education services, including the federal definition of homeless and case-by-case assessment.

Datapoints: McKinney-Vento federal definition of homeless; Living-situation eligibility flowchart; Substandard housing / overcrowding standards; Verification practices for liaisons

National Coalition for the Homeless

othernationalorg-hubNational Coalition for the HomelessHomelessness & HUD data

Long-running advocacy organization publishing fact sheets and reports on the causes of homelessness, criminalization, and policy responses.

Datapoints: causes of homelessness; criminalization of homelessness; policy positions; advocacy fact sheets

National Coalition for the Homeless — Our History

othernationalorg-hubNational Coalition for the HomelessHomelessness & HUD data

National advocacy organization's history page documenting the founding of the modern homelessness-advocacy movement (organized 1982, incorporated 1984).

Datapoints: National Coalition for the Homeless organized 1982 (Robert Hayes), incorporated 1984

Keep Families Together Campaign

othernationalorg-hubNational Housing Law Project (NHLP) & Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF)Homelessness & HUD data

Advocacy campaign opposing a HUD proposal to bar mixed-immigration-status families from federal housing programs (public housing, Section 8), providing know-your-rights resources, comment templates, and impact data.

Datapoints: 80,000 people potentially facing eviction under the rule; 37,000 children impacted, most U.S. citizens; 86% of mixed-status families are Latino; Public comment guidance and FAQ on the HUD rule

NLIHC / Cushing Dolbeare — Changing Priorities (2002)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionHomelessness & HUD data

Historical analysis of federal housing budget authority in constant dollars, documenting the early-1980s collapse of subsidized housing funding. Primary source for the HUD budget-cut figures behind modern homelessness.

Datapoints: federal subsidized-housing budget authority peaked at ~$82B (constant dollars) in 1978; cut by more than half in the early 1980s; Subsidized housing budget authority peaked at about $82B in 1978 (constant dollars); Roughly 50% cut to federal housing assistance through the 1980s

NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 - High Cost of Housing

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionHomelessness & HUD data

Annual report documenting the 'Housing Wage' - the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a modest rental at HUD Fair Market Rent without spending over 30% of income, with state, metro, and county detail.

Datapoints: 2025 national two-bedroom Housing Wage: $33.63/hour; 2025 national one-bedroom Housing Wage: $28.17/hour; Share of workers earning below the two-bedroom Housing Wage (over 60%); 17 of 25 largest occupations pay below the Housing Wage; State and county housing-wage lookups (including North Carolina)

NLIHC — Out of Reach & The Gap (Housing Wage)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionHomelessness & HUD data

National low-income housing research and advocacy organization; the standing citation source for the housing wage (Out of Reach) and the affordable-rental-supply shortfall (The Gap). Also a co-plaintiff in NAEH v. HUD and a key analyst of HUD CoC NOFO funding shifts.

Datapoints: Out of Reach annual housing-wage report; The Gap affordable-rental shortfall (~7.2-7.3M units); 170,000 people at risk under FY2025 CoC NOFO 30% PSH cap; FY26 CoC NOFO Tier 1 set at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand vs ~90% in 2024; Housing wage / Out of Reach annual data; FY26 CoC NOFO puts >=97,000 at risk of losing housing; Out of Reach: housing wage and hours-at-minimum-wage needed to afford fair-market rent, by state/metro; The Gap: shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters; National Renter Survey: renter housing experiences by income, race, and accessibility need; Housing Needs by State (all 50 states + DC); Advocates' Guide and Housing Trust Fund tracking

NLIHC — FY26 CoC NOFO Puts At Least 97,000 People at Risk of Losing Housing

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Homelessness & HUD data

NLIHC analysis estimating the displacement effect of the FY2026 CoC NOFO's redirect of funds away from permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing.

Datapoints: At least 97,000 residents of CoC-funded permanent housing at risk of losing housing; ~$92M in lost permanent-housing funding; Grants.gov opportunity number 361999; Tier 1 at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand; 97,000 residents at risk (citing NAEH); Tier 1 60% of ARD; grants.gov opportunity 361999

NLIHC — Trump Administration CoC Funding Notice Cuts PSH Funding (170,000 at risk)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Homelessness & HUD data

NLIHC analysis of the FY2025 CoC NOFO's 30% cap on permanent supportive housing (down from ~87-90% in 2024), estimating as many as 170,000 people who rely on CoC assistance are at risk of returning to homelessness.

Datapoints: FY2025 CoC NOFO caps PSH at 30% of CoC funding (from ~87-90% in 2024); Up to 170,000 people at risk of returning to homelessness; 30% PSH cap (down from ~87-90%)

Reducing Mass Incarceration: Lessons from Deinstitutionalization (Harcourt, 2011)

primary-academicnationalarticleOhio State Journal of Criminal Law (Bernard E. Harcourt)Homelessness & HUD data

Scholarly analysis of the deinstitutionalization of state mental hospitals, with the population data documenting the mid-century decline. Source for the asylum-population figures behind the homelessness-origins narrative.

Datapoints: State hospital census fell from ~558,239 (1955 peak) to ~200,000 by 1975; Nearly 60% drop in 1965-1975; ~75% decline from peak by 1980

HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) on PolicyMap

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapPolicyMap / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

Mapped HUD Fair Market Rent and Small Area FMR data (2008-2026) by county subdivision and ZIP code, giving rental cost benchmarks used to set housing-assistance payment standards.

Datapoints: Fair Market Rent by unit size (efficiency through 4-bedroom), in dollars; Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (2011-2026); Annual series 2008-2026; Geography: county subdivision and ZIP code

Public Rights Project — NAEH v. HUD Resources

othernationalorg-hubPublic Rights ProjectHomelessness & HUD data

Legal-advocacy organization co-litigating NAEH v. HUD; publishes fact sheets on the CoC NOFO funding cut and the ~170,000-people-at-risk figure.

Datapoints: ~170,000 people in CoC permanent supportive housing at risk; $266 million at stake for represented local governments; ~170,000 people in CoC permanent supportive housing put at risk; 170,000 people in CoC permanent supportive housing jeopardized; Case 1:25-cv-00636 (D.R.I.)

RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubRAND CorporationHomelessness & HUD data

RAND research center (est. 2021) conducting rigorous studies on housing affordability, homelessness, homelessness prevention, and intervention effectiveness, filling evidence gaps in U.S. housing and homelessness policy.

Datapoints: Homelessness prevalence and prevention research; Housing affordability and policy evaluation; Intervention/program effectiveness studies

U.S. District Court (D.R.I.) preliminary injunction blocking HUD Housing First restrictions

othernationalarticleRhode Island CurrentHomelessness & HUD data

Reporting on Judge Mary McElroy's Dec 19, 2025 preliminary injunction (D.R.I.) pausing HUD actions and blocking the FY2025 CoC/YHDP NOFO restrictions, the key litigation creating funding-environment volatility.

Datapoints: Preliminary injunction issued Dec 19, 2025; Pauses HUD CoC/YHDP NOFO restrictions; >$3B of ~$3.9B affected

SAMHSA Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Page & Criteria

primary-govnationalorg-hubSAMHSAHomelessness & HUD data

SAMHSA's CCBHC program hub describing the model, the nine core services, certification criteria, and expansion-grant pathways relevant to integrating behavioral health with homelessness services.

Datapoints: Nine core CCBHC services + certification criteria; Assistance Listing 93.696; >$1.5B historical funding; FY2026 CCBHC package $223.1M (SM-26-014/015/016)

SAMHSA Grants Dashboard - FY2026 Forecasts

primary-govnationaldashboardSAMHSAHomelessness & HUD data

SAMHSA grants forecast dashboard listing FY2026 NOFOs including CCBHC (SM-26-014/015/016) and STREETS (SM-26-019) with deadlines. Authoritative source for behavioral-health grant opportunities.

Datapoints: CCBHC NOFOs SM-26-014, SM-26-015, SM-26-016 (deadlines ~Aug 17, 2026); STREETS NOFO SM-26-019; Forecast funding amounts and award counts

STREETS Program NOFO (SM-26-019)

primary-govnationalguidelineSAMHSAHomelessness & HUD data

Official Notice of Funding Opportunity for SAMHSA's STREETS program, funding treatment-and-engagement for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The NOFO requires treatment-contingent housing and bars Housing First, with eligibility limited to political subdivisions, tribes, and tribal organizations.

Datapoints: Up to $24M/year; <=8 awards; <=$3M/year for 4 years (cooperative agreement); Eligibility: political subdivisions, tribes/tribal organizations; Requires multisector MOUs within 4 months (behavioral health/CCBHCs, housing/CoC, LE, courts); Prohibits Housing First and harm reduction; treatment-contingent housing linkages; Applications due July 17, 2026; Estimated total available funding: $24,000,000; Up to 8 awards at up to $3,000,000 per year per award; Project period up to 4 years; Application deadline July 17, 2026; Eligibility limited to cities/counties/tribes (closed to nonprofits as prime); Requires treatment-contingent housing; bars Housing First

Backsliding Support and Backfiring Messaging: The Homelessness Conversation Needs a Reframe

othernationalarticleShelterforceHomelessness & HUD data

Shelterforce analysis on how common homelessness messaging can backfire and erode public support, calling for a reframe toward structural causes. Shelterforce is a long-running independent publication on housing and community development.

Datapoints: messaging that backfires on homelessness support; reframe toward structural causes; public-opinion trends on homelessness

Shelterforce — What HUD's New Homeless Policy Looks Like on the Ground

othernationalarticleShelterforceHomelessness & HUD data

On-the-ground reporting on provider impacts of the HUD homelessness funding shift.

Datapoints: Provider-level impact of PSH cap; Nov 13, 2025 NOFO mechanics

Journalist's Resource (Harvard Shorenstein Center)

othernationalarticleShorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy SchoolHomelessness & HUD data

Research-based explainer service for journalists; its homelessness piece is a research-based explainer that closely matches an evidence-led editorial voice on housing and homelessness.

Datapoints: research-based homelessness explainer; journalist-facing evidence synthesis

Sightline Institute

othernationalorg-hubSightline InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Cascadia-focused sustainability and housing think tank; best summary of the Colburn & Aldern 'Homelessness Is a Housing Problem' research. Advocacy-oriented framing twin to the housing-cost thesis.

Datapoints: housing-cost driver of homelessness; summary of Colburn & Aldern research; Housing-cost framing of homelessness

Sightline Institute — Homelessness Is a Housing Problem

othernationalarticleSightline InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Summary of the Colburn & Aldern Homelessness Is a Housing Problem research, framing homelessness as a function of regional housing-market conditions. Cascadia-focused but a strong framing source.

Datapoints: Colburn & Aldern regional housing-market findings; Rent and vacancy correlations with homelessness rates; Rebuttal of addiction/poverty-only explanations

Year-over-year homelessness declines (state breakdown)

othernationalarticleStatelineHomelessness & HUD data

Stateline analysis of HUD homelessness data noting an overall national decline while 28 states saw increases, with a state-by-state breakdown.

Datapoints: National decline with 28 states increasing; State-level homelessness change

Stateline — Many More Cities Ban Sleeping Outside Despite Lack of Shelter Space

othernationalarticleStateline (States Newsroom)Homelessness & HUD data

Reporting on the proliferation of municipal camping bans after Grants Pass, with state and city counts and penalties.

Datapoints: 40+ California camping-ban ordinances since July 2024; Penalties up to $1,000 / six months jail in some cities

SAMHSA Grant Announcements (STREETS, CCBHC, AOT)

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationHomelessness & HUD data

SAMHSA's grant-announcement hub for behavioral-health and homelessness-recovery funding, including the STREETS (SM-26-019), CCBHC Planning/Development/Implementation (SM-26-014), and Assisted Outpatient Treatment (SM-26-001) NOFOs.

Datapoints: STREETS SM-26-019: $24M, 8 awards, $3M each, due July 17, 2026; eligibility limited to political subdivisions/tribes (not nonprofits as prime); CCBHC SM-26-014: $94M, 94 awards, $1M max, due Aug 17, 2026; AOT SM-26-001: assisted outpatient treatment via civil courts; budget cannot support harm reduction

SAMHSA — Permanent Supportive Housing Evidence-Based Practices KIT

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationHomelessness & HUD data

SAMHSA's evidence-based practices toolkit for Permanent Supportive Housing, specifying the seven essential elements (housing choice; separation of housing and services; decent/safe/affordable housing; community integration; rights of tenancy; access without readiness requirements; flexible voluntary services).

Datapoints: seven essential PSH elements; voluntary-services and no-readiness-requirement standards; Seven essential elements of PSH; Voluntary services; access without readiness requirements; Seven PSH elements: tenant choice, separation of housing and services, decent/safe/affordable housing, community integration, rights of tenancy, no readiness requirements, flexible voluntary services

Grants Pass v. Johnson (U.S. Supreme Court, 2024)

primary-govnationalguidelineSupreme Court of the United StatesHomelessness & HUD data

June 28, 2024 6-3 decision holding that enforcing public-camping bans does not violate the Eighth Amendment even where no shelter is available, reversing the practical effect of Martin v. Boise. Triggered a wave of camping-ban legislation.

Datapoints: 6-3 decision, June 28, 2024; 320+ bills criminalizing unhoused people introduced and ~220 became law in the following year (ACLU/NHLC); 6-3 decision issued June 28, 2024; Camping-ban enforcement does not violate Eighth Amendment even absent available shelter; Followed by 320+ criminalization bills and ~220 becoming law (per ACLU/NHLC); 6-3 decision (June 2024); Camping-ban enforcement not 'cruel and unusual'; Overturned Martin v. Boise constraint; Triggered 320+ bills / ~220 laws per ACLU tracking; 6-3 ruling enabling camping-ban enforcement; Legal trigger for state/local camping bans; 6-3 ruling on Eighth Amendment / camping bans; Removal of the Martin v. Boise barrier

Executive Order 14321 — American Presidency Project

primary-academicnationalguidelineThe American Presidency Project (UC Santa Barbara)Homelessness & HUD data

Full text of EO 14321 (signed July 24, 2025), the executive order directing federal agencies to end support for Housing First and to condition housing assistance on participation in substance-use and mental-health treatment.

Datapoints: EO number, signing date July 24, 2025; Full directive text incl. accountability/competition provisions; Signed July 24, 2025; Directs ending federal support for Housing First; Conditions housing participation on substance-use/mental-health treatment; Distinct from EO 14379, which does not address Housing First; EO number and July 24, 2025 signing date; Full Housing First / civil commitment / harm-reduction directives

Council of State Governments (CSG) - Policy & Research

othernationalorg-hubThe Council of State GovernmentsHomelessness & HUD data

Nonpartisan organization serving all 50 state governments with evidence-based research and resources on housing, homelessness, workforce, fiscal and health policy. Publishes comparative analyses of state approaches to affordable housing and homelessness (e.g., Housing First retention and cost data).

Datapoints: State-by-state approaches to homelessness and affordable housing; 36 affordable/available rental homes per 100 extremely low-income households; ~7 million home shortage; Housing First one-year retention rate 75-98%; Workforce/registered-apprenticeship technical assistance; Affordable housing and teacher recruitment/retention

Heritage Foundation — The Housing First Approach Has Failed

othernationalreportThe Heritage FoundationHomelessness & HUD data

Advocacy report arguing for repeal of federal Housing First funding mandates and restoring eligibility for treatment-first and abstinence-based providers. Contested advocacy source for the treatment-first position.

Datapoints: call to repeal federal Housing First mandate; treatment-first / accountability framing

Creating a Science of Homelessness During the Reagan Era (Jones, 2015)

othernationalarticleThe Milbank Quarterly (M. M. Jones)Homelessness & HUD data

Historical scholarship on how modern homelessness emerged and was documented in the 1980s, including federal-policy and media-coverage dynamics. Anchor source for the 'how modern homelessness was made' history.

Datapoints: Modern homelessness emerged as a recognized phenomenon in the early 1980s; U.S. homeless population grew from roughly 125,000 (1980) to an estimated 400,000-600,000 by the late 1980s

Pew Charitable Trusts — Housing & Homelessness Research

othernationalorg-hubThe Pew Charitable TrustsHomelessness & HUD data

Nonpartisan, sourced research desk whose homelessness work argues housing costs explain far more of homelessness than substance use, mental health, weather, the safety net, or poverty. Strong national explainer peer with no directory.

Datapoints: housing cost as dominant population-level driver of homelessness; nonpartisan evidence synthesis; Housing costs explain homelessness more than substance use/mental health/safety net/poverty

Pew Charitable Trusts — How Housing Costs Drive Levels of Homelessness

othernationalarticleThe Pew Charitable TrustsHomelessness & HUD data

Nonpartisan, sourced research article establishing that housing costs explain far more of homelessness variation than substance use, mental health, weather, the safety net, or poverty. Used as a primary citation anchor for the housing-cost thesis.

Datapoints: Correlation of regional housing costs with per-capita homelessness rates; Comparison of housing-cost vs. addiction/mental-illness/poverty explanatory power; Cross-metro rent-and-homelessness analysis

White House — Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets (presidential action)

primary-govnationalguidelineThe White HouseHomelessness & HUD data

Presidential-action text of EO 14321 as published by the White House.

Datapoints: Section 3(a) grant-priority criteria; Directive to end Housing First support and condition assistance on treatment

Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC)

othernationalorg-hubTreatment Advocacy CenterHomelessness & HUD data

National advocacy and research organization focused on severe mental illness (SMI) treatment access, publishing data and reports on psychiatric bed shortages, criminalization, and the SMI-homelessness intersection.

Datapoints: Psychiatric bed availability/shortage estimates; State-by-state SMI treatment law resources; Monthly SMI Research Digest summaries

Treatment Advocacy Center - Reports & Research

othernationalreportTreatment Advocacy Center (TAC)Homelessness & HUD data

Research library of a national nonprofit focused on serious mental illness (SMI), publishing policy and health-services research on psychiatric bed availability, criminalization of mental illness, and the connections among SMI, homelessness, and the justice system.

Datapoints: Psychiatric bed availability / continuum of care (Beyond Beds); Revolving door / super-utilization of SMI services; Assisted Outpatient Treatment outcomes and cost; Criminalization and homelessness linked to untreated SMI; Anosognosia and treatment evidence briefs

American Housing Survey (AHS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau (sponsored by HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

The most comprehensive longitudinal survey of the U.S. housing stock, sponsored by HUD and fielded by Census. Covers housing characteristics, costs, and rotating topical modules including Food Security and Housing Counseling for the nation and 15 largest metros.

Datapoints: Housing cost burden; Housing adequacy/quality; Worst-case housing needs; Neighborhood conditions; Mobility and forced moves; housing cost burden; housing adequacy/quality; doubled-up households; rent and mortgage characteristics; housing insecurity module; Housing unit characteristics (type, age, condition, size); Housing costs, mortgage, and rent burden; Rotating modules: Food Security, Arts and Culture, Housing Counseling, Healthy Homes; Neighborhood quality and moves; Public-use microdata files via Census and ICPSR; Summary tables for the U.S. and selected metropolitan areas; Public Use Files (PUF) with household-level responses; Housing cost and affordability measures; Physical housing adequacy/quality (e.g., heating, cooling, power outages); Tenure and occupancy characteristics

HHS — Secretary Kennedy Announces New Funding for Mental Illness, Addiction, Homelessness

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Homelessness & HUD data

HHS press release announcing $700M+ in mental-illness/addiction/homelessness funding including the STREETS NOFO, framed as part of the Great American Recovery Initiative.

Datapoints: $700M+ total announced; $96M STREETS / $612M breakdown; Names SAMHSA NOFO SM-26-019 (STREETS); $700M+ total; $96M STREETS; $612M breakdown; SAMHSA NOFO SM-26-019 announced

HHS: Secretary Kennedy Announces $100M Great American Recovery Initiative (STREETS)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Homelessness & HUD data

HHS press release (Feb 2, 2026) announcing a $100 million investment in the Great American Recovery Initiative (GARI), with the STREETS Initiative (Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports) as the homelessness-focused component connecting homeless/addicted individuals to recovery-focused housing.

Datapoints: $100 million GARI investment; STREETS = homelessness component, recovery-focused housing; $100M GARI investment; STREETS as flagship homelessness component

HHS Press Release - Secretary Kennedy Announces Over $700M New Funding to Address Mental Illness, Addiction, Homelessness

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of Health and Human Services / SAMHSAHomelessness & HUD data

June 2026 HHS announcement of over $700 million in behavioral-health funding including the STREETS program, CCBHC expansion, 988 Lifeline, and substance-use and mental-health supports, tied to the federal shift toward treatment-first homelessness policy.

Datapoints: >$700M total behavioral-health funding announced June 17, 2026; $96M for STREETS over 4 years for up to 8 communities (~$3M/yr each); $223.1M for CCBHCs; $238.6M for 988 Lifeline; $80M substance use; >$70M mental health

Addressing Homelessness Among Older Adults (ASPE report)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPEHomelessness & HUD data

2023 federal report on the rapid growth of homelessness among adults 50 and older, drawing on research by Dennis Culhane and colleagues.

Datapoints: Adults 50+ are the fastest-growing age group among people experiencing homelessness, near half the single-adult homeless population; Projected number of older homeless adults could roughly triple by 2030; Urban Institute: share of older adults in sheltered homelessness rose 37% between 2019 and 2022

HMIS Data Dictionary

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

Technical documentation of all HMIS data elements for vendors and system administrators, specifying the function, format, and federal-partner use of each element collected on individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Datapoints: Definitions and response categories for every HMIS data element; Federal partner program mappings (HUD, HHS, VA); Data collection stages and dependencies; FY 2026 Data Dictionary (PDF); data element definitions, response categories, and field formats; universal vs. program-specific data elements; mapping of elements to federal partner programs; programming requirements for HMIS software

HUD Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) / Point-in-Time Count

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

Official hub of the federal housing agency, the authoritative source for U.S. housing policy, homelessness assistance programs, fair housing enforcement, and rental-assistance data. Routes to HUD's research portals (HUD User and the open-data platform) where the underlying datasets and reports live.

Datapoints: 771,480 people homeless on a single night (Jan 2024 PIT, highest since 2007); 18% one-year increase, largest jump ever recorded; homelessness rose in 43 states; families with children +39% to 259,000+; FY2026 CoC NOFO $4.04 billion (HUD No. 26-038); Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress; Point-in-Time (PIT) homelessness counts; Housing Inventory Count (HIC); Fair Market Rents (FMR); Income Limits for assisted-housing eligibility; Continuum of Care (CoC) program and grant data; Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program data; HUD-certified housing counselor directory

HUD Location Affordability Index (LAI)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD dataset and tool estimating combined housing and transportation costs as a share of income for typical household profiles at the census-tract level, to measure true location affordability.

Datapoints: Housing costs as % of income by tract and household profile; Transportation costs as % of income by tract; Combined housing + transportation affordability burden

HUD News Release HUD NO. 25-132 (CoC reforms)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD news release announcing Continuum of Care reforms that redirect funding emphasis from Housing First / permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing and supportive services, redefining success by self-sufficiency and recovery.

Datapoints: $3.9B+ in competitive CoC grants; Shift from ~90% Housing First/PSH dominance toward transitional housing + services; Requires 70% competition; success redefined by long-term self-sufficiency/recovery

HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

HUD office that administers and enforces federal fair housing laws (Fair Housing Act, etc.), provides complaint filing, and publishes guidance and data on housing discrimination.

Datapoints: Fair Housing Act enforcement and complaint process; Protected-class discrimination guidance; Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) resources; Fair housing complaint and enforcement data

HEARTH: Defining 'Chronically Homeless' (Final Rule)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Federal Register)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD final rule establishing the federal definition of 'chronically homeless' under the HEARTH Act, used to prioritize permanent supportive housing and target resources to long-term homeless individuals and families with disabilities.

Datapoints: Disability requirement for chronic homelessness; Duration thresholds (continuous 12 months, or 4+ occasions in 3 years totaling 12 months); Recordkeeping and documentation standards; Application to permanent supportive housing prioritization

HEARTH: Defining Homeless (Final Rule)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Federal Register)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD final rule establishing the federal regulatory definition of 'homeless' under the HEARTH Act, setting the four categories used to determine eligibility for HUD homeless assistance programs.

Datapoints: Four categories of homelessness (literally homeless; imminent loss of housing; unaccompanied youth/families under other federal statutes; fleeing domestic violence); 14-day imminent-risk threshold; Documentation and recordkeeping standards; Effective date January 4, 2012

2023 CoC GIS Toolkits

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

GIS mapping toolkits for Continuums of Care to map homelessness, housing inventory, and population data within their geography for planning and resource targeting.

Datapoints: CoC geography shapefiles; Mapped homelessness / housing data layers; ArcGIS-ready toolkits for CoC planning

An Introductory Guide to Submitting LSA Data for the AHAR

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD guide explaining how Continuums of Care submit Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) data from their HMIS, which feeds the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.

Datapoints: LSA submission process for CoCs; HMIS-to-AHAR data pipeline; Unduplicated counts of people experiencing homelessness; System-of-care usage patterns

CoC Housing Inventory Count (HIC) Reports

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

Annual snapshot of each Continuum of Care's inventory of beds and units dedicated to people experiencing homelessness, conducted in the last ten days of January, available at national, state, and CoC levels.

Datapoints: Beds and units by program type (ES, TH, RRH, PSH, etc.); Permanent Supportive Housing capacity; Unmet need / housing gap; National, state, and CoC-level totals

CoC System Performance Measures - National Summary Since 2015

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's national and Continuum of Care (CoC) level summary of homeless system performance measures since FY2015, available as raw data and published reports with Tableau visualizations, used to assess how well local homelessness response systems perform.

Datapoints: Measure 1: length of time persons remain homeless; Measure 2: returns to homelessness after exit to permanent housing; Measure 3: number of homeless persons (PIT/HMIS counts); Measure 4: employment and income growth; Measure 5: number of persons becoming homeless for the first time; Measure 7: successful placement/retention in permanent housing; CoC-level and national trends FY2015-FY2024

HDX Reporting (Homelessness Data Exchange)

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's platform where Continuums of Care submit and access homelessness data: Point-in-Time (PIT) counts, Housing Inventory Counts (HIC), System Performance Measures (SPM), and the Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA).

Datapoints: Point-in-Time (PIT) counts; Housing Inventory Count (HIC); System Performance Measures (SPM); Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA)

HEARTH: Defining "Homeless" Final Rule

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD final rule implementing the HEARTH Act's statutory definition of homelessness, establishing the categories used to determine eligibility for HUD homeless assistance.

Datapoints: Four categories of homelessness (literally homeless; imminent risk; homeless under other federal statutes; fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence); Definition of chronically homeless; Recordkeeping and documentation requirements; Effective date Jan 4, 2012

HMIS Data Dictionary

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

Companion technical reference to the HMIS Data Standards Manual specifying field-level definitions, response categories, and data formats for every HMIS data element used by homeless-services vendors and CoCs.

Datapoints: Field-level specifications for every HMIS data element; Response category codes and value lists; Data export/CSV structure definitions; Field-level data element definitions; Response categories and value codes; Data collection stage requirements; Vendor/system specifications

HMIS Data Standards Manual (2024)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's authoritative manual defining the data elements, collection standards, and program-specific requirements for Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) used by Continuums of Care nationwide to count and serve people experiencing homelessness.

Datapoints: Universal and program-specific data elements (demographics, living situation, income, disability); Project descriptor data elements; Data collection stages and required fields by program type; Universal Data Elements (demographics, disability, income); Program-Specific Data Elements; Project/enrollment data standards; Continuum of Care reporting requirements

Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's authoritative overview of the 2009 HEARTH Act, which amended the McKinney-Vento Act, consolidated homeless-assistance grants into the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, and redefined homelessness and chronic homelessness.

Datapoints: Signed into law May 20, 2009; Consolidated Supportive Housing, Shelter Plus Care, and SRO programs into the CoC Program; Five CoC program components: permanent housing, transitional housing, supportive services only, HMIS, homelessness prevention; Defines permanent supportive housing (PSH) and rapid re-housing (RRH); Created the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program

HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's annual report to Congress on the nature and extent of homelessness in the United States, built from Point-in-Time (PIT) counts, Housing Inventory Counts (HIC), and HMIS Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) data.

Datapoints: Point-in-Time sheltered and unsheltered homelessness counts; Housing Inventory Count (bed/unit capacity); Homelessness by household type and subpopulation (veterans, families, youth, chronic); Longitudinal system performance via LSA

Introduction to HMIS Data Standards

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

Web-based overview of the HMIS Data Standards explaining terms, concepts, and the structure of homelessness data collection for Continuums of Care and HMIS end users.

Datapoints: key terms and concepts (project types, enrollment, exit); structure and purpose of the data standards; roles of HMIS Leads, CoCs, and end users

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, As Amended by the HEARTH Act of 2009

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

Full statutory text of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as amended by the 2009 HEARTH Act, the authorizing law for HUD homeless assistance programs (Continuum of Care, Emergency Solutions Grants).

Datapoints: Consolidates Supportive Housing, Shelter Plus Care, and SRO programs into the Continuum of Care Program; Creates the Emergency Solutions Grants Program and Rural Housing Stability Program; Codifies the Continuum of Care planning process; Statutory definitions of homelessness and chronic homelessness

New CoC Performance Profiles and Other Data Resources

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD announcement and access point for Continuum of Care Performance Profiles, which summarize each CoC's homelessness system performance and related data resources.

Datapoints: CoC-level performance profiles; System performance measure summaries; Comparative CoC homelessness data

Point-in-Time (PIT) and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) Data Since 2007

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

The downloadable raw-data home for HUD's Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Count series, providing CoC-level and state-level Excel/CSV time-series back to 2007 for analysts who want the underlying numbers rather than the report PDFs.

Datapoints: CoC-level PIT counts by year; sheltered/unsheltered breakdown; bed inventory by program type; subpopulation counts (chronic, veteran, youth); CoC-by-CoC PIT counts (sheltered/unsheltered) annual time series; state-level PIT roll-ups; HIC bed/unit inventory by program type (ES, TH, RRH, Safe Haven, PSH); subpopulation estimates (chronic, veteran, youth, family) by CoC

Reporting PIT Count and HIC Data in HDX 2.0

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD guidance on submitting Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless counts and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) data through the HDX 2.0 system, the standard process behind annual local homelessness statistics.

Datapoints: Point-in-Time (PIT) count submission process; Housing Inventory Count (HIC) submission process; HDX 2.0 data entry standards and schedules; Sheltered vs. unsheltered count categories

Stella Performance Glossary

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

Definitions glossary for HUD's Stella Performance (Stella P) tool, which gives Continuums of Care a data-driven view of their homeless response system. Stella P reports three-year trends on Days Homeless, Exits, and Returns to homelessness.

Datapoints: Definitions of Days Homeless, Exits, Returns measures; Household type definitions (e.g., Adult Only 55+, Adult & Child 3+ children); System performance map terminology; LSA-derived metric definitions; Days homeless (length of time homeless); Exits from homelessness; Returns to homelessness; Three-year system performance trends by household type

Understanding CoC System Performance by Household Types Using Stella P

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's Stella Performance Module (Stella P) guidance and tooling for visualizing Continuum of Care homeless system performance by household type and population group, built on Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) data.

Datapoints: Three-year trends for Days Homeless, Exits, and Returns; Filtering by household type (veterans, youth, families, adult-only); Filtering by demographics (race, family size, first-time homeless); System pathway / project-type combination analysis

Using ArcGIS to Reduce Homelessness

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD guidance on applying ArcGIS mapping to Continuum of Care data to visualize and reduce homelessness, supporting the CoC GIS toolkits.

Datapoints: GIS analysis methods for CoCs; Mapping homelessness and housing resources; Spatial targeting of homeless assistance

HMIS Data Standards: Project Descriptor Data Elements

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange), with HHS and VAHomelessness & HUD data

Project Descriptor Data Elements (PDDEs) within the HMIS Data Standards that describe the homeless-assistance projects entering data, used to organize and interpret HMIS records across a Continuum of Care.

Datapoints: Project type classifications; Continuum-of-Care project identifiers; Funding source descriptors; Bed/unit inventory linkage to HIC

HMIS Data Standards: Universal Data Elements

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange), with HHS and VAHomelessness & HUD data

The Universal Data Elements (UDEs) required to be collected by all projects participating in a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), forming the basis for unduplicated counts and demographics of people experiencing homelessness nationally.

Datapoints: Required demographic data fields (UDEs); Prior living situation (element 3.917); Standardized HMIS data collection across funders; Basis for AHAR national homelessness estimates

LIHTC Database: Property-Level Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD User / PD&R)Homelessness & HUD data

Property-level database of every Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project, the largest federal program building affordable rental housing. Searchable via an interactive query system and downloadable.

Datapoints: 55,345 LIHTC projects and 3.9 million units placed in service 1987-2024; Project address and location (geocoded); Total units and low-income units; bedroom counts; Year credit allocated and year placed in service; New construction vs. rehab; type of credit; other financing sources

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

CHAS data, derived from special tabulations of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, quantify housing problems and needs of low-income households by geography. The authoritative source for cost-burden statistics down to the local and census-tract level used in HUD grant planning.

Datapoints: Cost burden by HUD income category (e.g., extremely low income); Severe housing problems; Overcrowding; Housing needs by tenure and geography; cost-burdened households (>30% / >50% income on housing); housing problems by income band (HAMFI); renter vs owner need; overcrowding; tract-level housing need; cost burden by HUD income band; households with housing problems; lacking complete kitchen/plumbing; renter vs owner needs by AMI; Cost burden (>30% income on housing); Severe cost burden (>50% income); Households by HUD income category (% of HAMFI); Overcrowding and incomplete kitchen/plumbing; Disaggregation by tenure (owner/renter); cost burden and severe cost burden by income band (vs. HUD-adjusted AMI); substandard housing (lacking kitchen/plumbing); housing problems by tenure, income, and household type; tract, place, county, and national geographies; housing cost burden by income band; severe housing problems; household type by income; geographies: nation/state/county/place/tract; Cost burden (housing costs > 30% of income) by household income band; Severe cost burden (housing costs > 50% of income); Households by income relative to Area Median Income (HAMFI / 30%, 50%, 80% AMI); Overcrowding and substandard housing (lacking kitchen/plumbing); Housing problems by tenure (renter vs. owner); Data down to place, county, state, and census-tract level; cost burden and severe cost burden by income; housing problems (overcrowding, lacking kitchen/plumbing); tenure (rent, own with/without mortgage); households by HUD income category (relative to area median income); geographies: state/county/place/CDBG/HOME

HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD User)Homelessness & HUD data

Central HUD hub for the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, the authoritative national source on homelessness. Links to every AHAR Part 1 (Point-in-Time estimates) and Part 2 (year-round estimates from HMIS) by year, plus underlying PIT and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) data tables.

Datapoints: 770,000+ people homeless on a single night in 2024 (record since 2007); +18% vs 2023; Buncombe 2025 federally-reported total 2,303 including ~1,548 in FEMA-paid hotels post-Helene; 771,480 people homeless on a single night (Jan 2024); 18% one-year increase, largest jump ever recorded; Homelessness rose in 43 states; families with children up 39% to 259,000+; 21-26% serious mental illness and ~17% chronic SUD among unsheltered adults (policy-report estimate); 771,480 people homeless on a single night in January 2024 (+18% YoY); Chronic homelessness all-time high 152,585 (65% unsheltered); total people experiencing homelessness on a single night; sheltered vs. unsheltered; family/veteran/youth/chronic subpopulations; shelter and housing inventory; Point-in-Time (PIT) counts on a single night in January; Housing Inventory Count (HIC); Sheltered vs. unsheltered estimates; 12-month HMIS annual estimates; State and Continuum of Care (CoC) breakdowns; total people experiencing homelessness; sheltered vs unsheltered counts; chronic homelessness; veterans / families / youth; Continuum of Care (CoC) breakdowns; total persons experiencing homelessness on a single night; homeless veterans; family homelessness; state and CoC-level breakdowns; PIT counts of sheltered/unsheltered homeless persons by CoC; Homelessness by subpopulation (chronic, veterans, families, youth); Housing Inventory Count of emergency/transitional/permanent beds; State and CoC time series (includes NC-500 Asheville/Buncombe CoC); PIT total sheltered/unsheltered counts; family vs. individual; veteran homelessness; youth; Housing Inventory Count (beds); by CoC and state; national, state, and CoC-level PIT counts of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness; chronically homeless persons, veterans, families, and unaccompanied youth subpopulations; Housing Inventory Count (HIC) bed and unit inventory; annual estimates back to 2007; Part 2 HMIS-based 12-month estimates of people using the homeless system; national/state/CoC PIT counts; Housing Inventory Count (bed capacity); subpopulations (chronic, veterans, youth, families); longitudinal AHAR data; PIT counts of veterans by state and Continuum of Care; Sheltered/unsheltered/chronically homeless veteran subpopulations; Housing Inventory Count (beds dedicated to veterans); Multi-year national and CoC trend files; 770,000+ people homeless on a single night in 2024, a record 18% one-year jump; 2025 count of 745,652 was the first national decline since 2016, driven by families; Unsheltered up 36% and chronic homelessness up 81% since 2013; 771,480 people homeless on a single night in January 2024 (up 18% in a year); 745,652 in January 2025 (first national decrease since 2016, driven mostly by families); Unsheltered homelessness up 36% and chronic homelessness up 81% since 2013; Roughly $4.4 billion in HUD homeless-assistance grants nationally; National, state, and Continuum of Care (CoC) Point-in-Time (PIT) counts of people experiencing homelessness; Sheltered vs. unsheltered homeless counts; Chronically homeless individuals and persons in families; Veterans experiencing homelessness; Families with children, unaccompanied youth; Housing Inventory Count (HIC): beds by program type (ES, TH, RRH, PSH); Year-round (Part 2) AHAR estimates from HMIS

HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2025)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD User)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's annually published Fair Market Rents dataset, estimating gross rents (set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents) for OMB-defined metropolitan areas, HUD subdivisions, and every nonmetropolitan county; downloadable by fiscal year with full methodology.

Datapoints: Asheville HMFA FY2025 FMR: $1,512 (2BR), $1,347 (1BR); 2BR FMR $1,512/mo derives a $29.08/hr housing wage; 1BR derives $25.90/hr; 40th-percentile gross rent by bedroom size; metro and county FMRs; fiscal-year updates; voucher payment standards; FMR by bedroom size; metro and county-level rents; Small Area FMRs by ZIP code; Asheville MSA / Buncombe County rents; FMR by bedroom size (0-4 BR); Asheville HMFA fair market rents; small-area FMRs by ZIP; 40th/50th percentile rents; 40th-percentile gross rent (incl. utilities) by bedroom size; FMRs for the Asheville, NC metro and all 100 NC counties; FY2026 FMRs with annual revisions; 40th-percentile FMRs by bedroom size for every metro area and nonmetro county; FMR history dataset, 1983 to present; Derived from Census Bureau 5-year ACS base rents; Used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, Section 8 renewal rents, HOME/ESG rent ceilings, CoC award maximums, and Public Housing flat rents; Annual FMR methodology documentation per fiscal year

HUD PD&R Datasets (Policy Development & Research portal)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's central catalog of policy-research datasets on housing markets, assisted housing, affordability, and homelessness. The gateway to individually enumerated datasets such as AHS, Fair Market Rents, Income Limits, CHAS, Picture of Subsidized Households, and AHAR.

Datapoints: Fair Market Rents; Income Limits; Picture of Subsidized Households; Assisted housing inventories; Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data; catalog of HUD housing datasets; links to FMR/IL/CHAS/AHS/AHAR; data documentation; American Housing Survey (AHS); Fair Market Rents (FMR) and 50th Percentile Rents; Income Limits (Section 8 / Multifamily); Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS); Picture of Subsidized Households; AHAR homelessness counts; Location Affordability Index; USPS Vacancy data; Fair Market Rents (FMRs) by county/metro; Income Limits for HUD programs (AMI thresholds); CHAS cost-burden tabulations; AHAR / PIT / HIC homelessness data; CHAS affordability tabulations; American Housing Survey; Fair Market Rents and Income Limits; Worst Case Housing Needs; Fair Market Rents (FMR); CHAS housing-need tables; Assisted Housing inventory; Location Affordability Index; USPS vacancy data; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) database; CHAS housing problems and cost burden by tract/county; income-category housing need; overcrowding and substandard housing; tribal-area and rural cuts of housing data; Links to AHAR (homelessness) datasets; Links to CHAS (housing affordability) data; Links to American Housing Survey (AHS); Fair Market Rents (FMR) and Income Limits; Picture of Subsidized Households / assisted housing data; Worst Case Housing Needs reports; Location Affordability Index and other geospatial tools

2017 AHAR: Part 1 - PIT Estimates of Homelessness in the U.S.

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's annual Point-in-Time (PIT) and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) estimates of homelessness for January 2017, with national, state, and Continuum-of-Care-level figures and population breakdowns.

Datapoints: National, state, and CoC-level PIT counts of people experiencing homelessness; Sheltered vs unsheltered estimates; Chronically homeless persons, veterans, and children/youth subpopulations; Housing Inventory Count (shelter/housing capacity)

HEARTH: Defining "Homeless" Final Rule

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's December 2011 final rule establishing the regulatory definition of "homeless" (the four categories) and recordkeeping requirements used across the CoC, ESG, and predecessor programs. The authoritative source for who legally counts as homeless under federal programs.

Datapoints: Four-category definition of homeless (literally homeless, imminent loss of housing, unaccompanied youth/families under other statutes, fleeing domestic violence); Definition of "homeless individual with a disability"; Recordkeeping/documentation requirements for ESG and CoC; Definition of "developmental disability"

HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's primary competitive program funding local efforts to rehouse people experiencing homelessness; the framework that produces nationwide Point-in-Time, HMIS, and Housing Inventory Count homelessness data.

Datapoints: Point-in-Time (PIT) sheltered/unsheltered counts by household type and subpopulation; Housing Inventory Count (HIC); HMIS-based 12-month homelessness estimates; CoC awards, project component types, and dashboard performance reports; FY2024 CoC funding ~$3.6 billion

HUD Continuum of Care program (restructuring & funding notices)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's Continuum of Care program rules and funding notices, including the contested 2025-2026 restructuring that capped permanent supportive housing and redirected money toward transitional/treatment-conditioned housing.

Datapoints: Withdrawn FY2025 notice proposed a 30% cap on permanent housing (against ~87% today); NOFO withdrawn Dec 8, 2025; court ruled against the policy March 3, 2026 (National Alliance to End Homelessness); March 31, 2026 federal appeals court ordered the government to scrap the policy; Replacement FY2026 notice still redirects money toward transitional housing

HUD Exchange — Homelessness Data & Resources

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's official portal of homelessness program data, reports, and reporting tools, including Point-in-Time counts, Housing Inventory Counts, AHAR, CoC dashboards, and the HDX data exchange.

Datapoints: Point-in-Time (PIT) sheltered/unsheltered counts by CoC, state, national; Housing Inventory Count (HIC) bed/unit inventory; Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress; CoC Dashboard Reports (awards, projects, households served); Homelessness Data Exchange (HDX 2.0)

HUD FY2026 Continuum of Care Competition NOFO (HUD No. 26-038)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's FY2026 Continuum of Care competition Notice of Funding Opportunity, the $4.04 billion national competition that restructures protected renewals and prioritizes transitional housing and treatment-conditioned models. The governing source for CoC tier and scoring changes and the August 26, 2026 application deadline.

Datapoints: $4.04 billion national competition; Tier 1 protected renewals cut to 60%; 40% competitive tier; $1.3 billion new-project pool prioritizing transitional housing and supportive services; Application deadline August 26, 2026 (HUD No. 26-038)

HUD Multifamily Housing Programs

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD hub describing FHA multifamily mortgage insurance, special-needs housing (Section 202 elderly, Section 811 disability), and supportive-services programs that fund and preserve affordable multifamily rental housing.

Datapoints: FHA mortgage insurance programs: Sections 207, 213, 220, 221(d)(4), 223(f), 223(a)(7), 231, 234(d), 241(a), 542(b)/(c); Special-needs programs: Section 202 elderly, Section 811 disability, Assisted-Living Conversion Program, Emergency Capital Repair Program; Supportive services: Service Coordinators, Congregate Housing Services Program, Family Self-Sufficiency

HUD No. 26-038 — HUD Overhauls Federal Homelessness Assistance (FY2026 CoC NOFO)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD press release announcing the FY2026 Continuum of Care NOFO making $4.04 billion available, including a $1.3 billion investment in new projects with priority for Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Only projects, and signaling a move away from Housing First toward treatment/recovery/self-sufficiency.

Datapoints: ~$4.04 billion FY2026 CoC competition; Tier 1 cut to 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (from 90% in 2024); $1.3B Tier 2 set-aside prioritizing new transitional/supportive projects; HUD states the Housing First era is over; $4.04 billion total CoC NOFO (NOFO body also cites $4.010B on p.6); $1.3 billion for new projects, priority for Transitional Housing and Supportive Services; Stated move away from Housing First; $4.04 billion available through the CoC program; $1.3 billion for new projects with Transitional Housing / Supportive Services priority; HUD signals move away from Housing First; $4.04 billion CoC competition; $1.3 billion for new projects prioritizing Transitional Housing & Supportive Services; Tier 1 set at 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (down from 90%); Redefinition of self-sufficiency/success; Shift toward transitional / treatment-conditioned housing; Federal Continuum of Care funding-priority changes

HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

Landing hub for HUD's Public and Indian Housing programs, including public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, with links to program rules, guidebooks, and the HCV data dashboard.

Datapoints: Public housing program rules and inventory; Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program; Tribal/Native American housing programs; Links to HCV Data Dashboard and Two-Year Projection Tool

HUD Public Housing Occupancy Guidebook

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

Consolidated HUD guidance for public housing agencies, families, and stakeholders on administering the public housing program: eligibility, waiting lists, income determination, reexaminations, leases, and grievance procedures.

Datapoints: Eligibility determination and denial of assistance; Waiting list and tenant selection rules; Income determination and reexaminations; Lease requirements and grievance procedures; Community service / self-sufficiency requirements

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Homelessness & HUD data

Geospatial HUD dataset of properties placed in service under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, the largest federal subsidy for affordable rental housing production. Distributed as geodatabase, shapefile, and ArcGIS Hub layers.

Datapoints: 40,502 LIHTC projects placed in service since 1987; ~2.6 million subsidized housing units; Property locations (point geometry by largest building); Units per project, placed-in-service year; Coverage of U.S. states, DC, Puerto Rico and Island Areas

HUD 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) / HUD UserHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's authoritative annual point-in-time homelessness count: on a single night in January 2024, 771,480 people were homeless (highest ever recorded, +18% YoY), with chronic homelessness at an all-time high of 152,585 (65% unsheltered).

Datapoints: 771,480 people homeless on a single night, January 2024 (+18% YoY); Chronic homelessness all-time high 152,585 (65% unsheltered); 19% above 2007 levels; 771,480 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2024 (highest ever recorded); 18% year-over-year increase (118,376 more people); 19% above 2007; Chronic homelessness reached an all-time high of 152,585 individuals (one in three homeless individuals); 65% (>99,500) of chronically homeless individuals unsheltered; 771,480 total homeless persons on a single night in January 2024; Sheltered (497,256) and unsheltered (274,224) split; 152,585 chronically homeless (vs. 77,486 in 2016); 32,882 homeless veterans (55% decline since 2009); Year-over-year change vs. 2023 and historical trend since 2007; Counts by race/ethnicity, age, gender, and household type

Fair Market Rent History 1983 – Present

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — HUD USER / PD&RHomelessness & HUD data

Downloadable archive of HUD's annually published Fair Market Rents from fiscal year 1983 to the present, by metropolitan area and nonmetropolitan county. Key longitudinal series for tracking rental-cost benchmarks used in housing-assistance programs.

Datapoints: Annual Fair Market Rents (FMRs) by bedroom size, FY1983-present; FMRs for OMB-defined metropolitan areas and HUD-defined subdivisions; Nonmetropolitan county FMRs; Historical year-over-year rent benchmark changes

Fair Market Rents (PD&R Ongoing Research Page)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

HUD PD&R landing page describing the Fair Market Rents program, how FMRs are estimated for metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan counties, and links to current and historical FMR data, methodology, and the documentation system. Authoritative reference on how rental-cost standards for federal housing assistance are produced.

Datapoints: Annual FMR estimates for OMB metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan counties; 40th/50th-percentile rent standards by bedroom size; Links to FMR methodology and documentation system; Small Area FMR program overview

FY2026 Fair Market Rent Methodology (Calculation of HUD Fair Market Rents)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

Technical methodology document (updated July 2025) detailing how HUD calculates Fiscal Year 2026 Fair Market Rents, including the base rent, recent-mover adjustment, rent inflation factors, and trend factor. Explains the data inputs and weighting behind the rent benchmarks that set housing-voucher payment standards.

Datapoints: Base rent from ACS 2019-2023 5-year 40th-percentile adjusted standard-quality gross rent; Recent-mover adjustment from ACS 2023 1-year 40th-percentile recent-mover 2-bedroom rent; Private rent / CPI gross-rent update factors with weights W2024=0.643 (private) and 0.357 (CPI); Trend factor forecasting CPI gross-rent change through FY2026; Private rent inputs from CoStar, RealPage, and Zillow; CPI gross-rent component

FY2026 State Income Limits Report (30%, 50%, 80% of Median Family Income)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's FY2026 report of state-level 30%, 50%, and 80% income limits derived from area median family incomes, used to define extremely-low, very-low, and low-income eligibility for HUD-assisted housing and LIHTC properties. Authoritative income-eligibility thresholds tied to poverty and area income.

Datapoints: FY2026 state 30% (extremely low-income) limits; FY2026 state 50% (very low-income) limits; FY2026 state 80% (low-income) limits; Based on FY2026 area median family incomes (effective May 1, 2026); Used for HUD-assisted program and LIHTC eligibility

Methodology for Determining FY2022 Section 8 Income Limits

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

Technical methodology explaining how HUD derives Section 8 income limits, including the four-person very-low-income limit at 50% of area median family income, ACS data inputs, and adjustment rules. Foundational reference for understanding income-eligibility thresholds used across housing-assistance and LIHTC programs.

Datapoints: Very-low-income limit = 50% of area median family income for a 4-person family; MFI sourced from ACS 'Median Family Income in the Past 12 Months' (table B19113); Caps on annual increases/decreases (5% / twice national MFI change); Adjustments for high housing cost, state nonmetropolitan floor, and national maximums; Low (80%) and extremely-low (30%/poverty) income-limit derivations

HUD Housing Counseling Agency Locator API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Office of the Chief Data OfficerHomelessness & HUD data

Public API for locating HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agencies by agency name/city/state or by geographic radius. Connects households facing housing instability or foreclosure to certified, free or low-cost housing counseling services.

Datapoints: HUD-approved housing counseling agency name, city, state; Agency latitude/longitude geocoordinates; Radius (distance-in-miles) search of nearby agencies; Query by agency details or by location

HUD Public and Indian Housing - Tribal Housing Resources

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Native American Programs (ONAP)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD resource hub for tribal housing entities covering the major Native American housing programs (IHBG, Section 184/184A, ICDBG, Title VI), regulatory guidance, income limits, and a national tribal housing directory.

Datapoints: Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) administration and reporting; Section 184 / 184A home loan guarantee programs; Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) and Title VI loan guarantees; Income limit data, environmental review, and the National Tribal Housing Directory

2007-2024 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) Counts by State

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

An Excel time-series dataset of the Housing Inventory Count (HIC) by state from 2007 through 2024, recording the inventory of beds and units dedicated to people experiencing homelessness by program type. Supports state-level trend analysis of shelter and housing capacity.

Datapoints: Year-by-year bed/unit counts by U.S. state, 2007-2024; Beds by program type: Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Re-housing, Safe Haven, Permanent Supportive Housing; Beds dedicated to homeless persons and to permanent supportive housing

The 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, Part 1: Point-In-Time Estimates of Homelessness

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's authoritative annual report on the national, state, and Continuum-of-Care (CoC) level Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024, with companion Housing Inventory Count (HIC) data. The definitive federal source for U.S. homelessness counts and trends.

Datapoints: 771,480 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024 (18% increase over 2023); 64% sheltered vs. 36% unsheltered; Estimates for chronically homeless persons, homeless veterans, and homeless children/youth; National, state, and CoC-level PIT and HIC estimates; Family vs. individual homelessness breakdowns

Worst Case Housing Needs: 2023 Report to Congress — Executive Summary

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

The executive summary of HUD's 2023 biennial Worst Case Housing Needs report to Congress, summarizing the prior-cycle estimate of very low-income unassisted renters with severe rent burden or severely inadequate housing. Provides the 2021 baseline against which the 2025 report's improvement is measured.

Datapoints: Worst case housing needs estimate for the 2021 data cycle (prior record ~44.1% prevalence); Definition: very low-income (<=50% AMI) unassisted renters paying >50% of income on rent or in severely inadequate housing; Shares of need driven by rent burden vs. inadequate conditions; Affordable/available unit shortfall per 100 very low-income renters

Worst Case Housing Needs: 2025 Report to Congress

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and ResearchHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's biennial report to Congress measuring 'worst case housing needs' — very low-income unassisted renters who pay more than half their income on rent or live in severely inadequate housing. The 2025 edition reports 2023 data showing needs near the all-time high despite record apartment construction.

Datapoints: 8.46 million renter households with worst case needs in 2023 (near all-time high); 44.2% prevalence among very low-income renters in 2023 (a new record); 98% of worst case needs driven by severe rent burden; 59 affordable/available units per 100 very low-income renters; 38 per 100 extremely low-income renters; Regional distribution most acute in West, South, and urban suburbs

HUD Public Housing Occupancy Guidebook - Eligibility Determination & Denial of Assistance

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Public and Indian HousingHomelessness & HUD data

HUD guidebook chapter detailing how public housing agencies determine eligibility and may deny assistance, including screening for criminal history, income, citizenship/immigration status, and fair-treatment requirements.

Datapoints: Eligibility determination criteria for public housing; Criminal records screening and background-check standards; Grounds and procedures for denial of assistance; Applicant qualification requirements; Eligibility screening criteria (income, suitability, criminal-conviction history); Fair-treatment / nondiscrimination requirements for selection criteria; Declaration of eligible immigration status and 30-day extension rules

HMIS Data Standards

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with HHS and VAHomelessness & HUD data

HUD's baseline data-collection standards for Homeless Management Information Systems, jointly developed with HHS and VA, defining the data elements every Continuum of Care must collect on people experiencing homelessness. FY 2026 standards effective October 1, 2025.

Datapoints: Universal Data Elements (demographics, disabling conditions, prior living situation, income/benefits); Program-specific data elements by federal partner (HUD, HHS, VA); HMIS Data Dictionary and Data Standards Manual; Interactive HMIS Data Standards Tool (FY 2026 standards effective Oct 1, 2025); Universal and program-specific data elements (PSDEs); Project Descriptor Data Elements (PDDEs); Standardized client demographics, services, and outcomes; FY 2026 standards effective October 1, 2025; required universal and program-specific data elements; client-level demographics, housing status, and services provided; federal partner reporting requirements (HUD, HHS, VA); interactive HMIS Data Standards Tool

HUD HMIS Data Standards & Data Dictionary

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with HHS and VAHomelessness & HUD data

Federal data standards, manual, and data dictionary defining how Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) collect standardized data on people experiencing homelessness across all Continuums of Care, enabling unduplicated counts and federal reporting.

Datapoints: Universal Data Elements (UDEs) required of all HMIS projects; Program-specific data elements by federal partner (HUD, HHS, VA); Basis for unduplicated counts, demographics, and service-use patterns; Foundation for the Longitudinal System Analysis (LSA)

HUD FY2026 Continuum of Care Program NOFO (CPD-2600-DC-0025)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development / Grants.govHomelessness & HUD data

Official grant opportunity for the FY2026 CoC Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (HUD opportunity CPD-2600-DC-0025, Assistance Listing 14.267), ~$4.04 billion available, application deadline Aug 26, 2026, performance period 2027, with full eligible-applicant and match-requirement rules.

Datapoints: ~$4.04 billion available; Federal Assistance Listing 14.267; Tier 1 = 60% of Annual Renewal Demand (vs ~90% in 2024); 25% match (24 CFR 578.73) except leasing funds; application deadline 8:00 PM ET 08/26/2026; awards anticipated 12/01/2026; rental assistance capped at 100% of Fair Market Rent; CPD-2600-DC-0025; Assistance Listing 14.267; ~$4,040,000,000; >=$52M set aside for DV Bonus projects; ~7,000 awards; Deadline 8:00 PM ET Aug 26, 2026; award date Dec 1, 2026; 25% match requirement (24 CFR 578.73); FMR caps for rental assistance; Available funds ~$4.04B; ~$52M DV Bonus set-aside; Application deadline 8:00 PM ET 08/26/2026; awards 12/01/2026; Federal Assistance Listing 14.267; Opportunity CPD-2600-DC-0025; Assistance Listing 14.267; grants.gov 361999; ~$4.04B available; $52M DV Bonus set-aside; Application deadline 8:00 PM ET 08/26/2026; awards ~12/01/2026

A Snapshot of HUD-Assisted Households (PD&R Edge featured article)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development & Research (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD PD&R Edge feature (June 11, 2018) summarizing the characteristics of households served by HUD rental-assistance programs, drawn from the Picture of Subsidized Households data. Profiles who lives in subsidized housing and the role of landlords and public housing agencies.

Datapoints: Number of households living in HUD-subsidized housing; Resident demographics (age, household composition, income); Distribution across public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based assistance

Housing & Health Data Dashboard (HHDR)

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development & Research (HUD USER)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD USER interactive dashboard linking housing assistance and health outcomes, supporting analysis of how subsidized housing intersects with health and the social determinants of well-being.

Datapoints: Housing-assistance indicators linked to health measures; Geographic comparisons of housing and health data; Social-determinants-of-health context for HUD-assisted populations

PD&R Edge — Homelessness Archive

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research (HUD PD&R)Homelessness & HUD data

Curated archive of HUD PD&R Edge articles and Assistant Secretary editorials on homelessness, summarizing federal homelessness research, the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), and Point-in-Time count findings. Includes the June 2018 'From the Assistant Secretary' homelessness piece.

Datapoints: Point-in-Time (PIT) homelessness counts; Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) summaries; chronic homelessness trends; veteran and family homelessness research

Worst Case Housing Needs: 2023 Report to Congress (PDF)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research (HUD PD&R)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's 2023 Worst Case Housing Needs report to Congress, drawing on the 2021 American Housing Survey. Documents a record number of very-low-income unassisted renters paying more than half their income for rent or living in severely inadequate units.

Datapoints: 8.53 million households with worst case housing needs in 2021 (record high; up from 8.48M in 2011 and 5.01M in 2001); Definition: very-low-income unassisted renters paying >50% of income for rent and/or in severely inadequate housing; Breakdowns by income, household type, region, and race/ethnicity; 2.3M+ older-adult households with worst case needs; Gap between rental assistance need and supply

HUD User (PD&R Information Service)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R)Homelessness & HUD data

HUD's primary clearinghouse for housing and community-development research, datasets, and tools. Hosts Fair Market Rents, Income Limits, CHAS data, the LIHTC database, Worst Case Housing Needs reports, and the PD&R Edge research magazine.

Datapoints: Fair Market Rents (FMR); HUD Income Limits; Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) database; Picture of Subsidized Households; Worst Case Housing Needs estimates; American Housing Survey research

USAspending.gov — Federal Spending Transparency Platform

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Department of the Treasury (Bureau of the Fiscal Service)Homelessness & HUD data

Official open-data source for federal spending, including grants, contracts, and program awards searchable by agency, recipient, program (CFDA/Assistance Listing), and geography. Used to track funding flows for housing, food, and anti-poverty programs (e.g., SNAP, ERA, HUD CoC grants) with a full public API.

Datapoints: Federal award-level data (grants, loans, direct payments, contracts); Spending by agency, recipient, and Assistance Listing / program; Award amounts by state, county, and congressional district; Public REST API and bulk data downloads; COVID-relief and disaster supplemental spending tracking

VA Homeless Help (Veterans Affairs)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsHomelessness & HUD data

Official VA resource hub for homeless or at-risk veterans, routing them to programs including HUD-VASH, SSVF, Grant & Per Diem, and Health Care for Homeless Veterans via a 24/7 call center (877-424-3838) and online chat.

Datapoints: Program directory: HUD-VASH, SSVF, GPD, HCHV, HVCES, VR&E, VJO, CRRCs; National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (877-424-3838, 24/7); Eligibility and intake guidance for at-risk and currently homeless veterans

VA Housing Assistance

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsHomelessness & HUD data

VA central hub for veteran housing benefits, linking VA-backed home loans, housing-modification grants for service-connected disabilities, foreclosure-prevention help, and homeless-assistance resources.

Datapoints: VA home loan and refinance benefits; Certificate of Eligibility; Housing grants for disability-related home modifications; Foreclosure prevention assistance; Links to homeless-veteran shelter and long-term housing resources

VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Homeless Programs OfficeHomelessness & HUD data

VA program awarding grants to community-based organizations to provide transitional supportive housing and case management that move vulnerable veterans toward permanent housing, residential stability, increased income, and self-determination.

Datapoints: Transitional housing grant models for homeless veterans; Case Management grants for permanent-housing retention; Funding via Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov; Active Awards / grantee list

VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans (NCHAV) - Research

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Homeless Programs OfficeHomelessness & HUD data

Research center within the VA Homeless Programs Office producing briefs, publications, and reports on veteran homelessness across topics including housing interventions, health-care access, justice-involved veterans, unsheltered homelessness, and trauma-informed care.

Datapoints: Research briefs (1-2 pp), publications (academic), and technical reports; Topics: Housing First, HUD-VASH, employment, eviction/foreclosure, suicide risk, aging/women veterans; HV-REP veteran research engagement panel; intramural grants; fellowships; Underlying data platforms: HOMES, HMIS

VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Homeless Programs OfficeHomelessness & HUD data

VA grant program (launched FY2012) that funds community organizations to provide rapid re-housing and homelessness-prevention services to very low-income veteran families experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness.

Datapoints: Rapid re-housing for veterans experiencing literal homelessness; Homelessness-prevention services for at-risk veteran families; Most recent grant cycle: $818 million awarded to combat veteran homelessness; Provider/grantee directory and data-reporting requirements; FY2026 grant funding ~$818 million; Launched FY2012; rapid re-housing + prevention model; National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 877-424-3838; Nationwide grantee/provider network

Grants.gov - Federal Grant Search

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. General Services Administration / Grants.govHomelessness & HUD data

Official federal portal to discover and apply for grant opportunities, including housing, homelessness, food security, and social-services funding from HUD, USDA, HHS, and other agencies, for eligible organizations.

Datapoints: searchable federal funding opportunities; filter by agency, category, eligibility; application submission workflow; covers housing, food, and human-services programs

data.gov: AHAR Part 1 PIT Estimates of Homelessness

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. General Services Administration / HUD (data.gov catalog)Homelessness & HUD data

Data.gov catalog entry for HUD's AHAR Part 1, providing machine-readable PIT and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) estimates of homelessness as downloadable spreadsheets, including national, state, and CoC-level figures and longitudinal HIC bed counts.

Datapoints: national, state, and CoC PIT estimates; structured metadata and downloadable files; subpopulation counts; National, state, and CoC-level PIT estimates of homelessness; HIC estimates (bed inventory by program type); Chronically homeless persons; Homeless veterans; Homeless children and youth; 2007-2024 HIC counts by state (longitudinal XLSX)

GAO-20-433 — Homelessness: Better HUD Oversight of Data Collection Could Improve Estimates

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability OfficeHomelessness & HUD data

GAO review of HUD's Point-in-Time homeless count methodology, finding the count likely understates homelessness and that rent increases correlate with rising homelessness. Includes recommendations to strengthen HUD oversight of CoC data collection.

Datapoints: A $100 increase in median rent was associated with a ~9% increase in homelessness (metro data, 2017-2019); every $100 increase in median rent associated with a ~9% rise in homelessness; Every $100 increase in median rent associated with ~9% rise in homelessness; Relationship holds controlling for wages, poverty, and unemployment; A $100 increase in median rent is associated with about a 9% rise in homelessness; Roughly +9% rise in homelessness for every $100 increase in median rent; 2019 PIT count ~568,000 homeless individuals; $100 monthly rent increase associated with 9% homelessness increase; Recommendations on QA checks, sampling guidance, technical assistance

GAO-24-106688: Homelessness - Supportive Services Provided by Federal Programs

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)Homelessness & HUD data

GAO report comparing supportive services across HUD's Continuum of Care program and three HHS programs (CSBG, Health Center, PATH), documenting service types, staffing challenges, and funding stability provisions.

Datapoints: 650,000+ people homeless on a single night, Jan 2023 (highest since 2007); CoC emphasizes case management; HHS programs emphasize health/food services; Staffing/hiring as a key delivery constraint; FY2018-2022 program comparison data

Executive Order 14321 - Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets (full text)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Government Publishing Office / Federal RegisterHomelessness & HUD data

Full Federal Register text of Executive Order 14321 (July 24, 2025) directing HUD/HHS to deprioritize Housing First, condition assistance on treatment, prioritize grants to jurisdictions enforcing camping bans, and expand involuntary civil commitment.

Datapoints: Directs ending support for Housing First policies that deprioritize accountability; Prioritizes grants for jurisdictions enforcing anti-camping/drug laws; Promotes civil commitment / assisted outpatient treatment (AOT); Ties ~$4.4B in HUD homeless-assistance grants to encampment removal

Restrictions on Assistance to Noncitizens (24 CFR 5.425)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Government Publishing Office / HUD (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)Homelessness & HUD data

Federal regulation in Title 24 (Housing and Urban Development) governing prorated and restricted housing assistance for households with mixed citizenship/eligible-immigration status. Authoritative legal text for noncitizen eligibility rules in HUD housing programs.

Datapoints: Eligibility rules for noncitizens in HUD housing assistance; Proration of assistance for mixed-status households; Citizenship and immigration-status documentation requirements

eCFR Title 24 - Housing and Urban Development

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Government Publishing Office / National Archives (eCFR)Homelessness & HUD data

Continuously updated electronic Code of Federal Regulations Title 24, the full body of HUD regulations governing public housing, Section 8 vouchers, fair housing, CoC homeless assistance, and related programs.

Datapoints: HUD public housing and Housing Choice Voucher regulations; Fair housing and equal opportunity rules; Continuum of Care and HEARTH Act homeless assistance rules; Income limits, rent calculation, and eligibility provisions

U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) data & reports

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Interagency Council on HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

The independent federal agency that coordinates the national response to homelessness and publishes the Federal Strategic Plan; a key source for federal policy context, data-use guidance, and the metrics the federal government tracks.

Datapoints: National homelessness strategy and benchmarks; Population-specific data (veterans, youth, chronic); Evidence-based practice guidance; federal strategic plan goals; best-practice guidance; interagency coordination data; homelessness reduction targets; Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (All In / Home, Together); national PIT count framing and goals; racial-disparity and equity metrics; guidance, reports, and data resources by population; Federal Strategic Plan ("All In") goals and progress; National homelessness reduction targets and trends; Links to HUD, VA, HHS, USDA, DOL, and other member-agency homelessness programs; USICH reports and regional advisor / state interagency council network

USICH — Housing First Resources & Federal Strategic Plan

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

USICH's hub describing its statutory role in creating the national strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, with links to the full text of each federal plan from 2010 onward. The authoritative entry point for U.S. federal homelessness strategy.

Datapoints: Housing First Checklist and PSH implementation guidance; federal strategic plan to end homelessness; Housing First as federal standard (under 2024-2026 challenge); interim goal to reduce homelessness 25% by Jan 2025; six pillars (3 foundations + 3 solutions); ~30 strategies / 180 federal actions; Housing First framing; racial/ethnic disparity reduction targets; Current framework: 'All In' (2022) interagency roadmap; Historical plans: Opening Doors (2010 & 2015), Home Together (2018), Expanding the Toolbox (2020); Downloadable full text of all federal strategic plans; Links to funding, state interagency councils, and regional advisors

All In FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the Federal Strategic Plan

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

FAQ explaining implementation of 'All In,' covering Housing First, equity (targeted universalism), collaboration, prevention for at-risk groups (foster youth, Veterans, DV survivors), and accountability/annual progress reporting toward the 25% reduction goal.

Datapoints: 25% reduction goal by 2025; ~30 strategies and 180 actions across six pillars; Housing First guidance; Targeted universalism equity framework

All In: All Inside Initiative (Unsheltered Homelessness)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

USICH initiative under the federal strategic plan focused on reducing unsheltered and encampment-based homelessness through intensive federal-local partnerships in selected communities.

Datapoints: Federal-local partnership communities; Unsheltered homelessness reduction targets; Encampment resolution guidance

All In: Improve the Effectiveness of Homelessness Response Systems

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

Strategy section of the federal plan outlining six approaches to strengthen local homelessness response systems: ending unsheltered homelessness, reforming coordinated entry, expanding non-congregate shelter, cross-sector coordination, housing problem-solving, and removing eligibility/documentation barriers.

Datapoints: Six homelessness-response strategies; Coordinated entry reform; Non-congregate shelter expansion; Local implementation milestones and metrics

All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (101 Slides)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

Slide-deck overview of 'All In,' the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, organized around six pillars (equity, evidence, collaboration; housing/supports, homelessness response, prevention). Lays out the federal goal of reducing homelessness 25% by 2025 with ~30 strategies and 180 actions.

Datapoints: 25% homelessness reduction goal by 2025; Six-pillar framework (3 foundations, 3 solutions); ~30 strategies and 180 federal actions; Housing First and prevention strategies

All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (Framework & Implementation)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

Federal interagency strategic plan setting a goal to reduce homelessness 25% from the 2022 Point-in-Time count by 2025, with measurable implementation work plans, outputs, and outcomes.

Datapoints: 25% homelessness reduction target (from 2022 PIT baseline); Point-in-Time count progress metrics; HUD system performance measures (housing retention, returns to homelessness, racial disparities); School-identified youth homelessness measures

Home, Together: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (FY2018-2022)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

The FY2018-2022 federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness (predecessor to All In), a reference for prior federal homelessness goals and frameworks.

Datapoints: FY2018-2022 federal homelessness goals and objectives; Cross-agency coordination framework

Reducing Criminal Justice System Involvement Among People Experiencing Homelessness (USICH)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

Federal guidance/fact sheet outlining strategies to reduce the intersection of the criminal justice system and homelessness, including decriminalization, reentry programs, and removing housing barriers for people with records.

Datapoints: Strategies to reduce criminalization of homelessness; Reentry program enhancement guidance; Barrier removal for people with criminal records; Data on criminal-justice contact among homeless populations; Data on criminal-justice involvement among people experiencing homelessness; Enhanced reentry program approaches; Removal of housing/service barriers for individuals with criminal records

USICH Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (All In)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

USICH directory cataloging federal legislation, funding streams, and programs across 18 agencies that address homelessness, organized into targeted and non-targeted programs, anchoring the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.

Datapoints: Federal goals and strategies to reduce homelessness; Catalog of targeted programs (Continuum of Care, HUD-VASH); Non-targeted federal program inventory across 18+ agencies; Cross-agency coordination framework; 18 federal agencies' homelessness programs; targeted vs non-targeted program classification; HUD Continuum of Care, Emergency Solutions Grants, HUD-VASH; VA homeless services; legislative frameworks (McKinney-Vento, HEARTH Act, SUPPORT Act, VAWA)

USICH — Housing First Checklist

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Homelessness & HUD data

USICH primary checklist defining Housing First, confirming it explicitly rejects 'housing readiness' assessments that historically screened out the most vulnerable, and laying out the core low-barrier principles.

Datapoints: Defines Housing First's low-barrier, no-precondition principles; Explicitly rejects housing-readiness screening; Immediate access to housing with no preconditions or readiness requirements; Services voluntary and decoupled from tenancy

Building Connections to Housing During Reentry (OJP/NIJ)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Office of Justice Programs / National Institute of JusticeHomelessness & HUD data

March 2023 report (NCJ 306569) presenting survey findings from state Department of Corrections reentry coordinators on housing policies, homelessness-risk screening, interagency collaboration, and post-release housing gaps.

Datapoints: Survey of DOC reentry coordinators in 37 states; Homelessness-risk screening and post-release address policies; Interagency collaboration with housing/homelessness services; Identified barriers and recommendations for reentry housing; Responses from 37 states within six weeks; DOC homelessness-risk screening and post-release address practices; Interagency coordination between corrections and community housing/homelessness services; Post-release housing options and identified barriers/gaps

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (section-by-section)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsHomelessness & HUD data

2026 federal housing law (chaired by Sen. Tim Scott) creating a standing HUD disaster-recovery office and program, plus rural rental, manufactured-housing, shelter-flexibility, and institutional-investor provisions.

Datapoints: Authorizes a three-year disaster-recovery program and a standing HUD Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency; Preserves rental aid for ~400,000 rural USDA-financed families nationwide; Reauthorizes manufactured-home community stabilization for seven years; 'Homes Are For People, Not Corporations' restricts large institutional investors from buying single-family homes; Passed House 358-32 the week of June 22, 2026

USICH Federal Strategic Plan: Use Data and Evidence to Make Decisions

primary-govnationalguidelineUnited States Interagency Council on HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

The data-and-evidence pillar of the federal plan, laying out which federal data sources (PIT, HMIS, racial-disparity inflow/length-of-time/placement metrics) the government prioritizes and how it intends to expand HMIS coverage of unsheltered homelessness.

Datapoints: PIT count as the headline federal measure; racial disparities in inflow, length of time homeless, and placements; plans to expand HMIS and street-outreach data coverage; data-driven targeting of interventions; Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) as the core community data source; VA HOMES Veterans housing data; Cross-agency administrative data linkage (Medicaid, corrections, child welfare); National homelessness declined 14% (2010-2017) via evidence-based practices; Goal: reduce overall homelessness 25% by 2025; Data disaggregation by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, income, veteran status, age

Homelessness Is a Housing Problem (2022)

primary-academicnationalreportUniversity of California Press (Colburn & Aldern)Homelessness & HUD data

Book-length cross-city analysis showing that per-capita homelessness tracks housing cost and availability rather than poverty, addiction, or weather. Foundational to the 'housing problem' framing.

Datapoints: Regional homelessness rates correlate with rent and vacancy, not poverty or addiction rates; High-poverty cities can have low homelessness when housing is cheap

Terner Center for Housing Innovation

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of California, Berkeley (Terner Center for Housing Innovation)Homelessness & HUD data

UC Berkeley research center (the terner.berkeley.edu host) producing data-driven research and tools on housing affordability, housing supply, development costs, and homelessness policy. Its housing-supply and cost analyses are widely cited authoritative sources on why housing is unaffordable.

Datapoints: Terner Housing Policy Simulator modeling how local market conditions (land values, construction costs, regulation) shape policy outcomes; Addressing Homelessness in California: A Collaborative Research Series; Research on construction/development costs and affordability constraints; Housing policy simulation (land values, construction costs, regulatory effects); Affordable housing finance and production analyses; Permanent supportive housing and homelessness research; California housing legislation and budget analysis

Public Service Reductions Associated with Placement of Homeless Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Supportive Housing (Culhane Report)

primary-academicnationalreportUniversity of Pennsylvania (Dennis P. Culhane et al.), Housing Policy DebateHomelessness & HUD data

Landmark NYC study (the 'Culhane Report') merging placement records for 4,679 homeless persons with severe mental illness (1989-1997) with shelter, hospital, and corrections use to quantify the cost offsets of supportive housing.

Datapoints: Pre-placement public service use ~$40,451 per person/year (1999 dollars); Reduction in service use $16,281 per housing unit/year; Annual unit cost ~$17,277; net cost ~$995 per unit/year over first two years; Sample of 4,679 placements merged with shelter, hospital, and correctional data; Pre-placement public-service use ~$40,451/person/year (1999 dollars); Service-use reduction ~$16,281 per housing unit per year after placement; Annual supportive-housing unit cost ~$17,277; Net cost ~$995 per unit per year over first two years; Reductions in shelter use, hospitalizations, length of stay, and incarceration

Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & PracticeHomelessness & HUD data

Penn initiative supporting state and local governments in building integrated data systems (IDS) that link housing, homelessness, safety-net, health, child-welfare, and justice data for policy analysis. Publishes governance, legal, technology, and racial-equity toolkits and maps 70+ partner data collaboratives.

Datapoints: integrated data system (IDS) governance frameworks used by states and localities; dedicated housing and homelessness policy area; Housing and Essential Needs research and toolkits; founded 2009; MacArthur Foundation funded; Quality Framework for data collaborations; Network of 70+ integrated data systems (interactive map); Toolkits: governance, legal/data sharing, technology, racial equity; Domains: housing/homelessness, economic security, behavioral health, education, justice; integrated data system (IDS) frameworks and toolkits; cross-agency data on housing, health, economic security; quality and equity frameworks for data sharing

Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & PracticeHomelessness & HUD data

Penn-based national center (the relevant authoritative resource on the upenn.edu host) advancing integrated data systems and ethical use of administrative data for social policy, directed by homelessness-data pioneer Dennis Culhane. Its work underpins the federal requirement that jurisdictions maintain Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) to receive HUD funding.

Datapoints: Network of 40+ state and local integrated data systems (IDS) efforts; A Toolkit for Centering Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration (2nd edition); Originated from the Philadelphia Kids Integrated Data System (KIDS), early 2000s; Underlies federal HMIS administrative-data tracking requirements for homeless services

Dennis P. Culhane — Homelessness & Housing Policy Research

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & PracticeHomelessness & HUD data

Faculty research hub for Dennis Culhane, a leading homelessness and assisted-housing-policy researcher whose work uses linked administrative data to study chronic homelessness, shelter utilization, aging homeless populations, and veteran homelessness.

Datapoints: shelter and service utilization research; chronic, veteran, youth, and elderly homelessness; linked administrative data methods; Co-directs Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP), promoting integrated data systems for policy analysis; Former Director of Research (2009-2018), VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans; Research on aged-homelessness projections, shelter-resident employment, and community-level homeless-rate trends; Methodology centered on linked administrative data and integrated data systems

County Health Rankings - Severe Housing Problems Measure

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationHomelessness & HUD data

County-level measure of the percentage of households with at least one of four severe housing problems, derived from HUD CHAS data. The standard definition used in community health and housing-need assessments.

Datapoints: % households with at least one of: incomplete kitchen, incomplete plumbing, overcrowding (>1 person/room), severe cost burden (>50% income); county-level five-year averages; source: HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), 2017-2021

Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond evaluation

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Randomized evaluation of Housing First supportive housing in Denver, measuring housing stability and offsetting reductions in jail, shelter, and emergency service use. Frequently cited cost-effectiveness finding.

Datapoints: Supportive housing increased housing stability and reduced costly emergency/justice system use; Control group cost ~$25,554/person/year in public services (jail, ER, detox, shelter); Supportive housing cost ~$18,678/person/year (~$6,876 less, housing included); 77% of those housed were still stably housed at three years

State-by-State Homelessness and Housing Inventory Data Tools

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUrban InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

State-level dataset and tools tracking the most recent homelessness counts and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) bed capacity, plus the share of beds supported by different federal funding sources. Companion to Urban's 'Homelessness and Housing Program Trends by State' tool.

Datapoints: People experiencing homelessness on a given night: 770,000+ (2024) vs 653,100 (2023); Homelessness rate per 10,000 residents by state (e.g., <8 in MS/LA to 80 in HI/WA/NY); Housing Inventory Count beds: emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, other permanent housing, safe haven; Share of beds by federal funding source (McKinney-Vento, VA programs)

Urban Institute — Five Ways the HEARTH Act Changed Homelessness Assistance

established-research-orgnationalarticleUrban InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Urban Institute explainer on how the HEARTH Act reshaped federal homelessness assistance, useful background on the statutory framework behind the Continuum of Care program.

Datapoints: HEARTH Act reforms to homelessness assistance; Background to the Continuum of Care program structure; Federal homelessness-assistance program structure changes; Continuum of Care / chronic-homelessness prioritization context

Urban Institute — Homelessness Is Solvable Only With Sufficient Investment in Housing

established-research-orgnationalarticleUrban InstituteHomelessness & HUD data

Evidence-led explainer arguing the affordable-housing shortage drives homelessness and citing the vouchers/permanent-supportive-housing evidence base. Standing citation source for the structural-causes framing.

Datapoints: Affordable-housing shortage estimates; Housing Choice Voucher and permanent supportive housing evidence; Investment-vs-outcome analysis for homelessness interventions

HUD — FY2024/FY2025 CoC and YHDP NOFO (FR-6800-N-25)

primary-govnationalguidelineUS Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

The combined FY2024/FY2025 CoC NOFO (released Nov 13, 2025; ~$3.918B) later challenged in NAEH v. HUD.

Datapoints: ~$3.918 billion available; 30% PSH cap (down from ~87%) in the contested version

HUD — FY2026 CoC and YHDP NOFO (CPD-2600-DC-0025) full text

primary-govnationalguidelineUS Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

The primary FY2026 CoC and YHDP Grants NOFO document with eligible-applicant types, match requirements, FMR and grant-term rules, and merit-review scoring.

Datapoints: Eligible applicant entity types and for-profit ineligibility; 25% match requirement (24 CFR 578.73); 100% FMR cap; YHDP up to 36 months assistance; Eligible applicant entity-type codes (states, counties, PHAs, 501(c)(3)); FMR / SRO / grant-term rules; 200-point Merit Review favoring treatment-conditioned housing

Executive Order 14321 — govinfo (DCPD-202500793)

primary-govnationalguidelineUS Government Publishing Office (govinfo)Homelessness & HUD data

GovInfo compilation record for EO 14321, confirming Federal Register publication (July 29, 2025; 90 FR 35817; FR doc 2025-14391).

Datapoints: FR publication July 29, 2025 (90 FR 35817); FR doc number 2025-14391; FR publication date and citation; Document number DCPD-202500793

Food Insecurity Screenings Connect Veterans to Resources

primary-govnationalarticleVA News (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)Homelessness & HUD data

VA News article describing the VA's food-insecurity screening (added to the homelessness screener in 2017) and reporting USDA-derived prevalence of food insecurity among working-age veterans.

Datapoints: 11% of working-age veterans (18-64) food insecure, 2015-2019 (USDA); VA added food-insecurity component to its homelessness screener in 2017; Definition: limited or uncertain access to nutritionally sufficient food

Veteran Homelessness Continues Downward Trend (2025 PIT Count)

primary-govnationalarticleVA News (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)Homelessness & HUD data

VA News article reporting that veteran homelessness has fallen 56% since 2010, based on the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count released by HUD in May 2026.

Datapoints: 56% decline in veteran homelessness since 2010; Source: 2025 HUD Point-in-Time (PIT) Count (released May 2026)

VA Research - Homelessness Topic Page

primary-govnationalreportVA Office of Research & DevelopmentHomelessness & HUD data

VA Office of Research & Development overview of veteran-homelessness research, summarizing prevalence, risk factors, and intervention outcomes including Housing First retention and the effects of dental care, legal services, and military sexual trauma.

Datapoints: ~40,000 veterans homeless on a given night (Jan 2017); 45% decline 2009-2017; 91% male / 9% female; female veteran homelessness rose 7% (2016-2017); Misconduct-discharge homelessness rate 5.4% vs ~1% overall; Military sexual trauma: 9.6% homelessness after 5 years vs 4.8% unexposed; Housing First retention 80-90%

CalMatters

otherstate-NCorg-hubCalMattersHomelessness & HUD data

Nonpartisan nonprofit California newsroom with standing, sourced homelessness/housing-cost explainers and a 'crisis explained' format. Best out-of-market explainer-desk template; statewide (California) scope.

Datapoints: standing housing/homelessness explainers; California housing-cost coverage

CalMatters — California's Homelessness Crisis Explained

otherstate-NCarticleCalMattersHomelessness & HUD data

Standing, updated, sourced homelessness explainer from a nonpartisan nonprofit newsroom; a best-in-class out-of-market format template for a maintained crisis explainer.

Datapoints: California homelessness counts and trends; Housing-cost drivers of homelessness; Policy-response overview

2025 NC Balance of State CoC PIT Summary (by County / by Region)

local-authoritystate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)Homelessness & HUD data

County- and region-level breakdowns of the 2025 Point-in-Time count for the NC Balance of State CoC (NC-503), the CoC that covers most rural Western NC counties affected by Helene.

Datapoints: PIT counts by NC county within the Balance of State CoC; PIT counts by NC BoS region; sheltered/unsheltered split; year-over-year change

NCCEH Mini PIT Dashboard (with Helene)

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)Homelessness & HUD data

An interactive multi-year summary of Point-in-Time counts for the Durham, NC Balance of State, and Orange CoCs, including the Hurricane Helene impact on counts.

Datapoints: 6-year PIT trend for Durham, NC BoS, and Orange CoCs; sheltered vs. unsheltered breakdown; Helene-related impacts on NC counts

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency: Policy Matters (homelessness data blog)

local-authoritystate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)Homelessness & HUD data

NCHFA's analysis of the latest HUD AHAR data for North Carolina, summarizing statewide trends and the drivers (notably Hurricane Helene) behind the increase, with NC-specific figures.

Datapoints: statewide NC homelessness totals and trend; share sheltered vs. unsheltered in NC; drivers of the increase (Helene; Asheville/Buncombe + Balance of State)

Texas Tribune — How Texas Explains Homelessness

otherstate-NCarticleThe Texas TribuneHomelessness & HUD data

Nonpartisan nonprofit newsroom homelessness explainer; with the Texas affordable-housing series, a validated explainer-desk format template (alongside CalMatters). No directory.

Datapoints: Texas homelessness counts and policy context; Affordable-housing series coverage; Explainer-desk format approach

UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative — CASPEH statewide study findings

primary-academicstate-NCreportUCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI)Homelessness & HUD data

Findings from the 2023 California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), the largest representative survey of homeless adults since the 1990s, with authoritative mental-health and substance-use prevalence data. (Scope: California statewide; widely cited nationally.)

Datapoints: ~66% reported any current mental-health condition; 35% regular illicit drug use (prior 6 months); ~40% regular drug use or heavy alcohol use; 48% reported one or both

UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative — Aging findings press release

primary-academicstate-NCreportUniversity of California San Francisco (UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative)Homelessness & HUD data

Press release on aging findings from the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), the largest representative study of homelessness since the 1990s. Documents age of first homelessness episode among older adults.

Datapoints: 41% of older homeless adults had their first episode of homelessness after age 50; 48% of single homeless adults are aged 50 or older (distinct statistic)

Buncombe County Continuum of Care Quarterly Update (briefing)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportBuncombe County / Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of CareHomelessness & HUD data

A local government briefing on the Asheville-Buncombe CoC's status, presented to County Commissioners, summarizing homelessness program data, the PIT count, and system response for the WNC region.

Datapoints: local CoC system metrics and program inventory; PIT count context for Buncombe; homelessness program management updates; Helene recovery housing/sheltering response

NYC Open Data Portal

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubCity of New York (Office of Technology and Innovation)Homelessness & HUD data

New York City's free public data catalog, with thousands of datasets published by city agencies and accessible through the Socrata (SODA) API. The catalog is browsable by agency (e.g., Department of Homeless Services, Human Resources Administration) and by category (Social Services, Housing & Development).

Datapoints: Thousands of agency-published datasets; SODA / Socrata Open Data API for programmatic access; Browse by agency or category; export as CSV/JSON; Scout exploration tool at scoutopendata.com; Department of Homeless Services shelter census datasets; Housing maintenance code violations and HPD data; Affordable housing production data; Social-service program datasets

NYC Open Data – Social Services category

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubCity of New York / NYC Open DataHomelessness & HUD data

Category landing page collecting NYC datasets related to homeless services, public assistance, SNAP/cash assistance enrollment, and social-service facilities, useful as a model for how a city publishes social-determinant data.

Datapoints: Homeless shelter and drop-in center locations; HRA public assistance / SNAP caseload data; Directory of social service facilities

DHS Daily Report (NYC shelter census)

otherlocal-AVLdatasetNYC Department of Homeless Services / NYC Open DataHomelessness & HUD data

Daily counts of individuals and families in the NYC Department of Homeless Services shelter system, a widely cited near-real-time municipal homelessness indicator. Available via download and the SODA API for the dataset id k46n-sa2m.

Datapoints: Total individuals in shelter (daily); Families with children / adult families counts; Single adults in shelter; Updated daily; SODA API endpoint available

All Chicago — Homelessness Facts (Myth vs. Fact)

otherglobalarticleAll Chicago — Making Homelessness HistoryHomelessness & HUD data

Myth-vs-fact page pairing common misconceptions with sourced local data (Point-in-Time counts, housing wage) from the Chicago Continuum of Care lead body. Explainer axis; a clean myth-vs-fact layout template.

Datapoints: Chicago Point-in-Time homelessness count; Local housing wage; Myth-vs-fact statements with citations

Amnesty International — Finland NGO funding cuts report (EUR2092192025)

otherglobalreportAmnesty InternationalHomelessness & HUD data

Report documenting Finnish STEA funding cuts to social/health NGOs (EUR 383M in 2024 reduced sharply), context for the 2024-25 homelessness reversal.

Datapoints: STEA funding to NGOs cut from EUR 383 million in 2024; Context for Finland's homelessness reversal; STEA NGO funding cut from EUR 383M (2024); Impact on Housing First service providers

Ending Homelessness Among People With Mental Illness: At Home/Chez Soi Randomized Trial of Housing First (Toronto)

primary-govglobalarticleBMC Public HealthHomelessness & HUD data

Randomized controlled trial of a Housing First intervention providing stable housing without preconditions to 575 homeless individuals with mental illness in Toronto.

Datapoints: 575 homeless participants with mental illness randomized; 65% reported some level of suicidality; 38% substance dependence, 37% psychotic disorder, 36% depression at baseline

Increased Risk of Death Following Compulsory Substance Use Treatment

primary-academicglobalarticleBoston University — Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current EvidenceHomelessness & HUD data

Boston University's peer-review-summarizing AOD Health publication reviews a Swedish cohort study finding sharply elevated mortality, especially in the first two weeks, after discharge from compulsory (involuntary) substance use treatment. Key evidence against forced-treatment approaches to addiction and homelessness.

Datapoints: Post-discharge mortality of 7 per 100 person-years after compulsory treatment; Highest risk in the first 2 weeks after discharge: 14 per 100 person-years vs 4 for the remainder of the year; Based on Swedish data 2000-2017, n=7,929 individuals; Swedish cohort 2000-2017: 7,929 individuals completing 6-month compulsory programs, 494 deaths during follow-up; Mortality rate 7 per 100 person-years, substantially higher than age/sex-matched rates; Mortality highest in first 2 weeks post-discharge: 14 per 100 person-years vs 4 for remainder of year

Centre for Public Impact — Eradicating Homelessness in Finland (Housing First)

otherglobalarticleCentre for Public ImpactHomelessness & HUD data

Case study of Finland's Housing First / PAAVO programme, the commonly cited secondary source for the ~68% reduction in long-term homelessness framing (2008-2022), drawn from official ARA series.

Datapoints: ~68% reduction in long-term homelessness (2008-2022, secondary framing); Housing-supply transformation as the operative driver

Destination: Home — Understanding Homelessness (Myth vs Fact / By the Numbers)

otherglobalarticleDestination: Home (Santa Clara County, CA)Homelessness & HUD data

Santa Clara County anti-homelessness charity pairing a Myth vs Fact page with a By the Numbers data explainer. Closest single-org explainer-plus-data match; structural-causes framing.

Datapoints: Santa Clara County homelessness figures; Myth-vs-fact statements on causes of homelessness; Local cost-of-housing and income data

European Commission - Combatting Homelessness / Social Inclusion

primary-intlglobalorg-hubEuropean Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and InclusionHomelessness & HUD data

European Commission policy hub on social protection and inclusion, including the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness and the 2021 Lisbon Declaration committing EU member states to ending homelessness by 2030.

Datapoints: European Platform on Combatting Homelessness (launched 2021); Lisbon Declaration commitments; EU social inclusion and poverty-reduction targets; Member-state homelessness policy coordination

ETHOS Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion

established-research-orgglobalguidelineFEANTSAHomelessness & HUD data

The European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS), the standard framework for defining and measuring homelessness across four conceptual categories: rooflessness, houselessness, insecure housing, and inadequate housing. A simplified ETHOS Light version exists for statistical counts.

Datapoints: Four categories: rooflessness, houselessness, insecure housing, inadequate housing; ETHOS Light simplified statistical version; Available in 23+ languages; used for data collection, policy, and monitoring; four conceptual categories of housing exclusion; operational definitions for measuring homelessness; ETHOS-Light variant for statistical comparison

FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless)

established-research-orgglobalorg-hubFEANTSAHomelessness & HUD data

European confederation of homelessness-service organizations driving policy change and research, home to the European Observatory on Homelessness and the ETHOS typology of homelessness and housing exclusion. The leading non-US reference for homelessness frameworks.

Datapoints: ETHOS typology of homelessness and housing exclusion; European Observatory on Homelessness research/reports; Homeless in Europe magazine; EU-level homelessness policy and EPOCH (end homelessness by 2030) initiative

Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe (annual report series)

established-research-orgglobalreportFEANTSA & Fondation Abbé PierreHomelessness & HUD data

Annual flagship report (co-published by FEANTSA and the Fondation Abbé Pierre) tracking housing exclusion, housing-cost burden, and homelessness trends across European countries, with cross-national statistics and policy analysis.

Datapoints: Housing cost overburden rates by country; Homelessness trend data across EU member states; Severe housing deprivation and overcrowding indicators; Published annually

9th Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe 2024

established-research-orgglobalreportFEANTSA & Fondation Abbé Pierre (FAP)Homelessness & HUD data

Annual FEANTSA/FAP report documenting housing exclusion and homelessness across Europe, with a 2024 focus on young people and children in inadequate or emergency housing.

Datapoints: ~400,000 minors on streets or in emergency/temporary housing; Several million young people in inadequate housing; Rising rents, prices, and worsening affordable-housing shortage; Policy recommendations on rental regulation and social housing

European Observatory on Homelessness (EOH) Research Hub

established-research-orgglobalorg-hubFEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless)Homelessness & HUD data

Research arm of FEANTSA (the host feantsaresearch.org redirects here), the European homelessness federation, publishing the European Journal of Homelessness, comparative studies, and the annual Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe. Provides the definitional and measurement framework used across Europe.

Datapoints: Comparative national homelessness policy and data across EU member states; Annual European Research Conference proceedings; Translational research on homelessness and housing exclusion; European comparative homelessness research; policy and practice analysis; Observatory established 1992; European Journal of Homelessness (19+ volumes, open access); Annual Comparative Studies on Homelessness; European Research Conference on Homelessness (200+ researchers); Observatory founded 1992; Comparative national homelessness data across European countries; Annual European homelessness policy and practice analysis; Translational homelessness research and conference proceedings; European Observatory on Homelessness publications; comparative pan-European homelessness studies; annual European Research Conference on Homelessness; 9th Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe (2024): ~1,287,000 people rough sleeping, in night shelters, or temporary accommodation; Comparative European reports on women, refugees, disability, youth, and Housing First; Publishes the European Journal of Homelessness (peer-reviewed); European Observatory on Homelessness established 1992; Annual research conference draws 200+ researchers; Comparative Studies on Homelessness series uses national-expert questionnaires; ETHOS typology of homelessness and housing exclusion; European Journal of Homelessness (peer-reviewed); Comparative Studies on Homelessness series; Annual Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe data; National expert questionnaire data

FEANTSA - What is Homelessness (ETHOS Typology)

established-research-orgglobalguidelineFEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless)Homelessness & HUD data

Authoritative reference defining homelessness and housing exclusion via the ETHOS (European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion) framework. Provides a transnational conceptual standard widely cited in homelessness research and policy.

Datapoints: ETHOS four conceptual categories: rooflessness, houselessness, insecure housing, inadequate housing; Definitions used for cross-national homelessness measurement and policy; Distinction between literal homelessness and housing exclusion

The Finnish Homelessness Strategy (Pleace, European Journal of Homelessness 11(2))

otherglobalreportFEANTSA / European Journal of Homelessness (Pleace, N.)Homelessness & HUD data

Policy analysis of Finland's national Housing First strategy (Paavo I/II), the leading international case of systems-level homelessness reduction via housing supply.

Datapoints: Finnish homelessness fell from above 8,000 (2008) to ~3,700 (2022); Paavo I cut long-term homelessness 28% and delivered 1,519 units; Paavo II cut long-term homelessness from 2,628 (2012) to 2,047 (2016, -23%); Hostel/boarding-house populations fell 76% (2008-2017)

Comparative Studies on Homelessness (EOH series)

established-research-orgglobalreportFEANTSA / European Observatory on HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Annual report series examining a single pan-European homelessness theme each year using questionnaires completed by national experts across countries. A model for cross-jurisdiction comparison of homelessness drivers and responses.

Datapoints: Annual thematic cross-national homelessness reports; National-expert questionnaire data across European countries

European Journal of Homelessness

established-research-orgglobalreportFEANTSA / European Observatory on HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Open-access peer-reviewed journal providing critical analysis of homelessness policy and practice across Europe (19+ volumes), produced by the European Observatory on Homelessness. FEANTSA also originated the ETHOS typology, the standard framework for classifying homelessness and housing exclusion internationally.

Datapoints: Peer-reviewed homelessness research, 19+ volumes; Comparative national and regional homelessness policy reviews; ETHOS typology context (FEANTSA's standard typology of homelessness and housing exclusion); biannual peer-reviewed journal; open access; 19+ volumes; policy and practice analysis; Peer-reviewed studies on homelessness policy and practice; Cross-national comparative homelessness analysis; 19+ open-access volumes; comparative homelessness policy analysis; European country case studies; Comparative European homelessness research and policy analysis; ETHOS typology of homelessness and housing exclusion; Annual comparative studies on homelessness using national-expert questionnaire data; Biannual, fully open-access; 19+ volumes published; Covers Housing First, prevention, and homelessness measurement; Peer-reviewed homelessness research articles; Comparative policy reviews (local/national/EU); Three issues per year; Edited by Prof. Eoin O'Sullivan

Finland — New programme to end long-term homelessness (Finnish Government)

otherglobalreportFinnish Government (Valtioneuvosto)Homelessness & HUD data

Official Finnish Government announcement of a programme to end long-term homelessness by 2027 backed by over EUR 8 million, the leading international Housing First counter-model.

Datapoints: Aims to end long-term homelessness by 2027; Backed by more than EUR 8 million; Target to end long-term homelessness by 2027; More than EUR 8M in funding

Florida HB 1365 — Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping (Fla. Stat. 125.0231)

primary-govglobalguidelineFlorida SenateHomelessness & HUD data

Florida's statewide camping/sleeping ban (effective Oct 1, 2024), the model statute for state-level camping bans after Grants Pass; bars localities from authorizing public camping and creates a private right of action. (State law; cited nationally as a template.)

Datapoints: Effective Oct 1, 2024; Bars counties/municipalities from authorizing public camping/sleeping; Designated sites only by majority vote (DCF-certified); Private right of action; Prohibits counties/municipalities from authorizing public camping/sleeping; Counties may designate property for up to one year by majority vote; Prohibits counties/municipalities authorizing public camping; One-year designation of public property by majority vote; Effective October 1, 2024

Finding a Better Frame: How to Create More Effective Messages on Homelessness in the United Kingdom

otherglobalguidelineFrameWorks Institute / Crisis UKHomelessness & HUD data

Communications-science research from the FrameWorks Institute and Crisis on how to talk about homelessness more effectively, finding that an individualist 'bad choices' lens suppresses support for systemic solutions and that structural framing performs better. Foundational evidence on homelessness messaging.

Datapoints: individualist framing suppresses support for systemic solutions; structural/systems framing increases support; tested message recommendations for homelessness communication

Pleace et al. 2019 — Housing First in Europe: Implementation, Strategy and Fidelity

otherglobalreportHousing First Europe HubHomelessness & HUD data

Authoritative European synthesis defining Housing First as an intensive support model for people with high and complex needs (distinct from rapid rehousing), documenting fidelity/'model drift' problems and that HF cannot be the sole response to homelessness.

Datapoints: HF scoped to high and complex needs, distinct from rapid rehousing; Fidelity erosion ('model drift') risk; HF alone insufficient where most homelessness is not high-needs; Defines HF as intensive support for high and complex needs, distinct from low-intensity rapid rehousing; States HF 'is not designed as a response to every form of homelessness'; Documents widespread fidelity erosion ('model drift') in real-world implementation

Housing First Europe Hub

otherglobalorg-hubHousing First Europe Hub (FEANTSA-affiliated network)Homelessness & HUD data

European network (49 partners across 24 countries) promoting the Housing First model to end homelessness, providing guides, fidelity and evaluation tools, training, and systems-change research.

Datapoints: Housing First Guide – Europe; Fidelity and evaluation frameworks; Train-the-Trainer program; 49 partners across 24 countries; Systems-change research (Demos Helsinki)

Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH)

otherglobalorg-hubInstitute of Global Homelessness (DePaul University)Homelessness & HUD data

DePaul University initiative serving as a global knowledge hub on homelessness, providing standardized definitions, a global data map, and a topical resource hub connecting practitioners, researchers, and policymakers worldwide.

Datapoints: Global Homeless Data Map with country-level statistics; IGH Framework (standardized homelessness definitions/categories); Resource Hub organized by prevention, housing, and supportive services

Baxter et al. 2019 — Housing First effects meta-analysis (J Epidemiol Community Health / BMJ)

primary-govglobalreportJournal of Epidemiology & Community Health / PubMed CentralHomelessness & HUD data

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing Housing First effects on housing stability and health among people who are homeless or at risk. Finds strong housing-stability gains but mixed/imprecise short-term health effects.

Datapoints: Hospitalizations IRR 0.76 (0.70-0.83; I2=0%); ED visits IRR 0.63 (0.48-0.82); Mental-health SMD 0.07 (n.s.); Housing First vs Treatment First housing-stability outcomes (~88% reduction in homelessness; ~41% improvement in stability); quality-of-life effects; substance-use outcomes (no clear difference); RCT risk-of-bias assessment; mortality and hospitalization effects in subgroups

King County Regional Affordable Housing Dashboard

primary-govglobaldashboardKing County, WashingtonHomelessness & HUD data

Nonpartisan government data dashboard tracking cost burden and affordability gaps across King County, Washington. Data only.

Datapoints: Cost-burdened household share by area; Affordable-housing supply gaps; Affordability targets and progress measures

At Home/Chez Soi National Cross-Site Final Report

otherglobalreportMental Health Commission of CanadaHomelessness & HUD data

The full national cross-site final report of the At Home/Chez Soi trial, presenting outcomes and cost analysis for Housing First across all five sites. The primary citable document for the trial's findings.

Datapoints: Cross-site synthesis of all five-city results; Cost-effectiveness analysis (cost offsets highest for heavy service users); Outcomes on housing stability and quality of life over two years

At Home/Chez Soi National Final Report (Housing First trial)

otherglobalreportMental Health Commission of CanadaHomelessness & HUD data

The final report of the world's largest randomized trial of Housing First, following over 2,000 people experiencing homelessness and mental illness over two years across five Canadian cities, a foundational evidence base cited in US homelessness policy debates.

Datapoints: 2,000+ participants tracked for 2 years; Five cities: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Moncton; Housing First outcomes for chronically homeless with mental illness

Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)

otherglobalorg-hubMental Health Commission of CanadaHomelessness & HUD data

Canada's national mental health body, home to landmark Housing First research and ongoing work on homelessness, criminal-justice intersections, and the social determinants of mental health.

Datapoints: 1.79M+ people trained through mental health programs; Housing First evidence and toolkits; Finding New Pathways criminal-justice action plan

At Home/Chez Soi Housing First Project

otherglobalreportMental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)Homelessness & HUD data

The world's largest randomized controlled trial of Housing First for people experiencing homelessness with mental illness, conducted across five Canadian cities. A foundational evidence base cited in Housing First vs Treatment First policy debates, including current U.S. debate.

Datapoints: $110 million federal investment (2008); pragmatic randomized controlled field trial; 2,000+ participants across Vancouver (497), Winnipeg (513), Toronto (575), Montreal (469), Moncton (201); Two-year follow-up; Housing First compared to existing local services; Found Housing First works in Canada and is most cost-effective for high-service-utilization clients

Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) — Data

otherglobaldashboardMetro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI)Homelessness & HUD data

Seven-county Continuum of Care lead publishing HMIS/Point-in-Time data, State of Homelessness reports, and dashboards for Metro Denver. Data axis only.

Datapoints: Metro Denver Point-in-Time counts; HMIS system-performance data; State of Homelessness reports and dashboards

OECD Affordable Housing Database

primary-intlglobaldatasetOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Homelessness & HUD data

Cross-country database of housing-market, conditions, and policy indicators across OECD and partner countries, supporting comparison of housing affordability, social housing, and homelessness.

Datapoints: Housing cost burden / overburden rates; Homelessness estimates by country; Social/affordable housing stock; Housing conditions (overcrowding, quality); Housing-related public spending

OECD Housing and Affordable Housing Database

primary-intlglobaldatasetOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Homelessness & HUD data

OECD's cross-national housing hub and Affordable Housing Database providing comparable indicators on housing costs, conditions, homelessness, and policy across member countries.

Datapoints: Housing cost overburden and affordability indicators by country; Homelessness estimates and definitions across countries; Social/affordable housing stock and spending; Housing conditions and overcrowding indicators

Homelessness (Our World in Data)

established-research-orgglobalarticleOur World in Data (University of Oxford / Global Change Data Lab)Homelessness & HUD data

Data-driven overview of global homelessness measurement, comparing point-in-time and flow counts across OECD countries and explaining the definitional challenges that limit cross-country comparison.

Datapoints: Homelessness rates per 100,000 population by country; Point-in-time vs. flow count distinction; Gender breakdown of homeless populations; Three categories: street/public space, temporary accommodation, severely inadequate housing

CASPEH — California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness

primary-academicglobalreportUCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (Kushel et al., 2023)Homelessness & HUD data

Largest representative study of homelessness in decades (2023, behavioral-health findings 2024-2025), asking people directly about the order of housing loss, drug use, and treatment access. Cited as the strongest representative evidence where no equivalent local study exists.

Datapoints: Median monthly household income before homelessness was $960; 70% said a monthly rental subsidy of $300-$500 would have prevented their homelessness for a sustained period; Many people began using drugs only after losing housing; Roughly 1 in 5 who wanted treatment could not get it; 42% of regular drug users began using regularly only after first becoming homeless; Most common drug was methamphetamine, then opioids; 1 in 5 who used substances wanted treatment and could not get it

International Journal on Homelessness (IJOH)

otherglobalorg-hubUniversity of Western Ontario in collaboration with the Institute of Global HomelessnessHomelessness & HUD data

Open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal (ISSN 2564-310X) publishing international research on homelessness prevention, interventions, specific populations, lived experience, and epidemiology; indexed in DOAJ, EBSCO, and Erudit.

Datapoints: Peer-reviewed homelessness prevention and intervention studies; Population-specific research (youth, Indigenous, women, rural, older adults, newcomers); Epidemiological and lived-experience studies; Multilingual submissions with free translation

Varke / ARA — Finland National Homelessness Statistics

otherglobaldatasetVarke (Centre for State-subsidised Housing Construction, Finland) / formerly ARAHomelessness & HUD data

Official Finnish national homelessness statistics (the implementing source behind widely cited Housing First outcome figures), using the EU ETHOS Light classification. Documents both the long decline under Housing First/PAAVO and the 2024-2025 reversal.

Datapoints: long-term homelessness down ~70% 2008-2023; first annual increase since 2012 in 2024 (+377 to 3,806 single homeless); 2025 single homeless rose to 4,579 (+20%); long-term to 1,306 (+29%); rough sleeping 758; drivers: rising rents + cuts to benefits and housing-advice services

Varke (Finland) — Homelessness statistics

otherglobaldatasetVarke (Finnish Centre for Housing Finance and Development, formerly ARA)Homelessness & HUD data

Finnish national homelessness statistics tracking the long decline and the 2024 reversal.

Datapoints: Total homelessness decline from 18,000 (1987); 2024 rise in single homeless people (to 3,806)

Varke (ARA) — Homelessness Statistics, Finland

otherglobaldatasetVarke — Centre for State-subsidised Housing Construction (Finland), successor to ARAHomelessness & HUD data

Official Finnish national homelessness statistics, the primary data behind Finland's Housing First / PAAVO outcomes and the documented 2024-2025 reversal (single homeless people rising to 4,579 in 2025, long-term homeless 1,306, rough sleeping 758).

Datapoints: Single homeless people rose to 4,579 in 2025 (+773, +20%); Long-term homeless 1,306 in 2025 (+29%); Long-term homelessness fell ~70% between 2008 and 2023; Single homeless people rose to 4,579 in 2025 (+773 / +20%); Long-term homeless 1,306 in 2025; rough sleeping 758; Methodology follows EU ETHOS Light

Y-Foundation (Y-Saatio) — Housing First in Finland

otherglobalorg-hubY-Foundation (Y-Saatio)Homelessness & HUD data

Key Finnish Housing First implementer documenting Finland's homelessness trajectory and the recent reversal, attributing the 2024-2025 increase to rents, benefit cuts, and reduced housing-advice funding rather than Housing First failure.

Datapoints: confirms 2024 first rise in over a decade; 2025 hit vulnerable groups hardest (1,000+ homeless women, ~760 youth under 25, 966 with foreign background); 'progress achieved is not permanent'; Documents Finland's Housing First implementation and large-scale social housing supply; Notes recent increases among women, youth under 25, and people with foreign background; 2024-25 reversal hit women, youth, and foreign-background groups hardest; Progress not permanent without sustained supply/support

AARP Public Policy Institute - Livable Communities Topic Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubAARP Public Policy InstituteCensus, ACS & poverty data

Research hub collecting AARP reports, fact sheets, and analyses on livable and age-friendly communities, including studies that merge Livability Index scores with American Community Survey demographics. Houses the Livability Index reveal reports and category fact sheets.

Datapoints: 'Which Older Adults Have Access to America's Most Livable Neighborhoods?' (Livability Index + ACS demographics); 'What is Livable? Community Preferences of Older Adults' survey of 4,500+ adults age 50+; Seven downloadable category fact sheets explaining the 61 indicators; Complete Streets / walkability and older-pedestrian-safety findings

How High Are Household Energy Burdens? (ACEEE)

othernationalreportAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)Census, ACS & poverty data

ACEEE analysis of energy burden disparities by income, race, and city, drawing on Census American Housing Survey data. Establishes high-energy-burden thresholds and racial gaps in energy cost relative to income.

Datapoints: 1 in 4 U.S. households (2 in 3 low-income) have high energy burdens (>6% of income); Low-income households spend 8.1% of income on energy vs. 2.3% for non-low-income; Black households spend 43% more, Hispanic 20% more, Native American 45% more than white households; Weatherization could cut burdens ~25%; City-level high-burden shares (Birmingham 34%, Detroit 30%, etc.); Low-income households spend 8.1% of income on energy vs 2.3% for others; Black households spend 43% more, Hispanic 20% more, Native American 45% more on energy; Manufactured-home residents face 71% higher energy burdens; Weatherization can cut low-income energy burden ~25%

KIDS COUNT - Children Below 100% Poverty indicator

established-research-orgnationaldatasetAnnie E. Casey Foundation (data from U.S. Census Bureau / ACS)Census, ACS & poverty data

Interactive indicator table for children living below the federal poverty line, filterable by state, year, race/ethnicity, and age group, sourced from the American Community Survey.

Datapoints: number and percent of children below 100% FPL; breakdowns by race/ethnicity and age; state-by-state and national trends

Appalachian Region Chartbook (ARC)

primary-govnationalreportAppalachian Regional Commission (ARC)Census, ACS & poverty data

ARC's flagship data report compiling over 300,000 data points on the economy, income, employment, education, demographics, and technology access across Appalachia's 13 states, drawn from the American Community Survey and Census population estimates. Presents indicators at regional, subregional, state, and county levels.

Datapoints: Population 26,554,853; median age 41.3; Median household income $64,588 (82% of U.S.); High school attainment 90%; bachelor's 28.8%; Employment rate 95.9%; Broadband subscription 86.2% of households; Population 26.5 million; median age 41.3 years; High school completion 90%; bachelor's degree 28.8%; Labor force employment rate 95.9%; Median household income $64,588 (82% of U.S. average); Device access 92%; broadband subscription 86.2%; County-level and subregional breakdowns

ARC County Economic Status and Distressed Areas Classification

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapAppalachian Regional Commission (ARC)Census, ACS & poverty data

ARC's annual classification system rating all 423 Appalachian counties (distressed, at-risk, transitional, competitive, attainment) using a three-year average of unemployment, per capita market income, and poverty rates, with an ArcGIS interactive map and downloadable data tables. Also designates distressed census tracts.

Datapoints: FY2027: 76 distressed, 85 at-risk, 240 transitional, 18 competitive, 4 attainment counties; Index inputs: 3-yr avg unemployment rate, per capita market income, poverty rate; Distressed tract criteria: median family income <=67% U.S. average AND poverty >=150% national average; County- and tract-level economic status by fiscal year; Methodology documents and state-by-state breakdowns

CDC 500 Cities Project (2016-2019)

primary-govnationaldatasetCDC / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation / CDC FoundationCensus, ACS & poverty data

City and census-tract estimates for 27 chronic-disease and prevention measures across the 500 largest U.S. cities (2016-2019), the predecessor to PLACES.

Datapoints: 27 chronic disease / health-behavior / prevention measures; Estimates at city and census-tract level; Coverage of ~103 million people (~1/3 of U.S. population)

CDC PLACES Data Portal

primary-govnationaldashboardCDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionCensus, ACS & poverty data

Repository and API for PLACES small-area health estimates at county, place, census-tract, and ZIP-code-tabulation-area level, covering chronic disease, prevention, social needs, and social determinants of health.

Datapoints: 40 health-related measures (outcomes, prevention, risk behaviors, disability); Health-related social needs (from BRFSS); Social determinants of health (from ACS); Geographies: county, place, census tract, ZCTA; Downloadable datasets and API access

Census Reporter - Table B25106 (Tenure by Housing Costs as Percentage of Household Income)

othernationaldatasetCensus ReporterCensus, ACS & poverty data

Free, open-source presentation of ACS table B25106 measuring housing cost burden by tenure and income bracket, making renter and owner cost-burden rates easy to view for any geography.

Datapoints: Housing costs <20%, 20-29%, and 30%+ of household income (cost-burden thresholds); Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied breakdown; Income brackets ($0-20K, $20-35K, $35-50K, $50-75K, $75K+); Zero/negative income and no-cash-rent categories

Census Reporter

othernationalorg-hubCensus Reporter (independent, Knight Foundation funded)Census, ACS & poverty data

A nonprofit, open-source project and API that makes U.S. Census Bureau / American Community Survey data easy to find, browse, and pull for any geography. Useful for quickly retrieving local poverty, income, rent-burden, and demographic profiles without raw Census API plumbing.

Datapoints: ACS profile pages by place; housing tables (B25xxx); poverty tables (B17xxx); tract-level data; ACS profile pages by geography; demographics & income summaries; housing & poverty tables; comparison across places; JSON data API endpoints; table search by topic; Browsable ACS profiles for states, counties, places, and tracts; Income, poverty, and housing-cost tables by geography; census-api for programmatic ACS access; census-postgres schema/scripts for ACS data; census-table-metadata and shapefile utilities; acs-aggregate for rolling ACS data up to non-Census geographies

Census Reporter: Housing Data Topic Guide

othernationalguidelineCensus Reporter (open-source project)Census, ACS & poverty data

Reference guide explaining the housing data the American Community Survey collects, mapping the concepts (occupancy, tenure, costs, value, rent burden, physical condition) to specific Census B25 table codes. A practical key for finding the right housing-insecurity indicators in Census data.

Datapoints: Occupancy and vacancy; owner vs renter tenure; Home value, mortgage status, selected monthly owner costs; Contract rent and gross rent; rent-as-share-of-income (cost burden); Structure type, year built, rooms/bedrooms, plumbing/kitchen completeness (substandard housing); Crosswalk to B25-series ACS table codes

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) — explainer

primary-academicnationalarticleCenter for Poverty and Inequality Research, UC DavisCensus, ACS & poverty data

Academic research-center explainer describing what the Census SAIPE program is, how it models income and poverty for small geographies, and how to use it. Provides context on geographic variation in poverty and points to the underlying Census data.

Datapoints: Geographic coverage: states, counties, school districts (1989-present); Regional poverty rates (e.g., 9.7% Midwest to 11.9% South, 2024); How SAIPE combines survey, administrative, and population data

What Drives Displacement? Involuntary Mobility and the Faces of Gentrification

othernationalarticleCity & Community (SAGE / American Sociological Association)Census, ACS & poverty data

Peer-reviewed study (Beck & Martin, 2025) testing alternative operational definitions of gentrification against Census data to measure its association with involuntary residential displacement.

Datapoints: Census-derived gentrification measures; involuntary mobility / displacement rates; comparison of multiple gentrification definitions

Congressional Budget Office — Demographic Outlook (Immigration Projections)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Budget OfficeCensus, ACS & poverty data

CBO January 2026 Demographic Outlook estimating net immigration of ~410K in 2025 and projecting a rise from 2026 through 2030, the authoritative counter-forecast to the Census continued-collapse trajectory.

Datapoints: net immigration ~410K in 2025, rising 2026-2030; directional disagreement with Census on 2026+ migration path; Net immigration ~410K (2025), rising 2026-2030; Directional disagreement with Census on 2026+ migration; Net immigration ~410K in 2025, rising 2026-2030; Competing forecast to Census continued-collapse path; Net immigration ~410K (2025); Rising trajectory 2026-2030 (vs Census continued-decline path)

CISER Data Archive (Cornell)

primary-academicnationaldatasetCornell Center for Social Sciences (CISER)Census, ACS & poverty data

Curated social-science data archive at Cornell holding searchable economic, income, poverty, demographic, and Census-derived datasets (e.g., study 2834) for reuse in poverty and inequality research.

Datapoints: archived social-science datasets; income and poverty studies; Census-derived data

EPI Poverty Data (official & supplemental)

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy InstituteCensus, ACS & poverty data

EPI's interactive poverty series presenting official poverty rates (from ACS and CPS methods) and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, useful for contextualizing economic hardship that underlies food and housing insecurity.

Datapoints: Official poverty rate trends; Supplemental Poverty Measure (accounts for benefits and expenses); Official poverty rate (ACS and CPS based); Supplemental Poverty Measure rate; Economically insecure population estimates; Demographic breakdowns; Official poverty rates via American Community Survey and Current Population Survey methods; Supplemental Poverty Measure (accounts for taxes, benefits, and cost of living)

EPI State of Working America Data Library

established-research-orgnationaldashboardEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)Census, ACS & poverty data

A free, interactive data portal publishing EPI's analyses of wages, employment, poverty, productivity, inflation, and inequality, with charts downloadable as data. Built on Current Population Survey and Census microdata, it documents the wage and cost-of-living pressures that drive housing and food insecurity.

Datapoints: Real hourly wages by percentile; Productivity-pay gap; Unemployment by state; Minimum wage levels; official and supplemental poverty rates; racial/gender wage gaps and CEO-to-worker ratios; wages (hourly/annual by demographic); official and supplemental poverty rates; minimum wage (real and nominal); income from Census tables; wage disparities (race/gender, college premium, CEO ratio); productivity vs. compensation since 1948; Real hourly wages by percentile (1973–present); Productivity–pay gap (1948–present); Unemployment by state (monthly); Official and supplemental poverty rates; minimum-wage series; 10 topic collections, 35+ datasets, downloadable; Topic areas: employment, income, minimum wages, poverty, prices/inflation, productivity, unions, wage disparities, and wages; Real hourly wages by percentile (1973-present): 2025 median $25.67/hr, 10th percentile $14.56/hr, 90th percentile $65.38/hr; Productivity-pay gap (1948-present): 2024 productivity index 398.2 vs compensation 242.9; Unemployment rate by state (1978-present), updated monthly; Wage disparities including Black-white, Hispanic-white, and gender wage gaps and CEO-to-worker pay ratios; hourly and annual wages; wage gaps by race and gender; official and supplemental poverty; minimum wage over time; economically insecure population; underemployment / labor force participation

ArcGIS Business Analyst

othernationaltoolEsriCensus, ACS & poverty data

Paid location-intelligence platform integrating demographic, census, consumer-spending, and lifestyle data with map analytics for community needs assessment, site selection, and trade-area analysis (relevant for service-gap and food-access mapping). Free trial available.

Datapoints: Demographic variables (age, income, family size, etc.); Census and business establishment data; Consumer spending and market-potential indicators; 15,000+ variables across 170+ countries; Trade-area, drive-time, and territory analysis; custom infographics/reports

Esri ArcGIS Data Portfolio (Demographics & Tapestry)

othernationaldatasetEsriCensus, ACS & poverty data

Esri's curated demographic and socioeconomic data portfolio for ArcGIS, combining Census/ACS data with Esri Updated Demographics and Tapestry neighborhood segmentation for mapping poverty, housing, and community characteristics.

Datapoints: Esri Updated Demographics (2,000+ current-year and 5-year-forecast variables); American Community Survey data layers; Tapestry Segmentation (60 US neighborhood segments); Consumer spending data; 60 neighborhood segments and 12 LifeMode groups; Segment attributes including socioeconomic status and buying power; Neighborhood-level coverage across the United States

Esri ArcGIS Data Portfolio (Updated Demographics & Tapestry)

othernationaldatasetEsriCensus, ACS & poverty data

Esri's commercial demographic data suite layering current-year estimates and forecasts plus Tapestry geodemographic segmentation onto U.S. neighborhoods, built from Census Bureau, American Community Survey, and consumer-survey sources. Used for neighborhood-level demographic and socioeconomic mapping.

Datapoints: Updated Demographics: 2,000+ demographic and socioeconomic variables with 5-year forecasts; Tapestry: 60 segments / 12 LifeMode groups across ~240,000 block groups; Source inputs: 2020 decennial census, ACS, MRI-Simmons consumer surveys; Vintage updated annually (2025)

FHFA House Price Index Datasets

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)Census, ACS & poverty data

Downloadable house price indexes measuring single-family home value changes back to the mid-1970s across states, metros, ZIP codes, and census tracts, a core measure of housing-cost appreciation and affordability pressure.

Datapoints: Purchase-only and all-transactions HPIs; Expanded-data and (developmental) manufactured-homes indexes; Coverage of 50 states, 400+ cities, 100 largest MSAs, 3- and 5-digit ZIPs, census tracts; Monthly, quarterly, and annual frequencies; seasonally adjusted and unadjusted

IPUMS CPS: Replicating Official Poverty Estimates (Methodology Notes)

primary-academicnationalguidelineIPUMS (University of Minnesota)Census, ACS & poverty data

Methodology documentation for replicating the Census Bureau's official poverty estimates using harmonized Current Population Survey microdata in IPUMS CPS, including the variables and family-income/threshold logic needed to reproduce official poverty status.

Datapoints: OFFPOV (official poverty status); OFFPOVUNIV (poverty universe); OFFCUTOFF (poverty threshold); OFFTOTVAL (total family income); OFFREASON (discrepancy reason codes); FTYPE (official family type)

IPUMS

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS Center for Data Integration, University of MinnesotaCensus, ACS & poverty data

Free, harmonized census and survey microdata integrated across time and place, enabling research on income, poverty, employment, housing characteristics, and household composition. Collections span U.S. and international census records, the ACS, CPS, and major health surveys.

Datapoints: IPUMS USA: U.S. census/ACS microdata 1850-present; IPUMS CPS: labor force and household microdata 1962-present; NHGIS: aggregate census tables and GIS boundary files; Variables on income, poverty, housing, employment, household structure; IPUMS USA: U.S. Census + ACS microdata, 1850-present; IPUMS CPS: Current Population Survey, 1962-present (income, poverty, food security supplement); IPUMS NHGIS: census summary tables + GIS, 1790-present; IPUMS Health Surveys: NHIS (1963+), MEPS (1996+); IPUMS International: 100+ countries

IPUMS USA

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS Center for Data Integration, University of MinnesotaCensus, ACS & poverty data

Harmonized U.S. census and American Community Survey microdata repository with enhanced documentation, enabling longitudinal analysis of housing, income, and demographic variables from 1790 to the present.

Datapoints: Decennial census microdata 1790-2010 and ACS 2000-present; Housing variables: tenure (OWNERSHP), rent (RENT), housing characteristics, household appliances; Economic variables: income, occupation, industry, work status, education, migration; Demographic variables: age, race, sex, marital status, disability/veteran status

IPUMS API Program

primary-academicnationalapiIPUMS, University of MinnesotaCensus, ACS & poverty data

Unified API for programmatic access to all IPUMS microdata and aggregate collections, including metadata discovery endpoints and extract-request data endpoints for ACS, CPS, NHGIS, and health surveys used in poverty, housing, and social-determinant research.

Datapoints: Metadata endpoints for variables and codes across collections; Extract-request data endpoints (IPUMS USA, CPS, International, NHIS, MEPS, NHGIS); Microdata, aggregate, and spatial (GIS) data delivery; Data-extract endpoints (asynchronous microdata extracts); Metadata endpoints (variables, codes, samples); Collections: IPUMS USA, CPS, International, NHIS, MEPS, ATUS, NHGIS, DHS; Microdata, aggregate, and spatial/shapefile data

NCES Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE)

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationCensus, ACS & poverty data

Program providing demographic, economic, and geographic estimates for the social and spatial context of education, including school-district neighborhood poverty indicators built from ACS data.

Datapoints: School-district neighborhood poverty estimates; ACS-based child and family socioeconomic indicators; School district boundaries, locale classifications, attendance boundaries; Comparable wage index

Data Tools for Cities (Census Bureau resources)

othernationalarticleNational League of Cities (article by U.S. Census Bureau Director)Census, ACS & poverty data

Guide to U.S. Census Bureau data and visualization tools cities can use for equity and data-driven decisions, including demographic, economic, resilience, and opportunity datasets.

Datapoints: data.census.gov; My Community Explorer (inequality mapping); Community Resilience Estimates (disaster/social vulnerability); ACCESS BROADBAND Dashboard; The Opportunity Atlas; Census Business Builder

NaNDA on openICPSR

primary-academicnationaldatasetopenICPSR / University of Michigan Institute for Social ResearchCensus, ACS & poverty data

Publicly available archive of theoretically derived, spatially referenced nationwide measures of the physical and social neighborhood environment at census tract, ZCTA, and county levels, covering housing, food access, walkability, healthcare, transit, and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Datapoints: Downloadable neighborhood contextual measure files; Food access, housing, healthcare, transit, disadvantage indices; Multiple spatial scales (county to block group); Socioeconomic disadvantage and affluence by tract/ZCTA; Fast food and food-access measures; Housing characteristics; Healthcare, libraries, recreation, public transit access; Crime, land use, walkability, climate; 1981-present

Opportunity Atlas - Resources & Data Downloads

primary-academicnationaldatasetOpportunity Insights (Harvard University)Census, ACS & poverty data

Documentation, tutorials, and supplemental data for the Opportunity Atlas, a Census-tract-level dataset of children's long-term economic outcomes by the neighborhood they grew up in. Includes a 2020 Census-tract crosswalk and FAQs.

Datapoints: Atlas data sourcing/interpretation methodology; Downloadable FAQs, data-overlay guidance, tract boundaries; Tutorial modules and case studies (e.g., Seattle housing policy); Upward income mobility by Census tract; Outcome variables by race, gender, and parental income subgroup; Neighborhood characteristics correlated with mobility; 2020 Census tract boundary crosswalk (CSV)

Key facts about housing affordability in the U.S.

established-research-orgnationalarticlePew Research CenterCensus, ACS & poverty data

A short-read summarizing key facts about U.S. housing affordability, supply, homeownership, and renter cost burden, synthesizing federal data from the Census Bureau, BLS, and the Federal Reserve.

Datapoints: 49% of Americans called housing affordability a major local problem (Oct 2021); Active listings fell ~60% from ~1 million (Feb 2020) to 408,922 (Jan 2022); Median home sale price +25% from $327,100 (Q4 2019) to $408,100 (Q4 2021); Rental vacancy rate fell from ~10% (2010) to 5.6% (end 2021); 46% of renters spent >=30% of income on housing in 2020; 23% spent >=50%; Rents rose 18% over five years vs 16% inflation; Homeownership by race (Q4 2021): 74% White, 43% Black, 48% Hispanic

QCEW Data Viewer (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCensus, ACS & poverty data

Interactive viewer for the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, a near-census of employment and wage data covering more than 95% of U.S. jobs. Produces custom tables of average weekly wages, employment levels, and establishment counts by industry and geography.

Datapoints: average weekly wage; total employment; establishment counts; quarterly and annual data; NAICS industry detail (high-level to 6-digit); establishment size-class data

ACS Data via API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

API access to the ACS, the largest annual source of social, economic, housing, and demographic estimates. 5-year estimates reach down to census tracts and block groups; 1-year estimates cover larger geographies.

Datapoints: B17xxx poverty variables; B25xxx housing variables; S-series subject tables via API; geography hierarchy (state>county>tract>block group); median household income; poverty rate; housing cost burden (rent/owner); tenure (rent vs own); educational attainment; employment/labor force; health insurance coverage; household composition; vacancy/occupancy; geographies: nation, state, county, place, tract, block group, ZCTA; ACS 1-Year Data (2005-2024), areas 65,000+ population; ACS 1-Year Supplemental Data (2014-2024), geographies 20,000+ population; ACS 5-Year Data (2009-2024), block-group level; PUMS microdata (1-year and 5-year); Migration flows and language statistics; Housing, income, poverty, and demographic detail tables

ACS Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Untabulated person- and housing-unit-level American Community Survey records that allow custom analysis of income, poverty, housing cost burden, and demographics down to PUMA geography.

Datapoints: Person- and household-level ACS records (1-year and 5-year); Custom tabulation of poverty, income, rent burden, household composition; Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs); Microdata Access Tool (MDAT) and downloadable files

AHS Table Creator

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Interactive tool for building custom tables from American Housing Survey data for the U.S. and selected metropolitan areas, covering detailed housing-quality, cost, and occupancy characteristics.

Datapoints: custom cross-tabs of housing cost, quality, tenure; national and metro summary tables; year-over-year housing topics; Custom AHS tables for U.S. and selected metro areas; Housing cost and affordability characteristics; Physical housing quality and adequacy; Occupancy and tenure characteristics

American Community Survey (ACS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

The nation's premier annual survey of income, earnings, rent burden, and economic characteristics down to the census-tract level; the underlying source for most local cost-of-living and hardship statistics.

Datapoints: Poverty rate by place; Median rent and home value; Cost-burdened renters/owners (30%+ of income); Overcrowding; Income distribution; median household income; earnings by occupation; gross rent as % of income (rent burden); poverty status; employment status; 1-year and 5-year estimates

American Community Survey (ACS) Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Primary hub for ACS estimates covering social, economic, demographic, and housing characteristics. Offers 1-year (areas 65,000+) and 5-year (down to block-group) estimates accessible via data.census.gov, data profiles, and the API.

Datapoints: housing cost burden; tenure (owner/renter); median household income; poverty rate; gross rent; owner costs (with/without mortgage); home value; household composition

American Community Survey (ACS) Technical Documentation

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Documentation hub for the American Community Survey, the primary national source of small-area data on housing, income, poverty, employment, and demographics. Provides code lists, definitions, accuracy/statistical-testing guidance, table shells, geography changes, and data-release rules needed to use ACS estimates correctly.

Datapoints: ACS variable codes and definitions; Statistical testing and margin-of-error methodology; Data release rules and suppression policies (updated 2024-10-18); Table shells and table lists (1-year and 5-year); GEOID/geography changes and comparability across years; Errata notes and user notes; Underlying ACS topics: housing cost burden, income, poverty, employment, education, household composition

Building Permits Survey (BPS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Monthly and annual Census Bureau survey of new privately-owned residential construction authorized by building permits, available at national, state, CBSA, county, and place levels - a leading indicator of housing supply.

Datapoints: Housing units authorized by building permits (monthly, YTD, annual); Single-family vs multifamily permit counts; Geography: national, state, CBSA/MSA, county, place; Historical series back to 1995

Census Academy

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Free U.S. Census Bureau training platform (Data Gem videos, webinars, courses, tutorials) that teaches how to find and use Census data on income, poverty, and housing through data.census.gov and related tools. A reusable how-to resource for working with the poverty/income/housing datasets behind insecurity analysis.

Datapoints: Data Gems how-to video tutorials; Webinars and online courses on Census data tools; Guidance on accessing data.census.gov; My Community Explorer local demographic tool training; API integration and data-science tutorials

Census Bureau ACS Poverty Data Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Directory of downloadable American Community Survey poverty tables (XLS/CSV/PDF) and links to data.census.gov for poverty rates and characteristics by geography and demographic group.

Datapoints: ACS poverty rates by state, county, and place; Poverty by age, race, family type; Downloadable tables and data.census.gov access

Census Bureau Data and Maps / Data Tools and Applications

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Catalog of Census interactive tools and apps relevant to housing and poverty, including data.census.gov, QuickFacts, My Community Explorer, My Congressional District, TIGERweb, and thematic interactive maps.

Datapoints: My Community Explorer (poverty/resilience); My Congressional District; TIGERweb geography; Housing Unit Change Viewer; interactive maps; Income and Poverty Interactive Data Tool (SAIPE small-area income and poverty estimates); American Housing Survey Table Creator; Household Pulse Data Tool; EDA-Census Poverty Status Viewer (high-poverty areas); Community Resilience Estimates Viewer; Health Insurance Interactive Data Tool

Census Bureau Housing Topic Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Central hub for Census Bureau housing data covering affordability, vacancies, rental housing, new construction, residential financing, and residential segregation patterns. Draws on the ACS, American Housing Survey, Building Permits Survey, and Decennial Census.

Datapoints: Housing affordability for families at different price levels; Housing vacancy rates (Decennial Census and ACS); Rental housing inventory and characteristics down to census-tract level; New housing units authorized by building permits (national/regional); Residential financing and mortgage characteristics; Residential segregation indexes (dissimilarity, isolation)

Census Bureau Income & Poverty Topic Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Top-level Census Bureau hub for income and poverty measurement, organizing eight subtopics including poverty, income inequality, the Supplemental Poverty Measure, Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, and public assistance. Gateway to the underlying surveys and tools.

Datapoints: poverty measures overview; income statistics; links to SAIPE/SPM/CPS/ACS; publications and stories; Official poverty thresholds and rates; Income and income inequality measures; Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM); Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE); Program income and public assistance receipt; Wealth and asset ownership; Well-being indicators (housing, basic needs)

Census Bureau Interactive Maps

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Directory of the Census Bureau's interactive mapping tools spanning poverty, health insurance, employment, community resilience, and disaster impact, queryable down to county and tract level.

Datapoints: SAIPE small-area poverty estimates viewer; SAHIE small-area health insurance estimates viewer; Community Resilience Estimates (social vulnerability); OnTheMap employment/worker-location data; My Community Explorer disaster-impact tool; TIGERweb boundaries and features

Census Bureau Poverty Measures (Official Poverty Measure guidance)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Methodological guidance explaining the official poverty measure: money-income definition, 48 poverty thresholds by family size/composition, and derived metrics like income-to-poverty ratio and income deficit.

Datapoints: official poverty thresholds (48 variants); money income definition; ratio of income to poverty; income deficit/surplus; OMB Statistical Policy Directive 14 basis

Census Data API Discovery Tool

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Directory of the Census Bureau's ~1,789 API datasets (aggregate and microdata) with endpoints, variables, geographies, and examples, including ACS, CPS, SIPP, County Business Patterns, and Population Estimates.

Datapoints: ~1,789 dataset endpoints; aggregate and microdata APIs; ACS, CPS, SIPP, CBP, Population Estimates; geography and variable specifications

Census Data API Key Signup

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Free signup gateway to obtain an API key for programmatic access to all U.S. Census Bureau datasets, including the American Community Survey and decennial census. Required to query Census data on poverty, income, and housing at scale.

Datapoints: API key issuance for the Census Data API; Programmatic access to ACS, decennial, and population estimates endpoints; Terms of service for data access

Census Geocoder

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Interactive and REST API service that matches U.S. addresses to geographic coordinates and Census geographies (tracts, block groups), with single-address and batch processing. Essential for joining housing, food-access, and poverty data to census boundaries.

Datapoints: Find Locations and Find Geographies endpoints (one-line, parsed, batch); Batch address and coordinate geocoding to census tracts/blocks; Coverage: US, Puerto Rico, and US Island Areas; Geocoding Services API guide (HTML/PDF)

Census Persistent Poverty Areas (2023 release)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau analysis identifying persistent-poverty counties and tracts (poverty rate of 20%+ for ~30 years), showing that most persistently poor tracts fall outside persistently poor counties.

Datapoints: 341 of 3,142 counties (10.9%) persistently poor; 8,238 of 71,700+ tracts (11.3%) persistently poor; 6.1% of population in persistent-poverty counties; 9.0% of population in persistent-poverty tracts; 20%-for-30-years definition

Census TIGERweb GeoServices REST API / Map Service

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

REST-based GIS service delivering Census geographic boundaries (states, counties, tracts, block groups) as map, feature, and image layers. Used to map and spatially analyze poverty, housing, and food-insecurity data by Census geography.

Datapoints: Census geographic boundary layers (states, counties, tracts, block groups); Current and Census2020 TIGERweb service directories; Map, feature, attribute, and image endpoints (GeoServices REST spec)

Census.gov Data Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Central gateway to U.S. Census Bureau data tools, tables, APIs, and visualizations across population, income, poverty, housing, and the economy.

Datapoints: data.census.gov tables (ACS, decennial, economic); Developer APIs and data tools; Interactive visualizations and maps; Topic-based datasets (income & poverty, housing)

Community Resilience Estimates (CRE)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau program providing a single, easily understood metric of how socially vulnerable every U.S. neighborhood is to the impacts of disasters, down to the census-tract level. Useful for mapping social vulnerability (a social determinant overlapping poverty and housing/food risk) for AVL-area tracts.

Datapoints: Social vulnerability score by number of risk factors (0, 1-2, 3+); Estimates at state, county, and census-tract levels; CRE for Heat (experimental heat-vulnerability product); CRE for Response product; County-level disaster-exposure ranking tables; Interactive CRE Viewer mapping tool

Decennial Census of Population and Housing

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Constitutionally mandated complete count of U.S. residents every ten years, providing population and housing characteristics from national to block level and serving as the denominator for poverty, housing, and program-allocation estimates.

Datapoints: total population counts by geography; age and sex; race and Hispanic origin; housing unit counts; block-to-national geographic detail

Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2024 (P60-288)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Annual Census Bureau report on U.S. health insurance coverage for 2024, based on the CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Relevant as a health-related social determinant alongside income and poverty.

Datapoints: 92.0% (310 million) had health insurance for some/all of 2024; Private coverage 66.1%; public coverage 35.5%; Employment-based 53.8%; Medicare 19.1%; Medicaid 17.6%; direct-purchase 10.7%; Private coverage +0.7 pts and public coverage -0.8 pts vs. 2023; Children under 19 private coverage 63.0% (up from 61.2%)

Historical County-Level Poverty Estimates Tool

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Visualization tool showing county-level poverty rates from the 1960-2000 decennial censuses plus 2010 5-year ACS estimates, for long-run trend analysis.

Datapoints: county poverty rate 1960-2010; long-run poverty trends; geographic comparison over decades

Historical Poverty Tables (thresholds & people, 1959-present)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Long-run time series of official poverty rates and counts by demographic group, plus the historical poverty thresholds used to define poverty since 1959.

Datapoints: Official poverty rate by year; Poverty by age/race/family type; Poverty thresholds by household size; Number of people in poverty

History of the Federal Poverty Measure

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau explainer on the origin and methodology of the official US poverty measure, including the Orshansky thresholds (minimum food diet times three), OMB Statistical Policy Directive 14, and the distinction from HHS poverty guidelines and the Supplemental Poverty Measure.

Datapoints: Official poverty thresholds methodology (food cost x 3); Source survey (CPS ASEC); OMB Statistical Policy Directive 14; Distinction between thresholds, HHS guidelines, and Supplemental Poverty Measure

Household Pulse Survey / Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey - Datasets

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Public-use microdata files from the Census Household Pulse Survey (2020-2024) and its successor, the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS, 2025+), measuring near-real-time household hardship including food insufficiency, housing insecurity, employment, and financial stress. Microdata enable custom analyses of food/housing insecurity trends.

Datapoints: Food insufficiency (household-level); Housing insecurity / difficulty paying rent or mortgage; Employment and income disruption; Financial hardship and difficulty with expenses; Public Use Files (PUFs) in SAS and CSV, 2020-2026; Replicate weight files and data dictionaries

Household Pulse Survey Interactive Data Tool

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Interactive dashboard for visualizing Household Pulse / HTOPS estimates over time, including food scarcity, housing insecurity, and spending difficulty, with state and metro filtering for historic cross-sectional phases.

Datapoints: food scarcity over time; housing insecurity; difficulty with expenses; employment/income loss; by demographic group; Food insufficiency rates; Housing insecurity / rental and mortgage payment pressure; Difficulty paying household expenses; Breakouts by race/ethnicity, income, age, and state/metro

Household Pulse Survey — Data Tools

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Landing page for the interactive Household Pulse Survey data tools, including the archived interactive application for exploring HPS data (Phases 4.0 to 4.2) and links to data tables and public-use files on household food, housing, employment, and well-being hardship.

Datapoints: Interactive exploration of HPS estimates by state and demographic group; Food-sufficiency, rent/mortgage payment status, and employment-loss measures; Phase 4.0 to 4.2 data tables and public use files (PUF); Cross-sectional data through final October 2024 release

Household Pulse Survey — Technical Documentation

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Methodology, questionnaires, and source-and-accuracy documentation for the experimental Household Pulse Survey (HPS), the near-real-time survey (April 2020 to September 2024) measuring how emergent economic and social conditions affected U.S. households. The HPS transitioned into the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS) in 2025.

Datapoints: Survey methodology and phase specifications (Phases 1 through 4.2); Questionnaire instruments measuring food sufficiency, housing/rent payment status, employment loss, and household well-being; Source and accuracy statements (sampling and estimation); Response-rate tables and nonresponse bias analysis

Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (HVS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Quarterly and annual survey providing current national, regional, and state rental and homeowner vacancy rates and homeownership rates, plus characteristics of vacant units. The rental vacancy rate is a federal leading economic indicator and a key gauge of housing-market tightness.

Datapoints: Rental vacancy rate (national, regional, state); Homeowner vacancy rate; Homeownership rate by demographic group; Characteristics of vacant units available for occupancy; Quarterly time series and trend charts

Housing Vacancies and Homeownership Survey (HVS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau survey providing current rental and homeowner vacancy rates, homeownership rates, and characteristics of available units; the rental vacancy rate is a component of the index of leading economic indicators.

Datapoints: Rental vacancy rate (quarterly/annual); Homeowner vacancy rate; Homeownership rate (national, regional, by demographics); Characteristics of units available for occupancy

Income & Poverty Data Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Comprehensive collection of detailed and historical income and poverty data tables drawn from CPS ASEC, ACS, and SAIPE, including poverty thresholds and historical series back to 1959.

Datapoints: poverty thresholds by family size; historical poverty rates (1959-present); income distribution / Gini; poverty by demographic group

Income and Poverty Interactive Data Tool (SAIPE)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau interactive application for exploring Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates by geography, including state, county, and school-district poverty rates and median income. Useful for visualizing local (county-level) poverty without writing code.

Datapoints: county poverty rate map; school-district child poverty; median household income by area; time-series trends; County-level poverty rate and count; Child poverty estimates; Median household income by geography; School-district poverty estimates

Income in the United States: 2024 (P60-286)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Annual Census Bureau report on household income, earnings, and income inequality for 2024, based on the CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC). A canonical citation for national median-income and inequality figures.

Datapoints: Median household income $83,730 in 2024 (not statistically different from 2023's $82,690); Median income changes by race/ethnicity (Asian +5.1%, Hispanic +5.5%, Black -3.3%); Median earnings of full-time year-round male workers +3.7%; Female-to-male earnings ratio 80.9% in 2024 (down from 82.7%); Gini index (no significant change); 90th-percentile income +4.2%

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2024 (press release)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

The Census Bureau's official press release announcing the 2024 annual income, poverty, and health insurance findings, summarizing the headline figures and linking to the three detailed P60 reports. A concise authoritative reference for the latest national numbers.

Datapoints: official poverty rate (10.6%); SPM (12.9%); real median household income; income inequality (Gini); uninsured rate; Median household income $83,730 (2024, statistically unchanged); Official poverty rate 10.6%; 35.9 million in poverty; Supplemental Poverty Measure 12.9%; Health insurance: 92.0% covered, 8.0% (27.1 million) uninsured all year; Income changes by race/ethnicity

Measuring America: How the U.S. Census Bureau Measures Poverty

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Official Census Bureau infographic/explainer describing the two ways the Bureau measures poverty each year: the official measure (based on cash resources) and the supplemental measure (which adds non-cash benefits). A plain-language reference for understanding poverty methodology.

Datapoints: Official poverty measure definition (cash resources); Supplemental poverty measure definition (adds non-cash benefits); Visual explainer of poverty methodology

Microdata Access Tool (MDAT)

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Tool for building custom cross-tabulations from public-use microdata (ACS PUMS, CPS), enabling tailored poverty and housing analyses not available in standard tables.

Datapoints: custom ACS PUMS tabs; poverty by detailed characteristics; housing cost by household type; PUMA-level estimates

Nearly Half of Renter Households Are Cost-Burdened (by Race and Ethnicity)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau press release reporting that nearly half of U.S. renter households are cost-burdened, with rates broken out by race and ethnicity, drawn from the 2023 ACS 1-year estimates.

Datapoints: Black renters 56.2% cost-burdened (4.6M); severe 30.6% (2.5M); Hispanic renters 53.2% (4.8M); White alone renters 46.7% (10.4M); Asian alone renters 43.4% (1.0M); Source: 2023 ACS 1-year estimates; tables B25140A-I and B25141

Older Americans With a Disability: 2008-2012 (ACS-29)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

American Community Survey report (ACS-29) profiling older Americans with a disability over 2008-2012, covering demographic, social, and economic characteristics of seniors with disabilities.

Datapoints: Disability prevalence among the population 65+; Demographic and economic characteristics of older adults with disabilities (2008-2012 ACS)

Older Population by County (65+) Maps Visualization

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

County-level maps of the U.S. population aged 65 and older showing the distribution of older adults and disability prevalence combined with living arrangements, widowhood, poverty, and labor-force status.

Datapoints: Population 65+ distribution by county (2013-2017 ACS 5-year); Disability prevalence among seniors; Living alone, widowhood, poverty status, labor-force participation; Dot-density maps of population clustering

Persistent Poverty Areas with Long-Term High Poverty (Census story)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau analysis identifying U.S. counties and tracts with persistently high poverty over decades, with maps and statistics on where long-term concentrated poverty is located.

Datapoints: Number and share of persistent-poverty counties and tracts; Geographic concentration (South, Appalachia, tribal areas); Long-term (30+ year) poverty-rate thresholds

Persistent Poverty in Counties and Census Tracts (ACS-51)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau study identifying counties and census tracts with poverty rates of 20% or more sustained over the past 30 years, expanding persistent-poverty analysis below the county level. Includes downloadable Excel tables of qualifying geographies.

Datapoints: persistent poverty counties (341 of 3,142); persistent poverty tracts; share of population in persistent poverty (~6.1%); geographic concentration; Persistent-poverty counties (>=20% poverty for 30 years); Persistent-poverty census tracts (subcounty geography); Poverty rate estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census; ACS 5-year poverty estimates (2005-2009 and 2015-2019); Downloadable county and tract lists (Excel)

Population and Housing Unit Estimates (PEP)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

The Population Estimates Program produces official annual population and housing-unit counts for the nation, states, metro areas, counties, cities, and towns. Provides the intercensal denominators used to compute rates for poverty, housing, and food-insecurity measures.

Datapoints: National, state, county, metro, and place population totals (2020-2025 vintages); Population by age group and sex; Housing unit estimates; Components of change including domestic migration; Intercensal estimates revised annually; Interactive county-level age-cohort maps

Poverty Data Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Central index of downloadable U.S. poverty data tables, including the annual 'Poverty in the United States' release, historical poverty series back to 1959, and the poverty thresholds. Tables are available in XLS, CSV, and PDF.

Datapoints: Poverty in the United States: 2024 (CPS ASEC); Historical Poverty Tables: People and Families, 1959 to 2024; Poverty thresholds by family size and number of related children; CPS detailed poverty tables (joint BLS/Census); Poverty rates by demographic group and state/county

Poverty Data Tools (Census Bureau hub)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau hub page listing the interactive applications for finding, customizing, and visualizing poverty statistics, including the SAIPE interactive tool, the Microdata Access Tool, and historical county-level poverty estimates.

Datapoints: Explore Census Data (data.census.gov); Microdata Access Tool (MDAT) for custom tables; Income and Poverty Interactive Data Tool (SAIPE); Historical County-Level Poverty Estimates (1960-2010)

Poverty in the United States: 2024 (P60-287)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

The Census Bureau's authoritative annual poverty report for calendar year 2024, presenting both the Official Poverty Measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). Based on the 2025 CPS ASEC, it is the standard reference for national poverty rates.

Datapoints: official poverty rate (10.6% in 2024); SPM rate (12.9%); child poverty; poverty by race/ethnicity; poverty by family structure; deep poverty; Official poverty rate 10.6% (2024); 35.9 million people in poverty; Supplemental Poverty Measure 12.9% (2024); Social Security moved 28.7 million people out of SPM poverty; Poverty by race/ethnicity and changes from 2023

Poverty Statistics API (CPS & SAIPE)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Developer API documentation for programmatic access to Census poverty statistics, covering the CPS ASEC historical poverty time series (1959-2024) and Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for states, counties, and school districts.

Datapoints: national poverty time-series (CPS); state/county poverty (SAIPE); median household income; school-age poverty; CPS ASEC historical poverty time series (histpov2), 1959-2024; SAIPE state and county estimates; SAIPE school-district estimates; Poverty rates by race/ethnicity categories; API endpoints under api.census.gov/data/timeseries/poverty

Poverty Thresholds (Historical Time Series)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Downloadable tables of the official poverty thresholds by family size and number of related children under 18, with a continuous time series from 1959 through 2025 (including a preliminary 2025 weighted average). These thresholds define the official U.S. poverty line.

Datapoints: Annual poverty thresholds by family size and number of children (1959-2025); Weighted average thresholds by family size; Preliminary 2025 weighted-average threshold; Historical farm/nonfarm threshold breakdowns (earlier years)

QuickFacts

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Fast-lookup tool for frequently requested ACS and decennial statistics for the nation, states, counties, and places, including poverty and housing summary figures.

Datapoints: persons in poverty %; median household income; homeownership rate; median gross rent; median home value; households without internet

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) — School District API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census API time-series endpoint for SAIPE school-district estimates, providing annual poverty estimates for school-age children by school district, used primarily to allocate Title I Elementary and Secondary Education Act funding.

Datapoints: Total population by school district; Number of children ages 5 to 17 by school district; Number of related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty (Title I allocation basis); Annual time series with API geography and variable lists

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) — State & County API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census API time-series endpoint for the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program, providing annual model-based income and poverty estimates for every U.S. state and county, used to administer federal programs and allocate federal funds to local jurisdictions.

Datapoints: Estimated number and percent of people in poverty by state and county; Estimated number of children under 18 (and ages 5-17) in poverty; Median household income by state and county; Annual time series with API geography, variable, and group lists

SPM Data Tables (Poverty in the United States)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Downloadable Supplemental Poverty Measure threshold and poverty tables (XLS/CSV/PDF) accompanying the annual Poverty in the United States report, with historical tables back to 2015 and NAS 1995 reference tables.

Datapoints: SPM thresholds by year (incl. 2024); SPM poverty rates by demographic group; historical tables 2015-2025; 1995 NAS poverty tables

Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Hub for Supplemental Poverty Measure data files, tables, and thresholds, which account for taxes, in-kind benefits, and necessary expenses beyond the official poverty measure.

Datapoints: SPM poverty rates; SPM thresholds by year; effect of taxes and transfers on poverty; geographic cost-of-living adjustments; annual time series 2015-2024

Supplemental Poverty Measure Higher Than Official Poverty Rate (2024)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau data story explaining how the Supplemental Poverty Measure exceeded the official poverty rate in 2024 for the first time since the pandemic, and how the SPM accounts for benefits, taxes, expenses, and geographic housing costs that the official measure omits.

Datapoints: Official poverty 10.6% vs SPM 12.9% (2024); Three-year average (2022-2024): official 11.1%, SPM 12.7%; 10 states where official poverty exceeded SPM; Role of government programs, taxes, and housing-cost adjustment in the SPM

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Nationally representative longitudinal survey tracking the month-to-month dynamics of income, employment, household composition, and government program participation. It is the Census Bureau's primary source for measuring economic well-being and transitions into and out of poverty and assistance programs.

Datapoints: Program participation spells; Income and poverty dynamics; Material hardship; Asset and benefit receipt; Child food security status (6-item Short Form module); Children's participation in nutrition programs (e.g., ~1 in 2 children received >=1 nutrition program, 2022); Household and family economic circumstances over time; Public microdata files and SIPP fact sheets; Monthly income and employment dynamics over multi-year panels; Government program (benefit/assistance) participation; Household and family composition change; Wealth and asset ownership; Health insurance coverage; Food security; Child care and education; Poverty spells and transitions (episodic poverty)

The Population 65 Years and Older in the United States (ACS-38)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

2018 Census Bureau report analyzing demographic, social, housing, and economic characteristics of Americans aged 65+ using 2016 ACS data, with breakdowns for ages 65-74, 75-84, and 85+.

Datapoints: Population size and marital status by age band (65-74, 75-84, 85+); Living arrangements and grandchild caregiving; Homeownership rates and disability status; Labor-force participation, median earnings, income sources, poverty levels

TIGERweb (interactive boundary viewer)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Web application for browsing and querying Census Bureau geographic boundaries and features by vintage. Companion interactive front end to the TIGERweb REST services for confirming geographies down to the block level.

Datapoints: Browsable census geographies by vintage; Block- to state-level boundary lookups; Feature attribute queries

U.S. Census Bureau - Income and Poverty in the United States

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Central landing page for Census Bureau poverty data, definitions, and methodology, drawing estimates from CPS ASEC, ACS, SIPP, SAIPE, and the Supplemental Poverty Measure. Explains how the official poverty threshold determines poverty status and links to rates by demographics and geography.

Datapoints: national poverty rate; number of people in poverty; poverty by age/race/family type; child poverty; state and county estimates (SAIPE); Official poverty rates by demographics and geography; Poverty rates by survey (CPS ASEC vs. ACS vs. SIPP); Poverty thresholds by family size and children; State and metropolitan-area poverty estimates; Monthly and episodic poverty measures

U.S. Census Bureau — Historic Decline in Net International Migration

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates showing net international migration peaking at 2.7M (2024), falling to 1.3M (2025), and projected to ~321K in 2026 if current trends continue (the load-bearing immigration figure behind the housing-demand-decline thesis).

Datapoints: Net international migration 2.7M (2024) -> 1.3M (2025) -> projected ~321K (2026); If trends hold, first net-negative migration in 50+ years; NIM peaked at 2.7M (2024), fell to 1.3M (2025), projected ~321K (2026); First net-negative migration in 50+ years if trends hold; NIM 2.7M (2024) -> 1.3M (2025) -> projected ~321K (2026); Possible first net-negative migration in 50+ years

U.S. Census Bureau — Housing Topic Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Central hub for the Census Bureau's housing statistics, organizing surveys and indicators on housing affordability, vacancies, rental housing, new construction, and residential financing. Serves as the authoritative entry point for U.S. housing-cost and housing-stock data.

Datapoints: Housing affordability indicators; Housing vacancy rates (rental and homeowner); Rental housing characteristics and rent levels; New residential construction / building permits; Residential financing and mortgage characteristics; Home values and housing patterns

U.S. Census Bureau — Metro/Micro Area Population Estimates

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census metro/micropolitan population estimates documenting a sharp 2025 slowdown in metro population growth, steepest along the southern border (the demographic basis for regional housing-demand divergence).

Datapoints: Sharp 2025 metro growth slowdown, steepest near southern border; Immigration-dependent metros most affected

U.S. Census Bureau — Net International Migration & Population Estimates

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Vintage 2025 population estimates documenting the historic decline in net international migration and metro-area population growth, the load-bearing demographic input to housing-demand forecasts.

Datapoints: net international migration peaked at 2.7M (2024), fell to 1.3M (2025), projected ~321K (2026); first potential net-negative migration in 50+ years if trends hold; steepest metro growth deceleration along the southern border

U.S. Census Bureau — New Residential Construction

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Official monthly U.S. housing starts, permits, and completions data (the New Residential Construction release), source for May 2026 figures including completions at 1.313M SAAR (-14.2% YoY).

Datapoints: Completions May 2026: 1.313M SAAR (-14.2% YoY); Authoritative starts/permits/completions series; Completions May 2026 1.313M SAAR (-14.2% YoY); Housing starts/permits time series; Housing starts and permits (SAAR); Completions (1.313M SAAR, -14.2% YoY, May 2026)

U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey / HTOPS (Food & Housing)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

The official Census Bureau gateway to detailed data tables from the Household Pulse Survey (now Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey), covering near-real-time measures of household well-being. Tables are organized by year (2020-2025) with national and state breakdowns.

Datapoints: food insufficiency (all / with children); rent or mortgage not paid / not confident; likelihood of eviction or foreclosure; state and metro estimates; food sufficiency / food insufficiency (last 7 days); difficulty paying usual household expenses; rent/mortgage payment confidence; likelihood of eviction/foreclosure; households behind on rent; spending of stimulus/credits; Food insufficiency / food scarcity; Housing: behind on rent or mortgage, likelihood of eviction/foreclosure; Employment and income loss; Health conditions and difficulty paying for usual household expenses; Household spending and financial well-being

American Housing Survey (AHS) Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau (sponsored by HUD)Census, ACS & poverty data

The most comprehensive national housing survey, covering housing quality, costs, mortgages, neighborhood conditions, and recent movers for the U.S. and selected metros. Accessible via the AHS Table Creator and public use files.

Datapoints: housing inventory & vacancies; physical condition / housing adequacy; housing costs & cost burden; mortgage characteristics; home values; neighborhood quality; recent-mover characteristics

CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) Datasets

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau / BLSCensus, ACS & poverty data

The downloadable microdata behind the Census Bureau's official income, poverty, and health insurance statistics, collected via the Current Population Survey ASEC. Provides the source records (with replicate weights) for custom analysis of income, poverty, and insurance coverage, 1998-2025.

Datapoints: money income; official poverty status; health insurance coverage; work experience; program participation (SNAP, housing assistance); Income sources and amounts; Poverty status (official and supplemental inputs); Health insurance coverage; Family/household composition, educational attainment, geographic mobility; Files in ASCII, SAS, and CSV with replicate weights

Housing Adequacy and Quality As Measured by the AHS

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census Bureau / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Census, ACS & poverty data

A methodological publication explaining how the American Housing Survey (AHS) defines and measures physical housing adequacy and quality, including the 14 conditions that classify a unit as severely inadequate. The reference standard for interpreting 'inadequate housing' in U.S. housing data.

Datapoints: 14 distinct situations that classify a housing unit as severely physically inadequate; Measurement against the Housing Act of 1949 'decent home and suitable living environment' standard; Fewer than 2% of occupied units severely inadequate in 2005, 2007, and 2009

The Opportunity Atlas Data Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau Center for Economic Studies, in collaboration with Opportunity InsightsCensus, ACS & poverty data

Neighborhood-level data linking childhood environment to adult economic mobility outcomes, using anonymized longitudinal records for children born 1978-1992. Enables analysis of how place shapes economic outcomes by race, gender, and parental income at the census-tract level.

Datapoints: Adult earnings distributions and household income by childhood tract; Incarceration rates; Credit access, delinquency, and loan-balance indicators; Outcomes by race/ethnicity, gender, and parental income; Geographies: census tract, county, commuting zone, national; Adult household income by childhood census tract, county, and commuting zone; Incarceration rates by childhood neighborhood; Outcomes stratified by race, gender, and parental income percentile; Credit access indicators (credit scores, delinquency rates, loan balances); Mobility trends across birth cohorts 1978-1992; Neighborhood characteristics data; Adult earnings/income by childhood census tract; Mobility outcomes by parental income, race, gender; Incarceration, credit scores, loan/delinquency outcomes; Tract, county, and commuting-zone geographies; Birth cohorts 1978-1992 (Module 2, 2024)

Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau, Center for Economic StudiesCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census program (Local Employment Dynamics Partnership) producing detailed statistics on employment, earnings, job flows, and worker residence/commute patterns at fine geographic and industry levels, with tools like QWI, LODES, OnTheMap, and Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes.

Datapoints: Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI): employment, earnings, hires, separations by demographic; LODES origin-destination commuting data; Job-to-Job (J2J) worker transitions; Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO); OnTheMap worker geography visualizations

Census Bureau ArcGIS Map Portal (mtgis-portal)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Census Bureau, Geography DivisionCensus, ACS & poverty data

Census Bureau's hosted ArcGIS portal serving interactive map applications and story maps built on Census geography and ACS/decennial data (e.g., My Congressional District and related demographic map tools). Note: individual app endpoints rotate and some legacy app IDs return 404.

Datapoints: Interactive demographic and ACS map applications; Congressional district profile tools; Hosted Census story maps and geographic visualizations; Hosts Census ArcGIS web map applications and MapSeries apps; Presents population, income, poverty, and housing indicators by geography; Companion to TIGERweb boundary services; Interactive thematic maps of census geographies; Demographic, housing, and economic data overlays; Map Series multi-tab story applications

Census TIGERweb Generalized & Decennial Map Services

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census Bureau, Geography DivisionCensus, ACS & poverty data

ArcGIS REST services root exposing TIGERweb generalized boundaries (ACS data years 2012-2025, 2020 Decennial), decennial geography, and economic census geography as machine-readable map services for integration with demographic and socioeconomic data.

Datapoints: Generalized boundary vintages by ACS data year (2012-2025) and 2020 Decennial; Decennial and Economic Census geography service collections; Programmatic access to all standard census geographies

Census TIGERweb REST Map Services

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census Bureau, Geography DivisionCensus, ACS & poverty data

ArcGIS REST/WMS map services exposing Census geographic boundaries (states, counties, tracts, blocks, places, congressional and state legislative districts, school districts, ZCTAs, PUMAs, tribal areas) for current and historical vintages. Used to geocode and map ACS/decennial poverty, housing, and demographic data.

Datapoints: Boundary layers: states, counties, tracts, blocks, places, CBSAs; Legislative areas: congressional and state legislative districts; American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian areas and tribal tracts; Generalized ACS vintages 2012-2025 and Census 2020 decennial service; Layers: states, counties, tracts, blocks, places, county subdivisions, school districts, CBSAs, tribal census tracts/block groups, urban areas, ZCTAs, PUMAs; Current vintage reflects 2026 Boundary and Annexation Survey; Generalized services for ACS years 2012-2025 and 2020 Decennial; Economic Census services; Endpoint pattern: /arcgis/rest/services/[Service]/[Layer]/MapServer; Census tracts, blocks, block groups, counties, and places boundaries; American Indian / Alaska Native area boundaries; Metropolitan/micropolitan statistical area boundaries; School-district and legislative-area boundaries; ACS-generalized boundary services 2012-2025

Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Energy / National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)Census, ACS & poverty data

Interactive platform mapping household energy affordability (energy burden) by geography down to census tract, combining American Community Survey and EIA utility data across all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and tribal areas.

Datapoints: Energy burden (% of household income spent on energy); National low-income average energy burden (~6-8.6%); Average annual energy expenditures; Breakdowns by income (AMI/SMI/FPL), race, building type, heating fuel; Census tract / county / city / state geographies

Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool Dataset (2022)

othernationaldatasetU.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyCensus, ACS & poverty data

Downloadable dataset behind the DOE LEAD Tool: estimated low- and moderate-income household energy data by income, energy expenditures, fuel type, housing type, and geography, down to census-tract and tribal-area level.

Datapoints: Energy burden by income tier (AMI, FPL, SMI, LLSI); Energy expenditures and housing costs; Heating fuel type and building characteristics; Coverage of all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, counties, tracts, tribal areas; Calibrated to 2022 ACS 5-Year PUMS and EIA utility surveys; Household energy burden (% of income on energy); Energy expenditures by fuel and housing type; Income brackets (AMI, FPL, SMI, LLSI); Building age, type, and tenure; Geography: state, county, city, census tract, tribal area

American Housing Survey (AHS) on HUD USER

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER)Census, ACS & poverty data

The American Housing Survey is the most comprehensive national housing survey in the U.S., conducted biennially since 1973. It is the primary source on the physical condition of the housing stock, housing costs, and housing/neighborhood quality, and underpins HUD's Worst Case Housing Needs reports.

Datapoints: housing adequacy; affordability / cost burden; housing assistance recipients; neighborhood characteristics; housing cost burden and adequacy; housing insecurity / doubling-up measures; neighborhood and unit characteristics; national plus rotating metropolitan samples; Composition of the nation's housing inventory and vacancies; Physical adequacy of housing units (adequate / moderately inadequate / severely inadequate, 14 criteria); Housing costs, mortgages, and home values; Cost burden and affordability indicators; Neighborhood quality indicators; Characteristics of occupants and recent movers; Metropolitan-area supplements

Location Affordability Index (LAI) v3

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Census, ACS & poverty data

HUD's modeled estimates of combined housing-plus-transportation costs as a share of income for eight household profiles, down to the census block-group level, to measure true location affordability.

Datapoints: Housing costs as % of income by household type; Transportation costs as % of income by household type; Combined H+T affordability burden at block-group level; Eight standardized household income/composition profiles

Location Affordability Index (LAI)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)Census, ACS & poverty data

A standardized national dataset of combined housing and transportation cost estimates at the Census block-group level, recognizing that housing cost alone understates true affordability. Provides cost-of-living context for eight household profiles across all 50 states and DC.

Datapoints: Combined housing + transportation costs as a share of income at the Census block-group level; Eight household profiles varying by income, size, and number of commuters; Built-environment/demographic context: transit accessibility, walkability, employment proximity; Coverage for all 50 states and the District of Columbia

American Housing Survey (AHS) — data.gov catalog entry

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); conducted by the U.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Catalog entry for the American Housing Survey, the largest regular national housing sample survey in the United States, covering housing costs, conditions, neighborhood quality, and household composition. Conducted biennially since 1983 with metropolitan-area coverage.

Datapoints: Housing costs and cost burden; Family/household composition and tenure; Neighborhood quality measures; Vacant homes, single-family homes, apartments, mobile homes; National coverage plus metropolitan-area surveys

2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines Computations

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, ASPECensus, ACS & poverty data

Shows the 2026 federal poverty guideline dollar figures by household size and the CPI-based computation method used to derive them from the prior year's Census poverty thresholds. These guidelines drive eligibility for many federal/state benefit programs.

Datapoints: 2026 guidelines: 1 person $15,960; 4 people $33,000; 8 people $55,720; CPI-U 2024 = 313.689, 2025 = 321.943 (2.6% increase); 1.029 price inflator applied to 2024 thresholds; Per-additional-person increment

NaNDA: Socioeconomic Status & Demographic Characteristics of Census Tracts and ZCTAs, 1990-2022 (Study 38528)

primary-academicnationaldatasetUniversity of Michigan / ICPSRCensus, ACS & poverty data

NaNDA dataset providing harmonized socioeconomic-status and demographic measures for U.S. census tracts and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas from 1990 to 2022, useful for neighborhood disadvantage and disparity analysis.

Datapoints: Tract/ZCTA poverty and income measures, 1990-2022; Educational attainment and employment composition; Race/ethnicity demographic shares; Neighborhood disadvantage/affluence indices

IPUMS USA

primary-academicnationaldatasetUniversity of Minnesota (IPUMS)Census, ACS & poverty data

Harmonized U.S. census and American Community Survey microdata with enhanced documentation, free for research; the standard source for individual-level census microdata analysis.

Datapoints: Decennial census microdata 1790-2010; American Community Survey (ACS) 2000-present; Full-count census files, linked samples, mortality and historical records; Income, poverty, housing, employment, and household variables harmonized across years

Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban Institute (for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)Census, ACS & poverty data

First comprehensive post-NAHASDA assessment (2017) of housing conditions and needs in tribal areas, combining census analysis, household surveys, administrator interviews, and reservation site visits.

Datapoints: Housing conditions and overcrowding in tribal areas; Housing-needs estimates post-NAHASDA; Findings from tribal household surveys and site visits; Companion analyses on tribal-land mortgage lending and urban AIAN housing

Data and Tools for Fair Housing Planning (Fair Housing Data Mapping Tool)

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUrban Institute (with National Fair Housing Alliance)Census, ACS & poverty data

Replacement for HUD's terminated Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Data and Mapping Tool, rebuilt by Urban and NFHA as an R Shiny dashboard. Visualizes demographic and housing indicators on segregation, concentrated poverty, and access to opportunity across states, counties, and census tracts.

Datapoints: Segregation and racial/ethnic dissimilarity measures; Concentrated poverty indicators; Disparities in access to opportunity by protected class; New homeownership measure: mortgage application and mortgage denial rates; Housing needs indicators at state/county/tract level

Cornell Yang-Tan Institute - Disability Statistics Program

primary-academicnationalorg-hubYang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, Cornell University ILR SchoolCensus, ACS & poverty data

Cornell ILR's research collection of disability, employment, and demographic reports, including user guides to disability statistics from the American Community Survey produced with the Center for Rehabilitation Research using Large Datasets. The original edicollect repository links now redirect to Cornell eCommons.

Datapoints: Gateway to DisabilityStatistics.org and Annual Disability Status Reports; EEOC employment-discrimination charge data summaries; Rehabilitation Research Cross-dataset Variable Catalog; Disability and Compensation Variables Catalog; Guides to ACS-based disability statistics; Annual Disability Status Reports (national + state); Demographic and economic profiles of the disability population; Methodology references for large federal datasets; disability employment rates; disability poverty rates; disability prevalence; demographics of people with disabilities; EEOC charge data; ACS disability estimates at national, state, county, and congressional-district levels; Annual Disability Status Reports (state and national); EEOC charge data summaries; Rehabilitation Dataset Directory and cross-dataset variable catalog

NC OSBM State Data Center

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and ManagementCensus, ACS & poverty data

North Carolina's lead Census Bureau partner (established 1978), coordinating a statewide network of 40 partner agencies to make demographic, economic, and social data accessible. Serves as the entry point to NC census data products, LINC, and the State Demographer's estimates and projections.

Datapoints: NC Census data access; state demographer estimates/projections; county-level demographic data; data resource guides; NC census data products and access points; Statewide network of 40 partner agencies and local affiliates; Demographic, economic, and social data for NC communities; Gateway to LINC (1,500+ data series) and State Demographer outputs; county and state population estimates and projections; population by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex; census, federal, and state agency datasets via LINC; demographic outlook and trends

LINC (Log Into North Carolina)

primary-govstate-NCtoolNorth Carolina OSBMCensus, ACS & poverty data

OSBM's open-data portal hosting more than 1,500 data series for North Carolina drawn from census, federal, and state programs, with exploration, mapping, charting, and API access. The primary state-level source for NC population, income, housing, and socioeconomic indicators down to the county level.

Datapoints: population & housing (Census); poverty/income series; county and municipal data; tract and township data; historical series; state demographic & economic indicators; county profiles; data stories & visualizations; downloadable tables; geospatial assets; population projections; 1,500+ NC data series (census, federal, state); County and municipal population data; Income and economic indicators; Housing and demographic indicators; Interactive maps and charts; Programmatic data API

QCEW County & MSA Wage and Employment Data

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCensus, ACS & poverty data

Near-census of monthly employment and quarterly wages from establishments covered by state unemployment insurance and the federal program, the most detailed and geographically granular source of US employment and wage counts by industry.

Datapoints: county-level average weekly wage; MSA employment and wages; industry employment by county; year-over-year wage change; Monthly employment counts by industry (NAICS); Total and average weekly wages; Establishment counts; County, MSA, state, and national levels; Quarterly and annual data

QuickFacts: Buncombe County & Asheville, North Carolina

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetU.S. Census BureauCensus, ACS & poverty data

Local QuickFacts profile for Buncombe County and the City of Asheville with poverty, income, and housing indicators from the latest ACS estimates.

Datapoints: Asheville persons in poverty (~14.3%); Buncombe poverty (~11.8%); median household income; homeownership rate; median gross rent; median home value

Affordable Housing as a Key Piece of LTSS (AARP)

established-research-orgnationalreportAARP Public Policy InstituteHousing affordability research

Research brief framing affordable and accessible housing as core infrastructure within long-term services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities.

Datapoints: Affordable and accessible housing identified as a significant unmet need across states; Links housing assistance access to disability-population outcomes

Apartment List National Rent Report & Rent Estimates

othernationaldatasetApartment List Research TeamHousing affordability research

Monthly rent estimates and trend reports for new leases at national, state, metro, county, and city levels back to January 2017, with downloadable data including the Asheville metro.

Datapoints: Median rent for new leases by geography; Month-over-month and year-over-year rent change; Vacancy index and time-on-market; Asheville-metro rent series

What Works Cities (Bloomberg Philanthropies)

othernationalorg-hubBloomberg Philanthropies / Results for AmericaHousing affordability research

Initiative and certification standard helping local governments use data and evidence to improve services, including housing, economic mobility, and resident outcomes. Provides the What Works Cities Standard and case studies for data-driven local policy.

Datapoints: What Works Cities Certification Standard criteria; city case studies on data-driven housing and economic-mobility programs; performance-management and open-data practices

Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024 (SHED full report PDF)

primary-govnationalreportBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemHousing affordability research

Full PDF of the 2024 SHED report with detailed tables on income, expenses, banking, credit, housing, retirement, emergency savings, and financial fraud among U.S. adults.

Datapoints: Detailed financial fragility and emergency-savings tables; Housing cost, rent, and homeownership-insurance gaps; Banking and credit access measures; Financial fraud/scam prevalence (21%) and losses

Federal Reserve — Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF)

primary-govnationaldatasetBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemHousing affordability research

Triennial cross-sectional survey of U.S. family finances, the leading national source on household balance sheets, net worth, debt, and the racial/income wealth gap. Underpins analysis of financial fragility and housing wealth.

Datapoints: Family net worth and balance sheets by income/race/age; Household debt (mortgages, credit cards, loans); Asset holdings (homes, vehicles, financial accounts); Income and employment characteristics; Homeownership and housing wealth distribution; Historical tables 1989-present; latest survey 2022 (released Oct 2023)

Brookings Housing Markets & Finance Research

primary-academicnationalorg-hubBrookings InstitutionHousing affordability research

Brookings's housing research hub covering supply, zoning, taxes, subsidies, and affordability measurement, including how housing supply is counted.

Datapoints: Analysis of housing supply shortage measurement methods; Effects of zoning and land-use regulation on prices; Cost-burden trends and policy alignment recommendations

Brookings — Immigration Slowdown and Metro Population Decline

primary-academicnationalreportBrookings InstitutionHousing affordability research

Brookings analysis of how the immigration slowdown drove widespread metro population-growth declines, with immigration-dependence by metro.

Datapoints: Several major metros would have lost population in 2025 without immigration; Metro-level immigration dependence; Metros that would have lost population without immigration

H+T Affordability Index

othernationalinteractive-mapCenter for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)Housing affordability research

Interactive mapping tool that measures neighborhood-level affordability by combining housing and transportation costs across roughly 220,000 U.S. neighborhoods, redefining affordability beyond housing alone (the standard '45% of income on H+T' benchmark).

Datapoints: Combined housing + transportation cost as percent of household income by neighborhood; Housing cost burden by census block group / tract; Transportation cost and total driving cost (VMT, auto ownership); Greenhouse gas emissions by location efficiency; Custom fact sheets for municipalities, counties, CBSAs, MPOs, and Congressional Districts; housing costs as % of income; transportation costs as % of income; combined H+T cost burden (location efficiency); driving-related emissions by neighborhood type; customizable fact sheets by municipality, county, CBSA, MPO, and congressional district; Total Driving Costs Calculator

CBPP National and State Housing Fact Sheets & Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Housing affordability research

National and per-state fact sheets profiling who uses and who needs federal rental assistance, with downloadable Excel supplemental tables on low-income renters, federal funding, and urban/rural housing location. Data is drawn from HUD, USDA, and the Census Bureau.

Datapoints: ~5 million low-income households receiving federal rental assistance; 69% of assisted people are seniors, children, or people with disabilities; Urban/suburban/rural distribution of assisted households; Number of low-income renters and unmet need by state; Demographic breakdown of assisted families: ~60% elderly or disabled, ~30% families with children; Geographic distribution: ~50% urban, 31% suburban, just under 20% rural; Per-state counts of low-income renters and federal rental assistance recipients; Federal funding amounts by state; Number/share of renters in need of assistance

Housing Voucher Utilization Data: How to Use the Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Housing affordability research

CBPP guide and data tables on Housing Choice Voucher utilization, reporting the number of families using vouchers, lease-up rates, and total voucher payments by state and local housing agency from 2004 to present.

Datapoints: Families using vouchers (voucher leasing) by state/agency, 2004-present; Voucher lease-up rate (% of authorized vouchers in use); Voucher funds expenditure rate; Total voucher assistance payments

Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher Program

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Housing affordability research

Plain-language explainer of the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, the nation's largest rental-assistance program, covering how it works, whom it serves, and program scale.

Datapoints: More than 2 million low-income households (5+ million people) use Housing Choice Vouchers; Administered by ~2,000 state and local public housing agencies; 65% of non-elderly, non-disabled voucher households were working or recently worked (2024); Vouchers serve 800,000+ older adults and 1.3 million people with disabilities; Project-based vouchers help 609,000 people in 333,000 households; 75% of new admissions each year must have extremely low incomes (<=30% of area median or poverty line)

Child Care in America: Price & Supply (annual report)

othernationalreportChild Care Aware of AmericaHousing affordability research

Child Care Aware of America's flagship annual report quantifying the national and state-by-state price and supply of child care, a major component of household cost-of-living and family economic security. The 2025 edition was released May 2026.

Datapoints: National and state average price of child care by setting and age; Child care as a share of family income; Supply of licensed child care slots by state; Affordability gaps for low-income working families

CCRC 50-State Comparison & Restoration of Rights Project

othernationalinteractive-mapCollateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC)Housing affordability research

CCRC's flagship 50-state comparison tools and state restoration profiles covering loss/restoration of civil and firearms rights, pardons, expungement and record sealing, and use of criminal records in employment, licensing, and housing.

Datapoints: Civil rights restoration rules by state; Expungement/record-sealing eligibility and waiting periods; Criminal record in employment, licensing, and housing; Pardon policy and practice by state; 50-state comparisons of civil rights, pardon policy, expungement, employment-record relief; Collateral consequences inventories (NICCC database) covering housing, government benefits, employment; North Carolina restoration-of-rights profile; Loss & restoration of civil and firearms rights by state; Expungement, sealing, and other record relief by state; Criminal record in employment, licensing & housing by state

CFPB Mortgage Market Activity and Trends Reports

primary-govnationalreportConsumer Financial Protection BureauHousing affordability research

Annual CFPB analyses summarizing millions of HMDA mortgage applications, documenting market trends, lending disparities, and housing-credit access.

Datapoints: Annual mortgage application dispositions; Lending trends by borrower demographics; Housing-credit access disparities

HMDA Data Browser (FFIEC / CFPB)

primary-govnationaldatasetConsumer Financial Protection Bureau / FFIECHousing affordability research

Interactive browser and download portal for Home Mortgage Disclosure Act loan-level data, used to assess mortgage access, lending patterns, and potential discrimination at national, state, and metro levels.

Datapoints: Loan-level mortgage applications and dispositions; Approval/denial rates by geography, race, income; Annual mortgage market volume and trends

Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Property & Housing Data Insights

othernationaldashboardCotality (formerly CoreLogic)Housing affordability research

Property-data and analytics firm (rebranded from CoreLogic) publishing housing-market indices, mortgage/loan performance data, single-family rent data, homeowner-equity reports, and natural-hazard/climate risk analytics. Note: corelogic.com now redirects to cotality.com.

Datapoints: US Property Market Index (home-price change and forecast); homeowner equity change; loan performance / delinquency insights; single-family rent trends; natural-hazard and climate risk; Monthly US Home Price Index and annual home price change; 12-month home price forecast; Quarterly homeowner equity change (dollars); Mortgage delinquency / loan performance trends; Property coverage across 98%+ of US residential properties

Cotality — U.S. Home Price Insights

othernationaldashboardCotality (formerly CoreLogic)Housing affordability research

Cotality's monthly U.S. home-price tracker and overvaluation/risk analysis, flagging metros at risk of price declines and overvalued markets (69 of largest 100 metros >10% above long-term levels).

Datapoints: Top at-risk metros: Cape Coral, Greenville SC, Lakeland, Marietta GA, Tampa; 69 of 100 largest metros flagged overvalued; Metro-level home-price changes and overvaluation flags; 69 of largest 100 metros flagged overvalued (>10%)

Reentry 2030

othernationalorg-hubCSG Justice Center (funded by Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. DOJ)Housing affordability research

National initiative helping states set and track measurable reentry goals across housing, health care, and employment to reduce recidivism, with state-specific goal dashboards.

Datapoints: State reentry goals and progress dashboards; Focus areas: housing, health care, employment; Participating states (WA, MO, NC, AL, NE, AZ, NY, ME)

EPI Wage Gaps Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy InstituteHousing affordability research

Interactive series on gender and racial wage gaps and CEO-to-worker pay ratios, documenting the structural income disparities that drive housing and food insecurity for low-wage workers.

Datapoints: Gender wage gap over time; Black-white and Hispanic-white wage gaps; CEO-to-worker compensation ratio

Fed Communities: Home Ownership Affordability Monitor

othernationaldashboardFed Communities (Federal Reserve System)Housing affordability research

Federal Reserve System community-development portal entry for the Atlanta Fed HOAM, a monthly measure of a median-income household's capacity to afford a median-priced home at national, metro, and metro-county levels.

Datapoints: Monthly homeownership affordability measure; National, metro, and metro-county geographic levels

FHFA House Price Index (HPI)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)Housing affordability research

A weighted, repeat-sales index measuring average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same properties, built from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage data back to January 1975. Authoritative measure of U.S. and local house-price appreciation relevant to housing affordability.

Datapoints: Monthly and quarterly purchase-only house price indexes; Quarterly all-transactions index (adds appraisal data); Quarterly expanded-data index (adds FHA and county recorder data); Volatility / standard-deviation parameters of house price growth; Geographies: national, census division, state, metro (Top 100), county, ZIP5, census tract; Four-quarter house-price appreciation

Home Ownership Affordability Monitor (HOAM)

othernationaldashboardFederal Reserve Bank of AtlantaHousing affordability research

A monthly index measuring whether a median-income household can afford the median-priced home at the national, metro, and metro-county levels. Uses HUD's 30%-of-income affordability standard; an index value of 100 is the affordability threshold (below 100 = unaffordable).

Datapoints: HOAM affordability index (100 = threshold); Median home price by geography; Median household income by geography; Monthly principal & interest cost at current mortgage rates; Property taxes, insurance, and PMI costs; 30% income affordability share (HUD standard)

Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit

primary-govnationaldashboardFederal Reserve Bank of New York, Center for Microeconomic DataHousing affordability research

Quarterly report on U.S. consumer credit conditions drawn from the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel (anonymized Equifax data). Tracks aggregate household debt, mortgages, student loans, credit cards, auto loans, and delinquency transition rates with downloadable data.

Datapoints: Total household debt ($18.8T as of Q1 2026); Mortgage, auto, student loan, credit card, and HELOC balances; Delinquency transition rates by loan type; Mortgage and auto loan originations; Total household debt ($18.8T, Q1 2026); Aggregate delinquency share (4.8% of balances); Mortgage delinquency transition rates; Student loan serious delinquency rate; Auto loan and credit card originations/delinquency; Mortgage originations volume

FRED Housing Affordability Index & Housing Data

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)Housing affordability research

FRED's housing data category, hosting the NAR Housing Affordability Index, Case-Shiller and FHFA price indices, CPI housing components, and metro-level price series including the Asheville MSA.

Datapoints: Housing Affordability Index (Fixed, FIXHAI) - 100 = median family exactly qualifies for median-priced home; Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index (CSUSHPINSA); CPI: Housing (CPIHOSNS); All-Transactions House Price Index for Asheville, NC MSA (ATNHPIUS11700Q)

Zillow Home Value Index (USAUCSFRCONDOSMSAMID, FRED mirror)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) / ZillowHousing affordability research

FRED-hosted Zillow Home Value Index series for U.S. home values, smoothed and seasonally adjusted.

Datapoints: U.S. ZHVI (all homes) $370,320.23 in May 2026 (updated June 18, 2026)

Freddie Mac Economic & Housing Research

othernationalreportFreddie MacHousing affordability research

Freddie Mac's research hub, source of widely cited national housing-supply-shortage estimates and mortgage market outlooks.

Datapoints: U.S. housing shortage estimate (~3.7 million units as of 3Q24); ~1 million households not formed due to supply constraints; Mortgage rate and origination forecasts; State-level supply shortage analysis

The Housing Supply Shortage: State of the States (Research Note)

othernationalreportFreddie Mac (Economic & Housing Research)Housing affordability research

Freddie Mac research estimating the U.S. housing supply shortage and the collapse of entry-level/starter-home construction, a widely cited figure in housing-affordability analysis.

Datapoints: U.S. housing deficit of 3.8 million units as of Q4 2020 (up 52% from 2.5M in 2018); Entry-level construction fell from 418,000 units/yr (late 1970s) to 65,000 in 2020; Entry-level homes fell from ~40% of new construction (early 1980s) to ~7% by 2019; Causes: labor shortage, zoning/land-use, material costs, NIMBYism; U.S. housing shortage estimated at 3.8 million units (Q4 2020), up 52% from 2.5 million in 2018; Entry-level home completions: 65,000 in 2020 vs 418,000/yr in late 1970s; Entry-level share of construction fell from ~40% (early 1980s) to ~7% (2019); Target 13% vacancy rate for a well-functioning market; 72 million millennials entering peak homebuying ages

The U.S. Housing Market Remains Significantly Undersupplied

othernationalreportFreddie Mac (Economic & Housing Research)Housing affordability research

Freddie Mac research spotlight estimating the national housing supply shortage relative to long-run demand from household formation, with a revised methodology for the target vacancy rate.

Datapoints: National housing shortage estimate (3.7 million units, Q3 2024); Change in housing stock vs. household formation; Target vacancy rate (11.7%) vs. actual vacancy rate (10.1%); Inflation-adjusted rent growth 2000-2024 (11%)

Grants.gov XML Extract (bulk opportunity data)

primary-govnationaldatasetGrants.gov / U.S. General Services AdministrationHousing affordability research

Daily bulk XML export of all open federal grant opportunities, enabling programmatic analysis of funding for housing, food, and anti-poverty programs.

Datapoints: full daily snapshot of grant opportunities; machine-readable XML; opportunity metadata (agency, CFDA, deadlines)

Harvard JCHS — Projections of Household Growth and Housing Demand

primary-academicnationalreportHarvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)Housing affordability research

JCHS long-run household-growth projections: growth slowing to ~860K/yr (2025-35) then ~510K/yr (2035-45, lowest in a century), with new-unit demand falling from 1.4M to 800K.

Datapoints: Household growth ~860K/yr (2025-35), ~510K/yr (2035-45); New-unit demand 1.4M -> 1.1M -> 800K; Boomer 80+ households +~60% by mid-2030s; Household growth ~860K/yr (2025-35), ~510K/yr (2035-45, lowest in a century)

JCHS Aging Research Area

primary-academicnationalorg-hubHarvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)Housing affordability research

JCHS topical hub aggregating the center's research, reports, and blog analyses on housing and the aging U.S. population, including the recurring Housing America's Older Adults series.

Datapoints: Housing America's Older Adults report series; Cost-burden and accessibility analyses for households 65+ and 80+; Affordability of long-term care and aging-in-place data

Older Adults 2023: Cost Burdens (interactive)

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapHarvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)Housing affordability research

Companion interactive data feature to the Housing America's Older Adults 2023 report, visualizing housing cost burdens among older households by tenure, age, and demographics.

Datapoints: Share of older adults who are housing cost burdened; Cost-burden breakdowns by renter vs. owner and by age cohort (65-79, 80+); Severe vs. moderate cost-burden rates

Harvard JCHS America's Rental Housing 2026 / State of the Nation's Housing 2026 (via Multifamily Dive)

primary-academicnationalreportHarvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), reported via Multifamily DiveHousing affordability research

JCHS rental-housing findings on the first national rent decline since 2021 amid rising vacancies; the cooling-rents series is the headline of America's Rental Housing 2026.

Datapoints: Q4 2025 asking rents for professionally managed apartments down 0.6% YoY; Rental vacancy ~5.2%; first national rent decline since 2021

Involuntary (Civil) Commitment for Substance Use - data and dashboards

othernationaldatasetHealth in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University School of LawHousing affordability research

Research hub documenting state involuntary-commitment statutes for substance use disorder, with downloadable coded data, FOIA-derived state records, and interactive Tableau dashboards comparing states and media narratives. Supports analysis of forced-treatment policy as an alternative to housing-first/voluntary-care approaches.

Datapoints: More than half of U.S. states have statutes authorizing involuntary commitment for substance use; IC Media dataset: 505 coded news articles, 2015-2020, downloadable in Excel; FOIA data from 5 states on demographic breakdowns and facility information; Research finding: people committed involuntarily face higher overdose risk than voluntary-treatment participants; Massachusetts DPH Section 138 Report (October 2024) referenced

HRSA Shortage Areas & High Need Mapping

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapHealth Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. HHSHousing affordability research

Authoritative tools to identify Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), Medically Underserved Areas/Populations, and high-need geographies by address or geography, useful for mapping access gaps that overlap with poverty and food/housing insecurity.

Datapoints: HPSA designations by address and geography; High Need Mapping Tool combining access/need indicators; Build Your Own Map for custom geographies

TANF Caseload Data FY2024

primary-govnationaldatasetHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family AssistanceHousing affordability research

Official FY2024 TANF caseload data tables reporting the number of families, recipients, and children receiving TANF assistance, by state and month. Primary source for current cash-assistance enrollment.

Datapoints: Number of TANF families by state and month (FY2024); Total TANF recipients; Number of children receiving TANF; Adult vs. child-only case breakdowns

Housing Assistance Council (HAC)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubHousing Assistance Council (HAC)Housing affordability research

National nonprofit supporting affordable housing in rural America since 1971, providing lending, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and rural housing/poverty data. Source for rural-specific housing data via Rural Data Central.

Datapoints: Rural housing and poverty research and data (Rural Data Central); USDA Section 502 Direct Loan and rural housing program information; Rural housing-quality and substandard-housing indicators; Lending and technical-assistance program details

Harvard JCHS — The State of the Nation's Housing

primary-academicnationalreportJoint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard UniversityHousing affordability research

JCHS's flagship annual report on U.S. housing market conditions, affordability, supply, and cost burden. The 2025 edition documents record rent and homeowner cost burdens, the lowest home sales in 30 years, and a sharp decline in the stock of low-cost rentals.

Datapoints: renters cost-burdened (record 22.6M / half of renters, 2023); severe cost burden by income; cost burden by race/ethnicity; homeowner cost burden; Number and share of cost-burdened owner and renter households; Home price-to-income ratios and rent growth trends; Housing production, construction starts, and supply metrics; Interactive map of affordability by community/metro; Local cost-burden rates by metro/county; Median home values and rents by area; Per-figure Excel data behind every chart in the report; 22.6 million renter households cost-burdened (>30% of income on housing), third straight annual increase; 12.1 million renter households (27%) severely cost-burdened (>50% of income); 20.3 million homeowner households (24%) cost-burdened; Low-cost rentals (<$1,000/mo) fell from 24.8M (2013) to 17.2M (2023), down >30%; Median existing single-family home price $412,500 (2024); prices up 60% since 2019; Monthly housing payment rose from $1,445 (2021) to $2,570 (2024); Income needed for median home: $126,700 (2024) vs $79,300 (2021); 608,000 multifamily units completed in 2024 (most in ~40 years); Median first-time homebuyer age 38 (record high); Home prices up ~60% since 2019; lowest home sales since 1995; Median first-time homebuyer age (record 38); 22.6 million cost-burdened renters; over half of renters paying >30%; Homelessness up 33% since January 2020 (record high); Housing supply deficit estimated at 1.5M-3.7M units; New multifamily construction at four-decade high (608,000 units in 2024); Home insurance premiums up 57% from 2019 to 2024

Kleinman Center for Energy Policy — Tracking the Pernicious Challenge of Utility Disconnections

primary-academicnationalarticleKleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of PennsylvaniaHousing affordability research

Analysis (Carley, Konisky, Knasin) of U.S. utility-disconnection patterns and the patchwork of shutoff protections, framing energy insecurity as a driver of household economic and housing precarity.

Datapoints: Roughly 2 million households disconnected in 2023; Disconnections dashboard covers ~47% of the U.S. population; 17 states have cold-weather protections, 24 partial, 9 none; households of color and those with young children face disproportionate disconnection even after controlling for income

Moody's Analytics (economic data & forecasting)

othernationaldatasetMoody's AnalyticsHousing affordability research

Commercial provider of economic data, regional financial data, and forecasting widely cited for housing affordability, home-price, and cost-of-living analysis (e.g., the rent-to-income/affordability metrics in joint releases). Host blocks automated fetch; access requires a browser or subscription.

Datapoints: regional economic and labor-market forecasts; housing affordability / rent-to-income metrics; home-price and CRE/CMBS data; cost-of-living and wage indicators

NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI) & Housing Market Index (HMI)

othernationaldatasetNational Association of Home Builders (NAHB)Housing affordability research

NAHB's quarterly Cost of Housing Index (share of median family income needed for a mortgage on a median-priced home; successor to the Housing Opportunity Index) plus the monthly builder-confidence Housing Market Index.

Datapoints: CHI: share of family income needed for a mortgage (~34% in Q4 2025); Metro-level affordability shares; HMI builder confidence (current sales, expectations, traffic); Historical Housing Opportunity Index (HOI, retired Q4 2023)

NAR Research & Statistics

othernationaldashboardNational Association of Realtors (NAR)Housing affordability research

NAR's hub of housing-market statistics and research, including the Housing Affordability Index, existing-home sales, median prices, and a metro market statistics dashboard with local affordability and demographic data.

Datapoints: Housing Affordability Index (whether typical families qualify for a mortgage); Existing-home sales volume (e.g. May: 4.17M units); Median existing-home price (e.g. May: $429,300); Pending home sales index; Metro Market Statistics dashboard (local housing/affordability); REALTORS Confidence Index

Housing Affordability Index (Fixed) - FIXHAI

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Association of Realtors via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisHousing affordability research

NAR's Fixed Housing Affordability Index measuring whether a typical family earns enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a typical home, with values above 100 indicating greater affordability.

Datapoints: Monthly fixed housing affordability index (national); Index baseline of 100 (median family income exactly qualifies for median-priced home); Downloadable time series via FRED API

National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) - reports & digital library

othernationalorg-hubNational Consumer Law CenterHousing affordability research

Consumer-advocacy organization publishing authoritative reports and data on consumer and medical debt, utility shutoffs, rental and credit screening, and benefits access that bear directly on housing and economic insecurity.

Datapoints: Reports on medical and consumer debt; Utility disconnection / energy-affordability analyses; Tenant and credit screening research; Public-benefits and debt-collection policy resources

National Equity Fund (NEF)

othernationalorg-hubNational Equity Fund, Inc.Housing affordability research

Nonprofit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndicator that finances creation and preservation of affordable and supportive housing, including predevelopment and preservation lending.

Datapoints: LIHTC equity investment volume; Affordable units created/preserved; Supportive and workforce/missing-middle housing financing; State tax-credit and Opportunity Zone programs

NFHA / Urban Institute Fair Housing Data and Mapping Tool

othernationalinteractive-mapNational Fair Housing Alliance & Urban InstituteHousing affordability research

Interactive national mapping tool showing how patterns of residential segregation align with unequal access to transportation, environment, education, jobs, and affordable housing, to support fair-housing advocacy.

Datapoints: Residential segregation patterns by geography; Housing affordability indicators; Access to transportation, education, jobs, environmental quality

National Fair Housing Alliance Resource Center

othernationalorg-hubNational Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA)Housing affordability research

Library of NFHA reports, research, legal resources, and case/settlement records on housing discrimination and fair-housing enforcement, plus a directory of 200+ member fair-housing organizations.

Datapoints: Annual fair-housing trends reports; Housing-discrimination cases and settlements; Directory of 200+ fair-housing/civil-rights organizations

Mixed-Status Families and Federal Housing Assistance

othernationalorg-hubNational Housing Law Project (NHLP)Housing affordability research

Resource hub on how federally subsidized housing programs (public housing, Section 8) treat mixed-status immigrant families, including benefit proration and the history of the proposed mixed-status rule. Documents Section 214 proration rules and SAVE verification.

Datapoints: Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 (proration of subsidies); 2020 proposed rule that would have displaced 25,000+ mixed-status families; April 2021 HUD withdrawal of the mixed-status rule; SAVE/DHS immigration-status verification in housing

NLIHC The Gap 2024 Report (PDF)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionHousing affordability research

Prior-year edition of NLIHC's Gap report documenting the shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters, useful for year-over-year trend comparison with the 2026 edition.

Datapoints: National ELI affordable-home shortage (2024 baseline); Affordable/available homes per 100 ELI renters by state; Share of ELI renters with severe cost burden; State and metro shortage tables

NLIHC The Gap — A Shortage of Affordable Homes

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionHousing affordability research

Annual NLIHC report quantifying the national shortage of rental homes affordable and available to the lowest-income renters, with state and metro breakdowns. The canonical source for the '7.2 million home shortage' and '35 affordable homes per 100 extremely low-income renters' figures.

Datapoints: 7.2M-home national shortage for ELI renters; 35 affordable homes per 100 ELI renters nationally; North Carolina: 38 affordable homes per 100 lowest-income renters (down from 41); 1970 affordable-housing surplus of +300,000 to 2024 shortage of -7.2M; affordable-and-available homes per 100 ELI renter households; national shortage of homes for ELI renters; share of ELI renters severely cost-burdened; Shortage of affordable/available homes for extremely low-income renters; Renters per 100 affordable units; Cost-burdened household share; State and metro affordability gaps; shortage of affordable/available units per 100 ELI renter households; cost-burdened ELI renters; state-by-state shortage; absolute deficit of affordable homes; shortage of affordable homes for ELI renters; affordable/available units per 100 ELI renter households; cost-burden by income group; state breakdowns; affordable+available homes per 100 ELI renter households; national ELI shortage (~7.3M homes); cost-burden rates by income band; state/metro shortage estimates; 7.2M-home national ELI shortage (2026); 35 affordable/available homes per 100 ELI renters; state-level deficits; cost-burden among ELI renters; Shortage of 7.2 million rental homes affordable and available to extremely low-income renters; 35 affordable and available homes per 100 ELI renter households (national); Share of ELI renters who are severely cost-burdened; State-by-state affordable-home supply deficits; national shortage (7.2M affordable/available homes for ELI renters); affordable & available homes per 100 ELI households (35 national; 16 NV to 73 SD); number of ELI renter households by state; % of ELI households severely cost-burdened; 13 of 50 largest metros with 100,000+ unit shortages; Shortage of ~7.2 million affordable and available rental homes for ELI renters; Only ~35 affordable/available homes per 100 ELI renter households nationally; ~70%+ of ELI renters severely cost-burdened; No state has an adequate supply for the lowest-income renters; Shortage of 7.2 million rental homes affordable and available to extremely low-income (ELI) renters (2026 edition); Only 35 affordable and available homes exist for every 100 ELI renter households nationally; No state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for ELI renters; State ratios range from 16 per 100 (Nevada) to 73 per 100 (South Dakota); 7.2 million shortfall of rental homes affordable to extremely low-income renters; 35 affordable/available homes per 100 extremely low-income renters nationally (2026); North Carolina: 38 affordable/available homes per 100, down from 41; Shortage of rental homes affordable to extremely low-income (ELI) renters (7.2 million); Affordable and available rental homes per 100 ELI renter households (35 nationally; 16 NV to 73 SD); Severe cost burden rates among ELI renters by state; Metro-level affordable-housing deficits (largest 50 metros)

The Gap 2026: A Shortage of Affordable Homes

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Housing affordability research

NLIHC's annual report measuring the national shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households, with state-level breakdowns. The recurring source for figures like affordable homes available per 100 low-income renter households.

Datapoints: national shortage of affordable/available rental homes for extremely low-income renters; affordable homes per 100 extremely low-income renter households (national + by state); 7.2 million affordable-home shortage for 11 million ELI renter households; 35 affordable/available homes per 100 ELI renters nationally; 74% of ELI renters severely cost-burdened (over half of income on housing); State availability ratios (16 per 100 in Nevada to 73 in South Dakota); 13 of 50 largest metros short more than 100,000 units

NRDC Data, Reports & Resources Hub

othernationalorg-hubNatural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)Housing affordability research

Central library of NRDC research and tools, including work on utility/water affordability, shutoff protections, energy burden, and food waste that intersects with household economic security and the cost-of-living burden on low-income families.

Datapoints: Reports on water and energy affordability for low-income households; Mapping of service disconnections; Food-waste reduction policy research

NRDC — Water Shutoffs Map (New Jersey hot spots)

othernationalinteractive-mapNatural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)Housing affordability research

Interactive map identifying geographic hot spots of household water-service disconnections, illustrating water-affordability gaps for low-income households; a model for analyzing utility shutoffs as a dimension of housing/economic insecurity.

Datapoints: Geographic concentration of water disconnections; Link between low income and loss of water service; Argues for stronger state water-affordability policy

Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC)

othernationalorg-hubPAHRC (research division of HAI Group)Housing affordability research

Research organization producing data-driven analysis on affordable housing, including the National Housing Preservation Database, a preservation toolkit, and a neighborhood opportunity search tool.

Datapoints: Affordable housing inventory and expiring affordability restrictions (via NHPD); Neighborhood opportunity measures: educational opportunity, job access, health, transit, neighborhood change; Trends in populations served by public/assisted housing

Pew Research Center: State of Affordable Housing in the U.S.

established-research-orgnationalarticlePew Research CenterHousing affordability research

Data-driven short read summarizing national cost-burden statistics, renter vs. owner affordability, and public concern about housing costs.

Datapoints: Cost-burden rates for renters and owners; Share of Americans 'very concerned' about housing costs; Trends in affordable housing supply

PRRAC (Poverty & Race Research Action Council)

othernationalorg-hubPoverty & Race Research Action CouncilHousing affordability research

Civil rights law and policy organization (founded 1989) producing research-based advocacy on housing segregation, fair housing, housing-choice-voucher mobility, and the intersection of housing and education for low-income communities of color.

Datapoints: Housing mobility program documentation and outcomes studies; Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) resources; Source-of-income discrimination guides and law tracking; Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) siting/equity analysis; Poverty & Race journal (peer-reviewed); Housing Mobility Programs in the U.S. (periodic report); Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) analysis; Source-of-Income discrimination tracking; Low Income Housing Tax Credit and voucher mobility research; Poverty & Race journal (biannual); Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) policy analysis; Housing mobility and Housing Choice Voucher research; Source-of-income discrimination tracking; Low Income Housing Tax Credit siting and civil-rights analysis; Poverty & Race Journal (biannual)

PRRAC - Racial Justice in Housing Finance Series (2021)

othernationalreportPoverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC)Housing affordability research

PRRAC report series examining racial equity in U.S. housing finance policy, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and fair-housing implications for siting and access to opportunity.

Datapoints: Racial-equity analysis of housing finance programs; LIHTC siting and fair-housing policy recommendations; Access-to-opportunity framing for affordable housing; Racial disparities in mortgage/housing finance access; Wealth and homeownership gaps by race; Policy recommendations for equitable housing finance

National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD)

othernationaldatasetPublic and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) & NLIHCHousing affordability research

The only de-duplicated source of comprehensive data on the federally subsidized affordable-housing inventory, with a mapping tool to identify properties at risk of losing affordability restrictions (queryable for Asheville/NC).

Datapoints: Subsidized properties by program (Section 8 PBRA, 202, 515/514, Public Housing, LIHTC, HOME, NHTF); Subsidy expiration dates / at-risk properties; Assisted unit counts by location; NHPD mapping tool; federally assisted property locations; subsidy/funding source(s); affordability expiration dates; number of assisted units; inspection/physical condition scores; at-risk properties; supply trends over time

Reinvestment Fund

othernationalorg-hubReinvestment FundHousing affordability research

Mission-driven CDFI providing analytic tools and research on equitable development, housing, and food access, including the Market Value Analysis and Limited Supermarket Access analysis.

Datapoints: Market Value Analysis (neighborhood revitalization typology); Limited Supermarket Access analysis (fresh-food access); Eviction and foreclosure prevention analyses; Early childhood education access analytics

ResiClub analysis of the Zillow Home Value Index

othernationaldashboardResiClub AnalyticsHousing affordability research

Metro-level housing market analysis tracking year-over-year home-price changes across the 300 largest U.S. metros, built on the Zillow Home Value Index.

Datapoints: June 2026 snapshot: 77 of 300 largest metros showed YoY price declines (~1 in 4); national index up under 1%; Steepest declines in Sun Belt / Mountain West metros (Austin ~-5.7%, Cape Coral FL ~-6.1%)

ResiClub Analytics: Major housing markets with falling/rising home prices (June 2026)

othernationaldashboardResiClub Analytics (analysis of Zillow Home Value Index)Housing affordability research

Monthly analysis of the Zillow Home Value Index tracking which of the 300 largest U.S. markets are posting year-over-year price declines, with metro-level detail.

Datapoints: National ZHVI +0.8% YoY (May 2025 to May 2026); average value ~$370,320; 77 of 300 markets (26%) declining YoY (June 2026 vintage); 22 of 50 largest (44%) declining; Austin -27.3% below 2022 peak; Hartford CT +25.6% above peak; Deepest declines: Punta Gorda -7.9%, London KY -7.1%, Cape Coral -6.1%, Austin -5.7%

A Blueprint for Better Housing Messages

othernationalguidelineSightline InstituteHousing affordability research

Sightline Institute's research-backed guidance on communicating about housing supply and affordability, including the finding that 'data cannot be the message; it should support a compelling narrative.' A pro-housing message-research reference.

Datapoints: data should support, not be, the message; narrative-first housing communication; tested housing message frames

Sightline Institute — Housing & Cities research hub

othernationalorg-hubSightline InstituteHousing affordability research

Sightline's standing research hub on housing supply, zoning, and affordability in cities, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest.

Datapoints: Housing supply and zoning analysis; Affordability and missing-middle housing research; Pacific Northwest housing policy tracking

Terner Housing Policy Simulator

primary-academicnationaltoolTerner Center for Housing Innovation / Terner Labs, UC BerkeleyHousing affordability research

Interactive modeling tool that estimates how local market conditions (land values, construction costs, regulations) shape the financial feasibility of housing development under different policies.

Datapoints: Models land values, construction costs, and regulatory constraints; Projects housing-policy outcomes at the local level

Affordability for Whom? Introducing an Inclusive Affordability Measure

primary-academicnationalreportTerner Center for Housing Innovation, UC BerkeleyHousing affordability research

A May 2024 report (with paired interactive county-level tool) proposing a new inclusive affordability measure that asks whether a location is affordable to people who might potentially live there, not only to current residents, applied at the California county level.

Datapoints: New inclusive affordability metric measuring affordability to potential (not just current) residents; County-level affordability analysis (California focus); Interactive county-level data visualization tool

Terner Center for Housing Innovation (UC Berkeley)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubTerner Center for Housing Innovation, UC BerkeleyHousing affordability research

Research center publishing 200+ reports and data tools on housing affordability, supply/production, land use and zoning, rental housing, and homelessness, organized around supply, access, and innovation. Work is California-focused but widely cited as a national model for housing-policy analysis.

Datapoints: Per-unit construction and development costs over time; Development impact fees as a share of project cost; Inclusive Affordability Measure (transportation + housing); LIHTC project cost analysis; Housing supply and construction-cost research; Housing affordability and access disparities; Homelessness-related housing policy analysis; Terner Housing Policy Simulator outputs; 200+ research outputs; themes: Supply, Access, Innovation; housing cost, production, and policy analysis; Housing affordability and underproduction analysis; Land-use/zoning and permit-streamlining policy outcomes; Rental housing and affordable-housing finance; Homelessness policy (e.g., CalAIM and Medicaid housing supports); Housing affordability and construction-cost analysis; Policy briefs on CalAIM/permanent supportive housing funding; Research on regulatory barriers to housing production

Terner Housing Policy Simulator

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapTerner Center for Housing Innovation, UC BerkeleyHousing affordability research

Interactive tool modeling how local market conditions shape the outcomes of different housing policies, illustrating feasibility of affordable and market-rate development.

Datapoints: local market condition inputs; policy outcome simulations; development feasibility under varying conditions

The Cost of Building Housing Series

primary-academicnationalreportTerner Center for Housing Innovation, UC BerkeleyHousing affordability research

A research series examining the components that drive housing development costs (land, construction, fees, regulation, affordable-housing production) in California and other high-cost markets, comprising eight reports on permitting, fees, construction costs, and LIHTC funding.

Datapoints: U.S. land prices rose 76% from 2000-2016 (nearly double inflation); 2017 single-family construction cost index +5.6%, multifamily +6.3% (vs 2.7% avg 1990-2000); California 2015 average impact fees: $23,455 single-family, $19,558 multifamily (~3x national average); LA green building standards added 10.8% to costs; Affordable housing cost per unit rose from $265,000 (2000) to $425,000 (2016); Local design requirements added ~7%, community opposition ~5% to affordable-housing costs

America's Housing Affordability Crisis and the Decline of Housing Supply

primary-academicnationalarticleThe Brookings InstitutionHousing affordability research

An analysis by economists Edward Glaeser and Joseph Gyourko documenting how declining construction rates have made historically affordable Sun Belt cities as expensive as coastal markets, arguing decreased supply drives high prices.

Datapoints: National housing stock grew from 36 million units (1950) to 144 million (2023); Annual housing growth rate fell from 4% (1950s) to 0.6% (2010s); Phoenix annual growth: 9.1% (1970s) to 1.0% (2010s); LA: 1.9% to 0.5%; Inflation-adjusted prices: Phoenix 2.5x 1975 levels, LA 4x; national 15% above 2007-09 peak

Make it Count: Measuring our Housing Supply Shortage

primary-academicnationalarticleThe Brookings InstitutionHousing affordability research

A November 2024 analysis reviewing methodologies for estimating the U.S. housing supply shortage and presenting an updated 2023 estimate using an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition that accounts for pent-up demand from suppressed household formation.

Datapoints: Estimated shortage of 4.9 million housing units at end of 2023; 131 million households and 145.9 million housing units (end of 2023); Housing vacancy rate just below 10% for the prior 3.5 years; Range of estimates across methodologies: 1.5 to 5.5 million units; HUD: 650,000+ people experiencing homelessness (2023)

Project 2025: Fair Housing and Lending Analysis

othernationalreportThe Leadership Conference on Civil and Human RightsHousing affordability research

Policy analysis from the leading civil-rights coalition examining proposed federal rollbacks to fair-housing and fair-lending protections and their implications for housing access and discrimination enforcement.

Datapoints: Examines proposed changes to fair-housing and fair-lending enforcement; Authored within the organization's economic-justice and fair-housing program (contact: [email protected])

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights - Resources

othernationalorg-hubThe Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights / The Leadership Conference Education Fund (Washington, DC)Housing affordability research

Coalition civil-rights organization that publishes reports, fact sheets, amicus briefs, testimony, and regulatory comments across economic justice, fair housing and lending, and civil-rights policy. A reference hub for fair-housing and anti-discrimination policy relevant to housing insecurity.

Datapoints: Resource types: Reports, Fact Sheets, Amicus Briefs, Testimony, Advocacy Letters, Regulatory Comments; Specialized tracking collections including Project 2025 analyses, Trump Rollbacks, and policy timelines; Stated focus areas include Economic Justice and Fair Housing

Kertesz et al. 2009 — 'Are We Overreaching?' Housing First Critique (Milbank Quarterly)

primary-academicnationalreportThe Milbank QuarterlyHousing affordability research

Canonical scholarly critique arguing Housing First is an excellent housing-stability intervention but should not be oversold as a treatment for active addiction; documents excellent retention despite limited data on severe-addiction clients.

Datapoints: Housing First excels on housing retention, limited evidence on active/severe addiction outcomes; Milbank Quarterly 87(2):495-534; Housing First excels at retention, not as addiction treatment; HF documents excellent housing retention despite limited data on clients with active severe addiction; Core caution: HF should not be oversold as a cure for clinical conditions

Pew Charitable Trusts — Research and Analysis

othernationalreportThe Pew Charitable TrustsHousing affordability research

Nonpartisan research and reports on state fiscal health, family financial security and savings, housing policy, and consumer finance. Authoritative source for evidence-based analysis touching cost-of-living, economic stability, and public-benefit policy.

Datapoints: family financial security / emergency savings research; state fiscal and budget data; housing and consumer-finance policy analysis

Pew Housing Policy Initiative

othernationalorg-hubThe Pew Charitable TrustsHousing affordability research

Pew research initiative analyzing how zoning, land-use, and statutory rules drive the U.S. housing shortage and rising costs, and how reforms and eviction-court practices affect affordability and family stability. Publishes data-driven reports and policy analyses.

Datapoints: 27.1% of mortgaged households and 49.7% of renter households cost-burdened (2023); Effect of new market-rate construction on rents in lower-income neighborhoods; Impact of zoning reform and preapproved plans on supply; Public-concern survey data on housing costs; Landlord-tenant cases (mostly evictions) make up ~25% of civil cases in state/local courts; In 2024 the lowest-income renters had under ~$210/month left after housing costs; In 2023, 56.2% of Black renter households spent 30%+ of income on housing; Land-use/zoning reform impacts on rent growth and supply

Treatment Advocacy Center — Criminalization of Mental Illness & Bed-Supply Benchmark

othernationalorg-hubTreatment Advocacy Center (TAC)Housing affordability research

TAC resource hub on the criminalization of serious mental illness and the shortage of public psychiatric beds, including the expert benchmark of ~50 beds per 100,000 people.

Datapoints: Benchmark: ~50 public psychiatric beds per 100,000 people needed; Attributes criminalization to bed shortage + commitment-law barriers; Shortage of state psychiatric beds; Bed-need benchmark ~50 public psychiatric beds per 100,000; Bed-need benchmark ~50 beds/100,000; Drivers of criminalization of mental illness

Open Data Network

othernationaltoolTyler Technologies (formerly Socrata)Housing affordability research

Search and discovery platform aggregating government open data across U.S. cities, counties, metros, and states, with comparable demographic, economic, housing, and social indicators.

Datapoints: Cost of living and housing-cost indicators by geography; Earnings and employment data by industry; Population counts and growth rates; Education attainment and health/environment measures; Cross-jurisdiction comparison of indicators

Reentry Trends in the United States (BJS)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)Housing affordability research

BJS resource summarizing national data on inmates returning to the community after prison, the primary federal source on recidivism and reentry that underlies housing-and-reentry analysis.

Datapoints: Number and rate of prisoners released annually; Recidivism / return-to-prison rates over follow-up periods; Characteristics of releasees (probation, parole status); Trends in reentry over time; Number of prisoners released annually; Recidivism / rearrest and reincarceration rates; Parole and supervised-release trends; Characteristics of the reentering population

Joint Economic Committee: Housing Supply & Affordability

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Congress Joint Economic CommitteeHousing affordability research

Congressional issue briefs and reports on housing supply, the affordability shortage, and policy approaches to increasing the housing stock (both Democratic and Republican analyses).

Datapoints: Housing shortage and its effect on homeownership access; Middle-income household affordability strain; Policy approaches to increase housing supply

HUD CHAS (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy) Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Housing affordability research

Background page for the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data, custom Census ACS tabulations HUD uses to show the extent of housing problems and needs for low-income households, disaggregated by tenure, income, race/ethnicity, and household type.

Datapoints: Cost burden (>30% of income) and severe cost burden (>50%); Housing problems by HUD income category (ELI, VLI, LI); Renter vs. owner cost burden by jurisdiction; Available data for Asheville and all NC jurisdictions; Cost burden (housing costs over 30% of income); Severe cost burden (over 50% of income); Counts of low- and moderate-income households; Housing problems disaggregated by tenure, race/ethnicity, disability, elderly status, presence of children, overcrowding; Inputs to Consolidated Plans for CDBG/HOME funding

U.S. Treasury — Housing Affordability and Supply

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of the TreasuryHousing affordability research

Treasury featured analysis attributing high housing costs to a shortage of affordable supply, summarizing the national affordable-rental gap and federal tools (notably the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) used to expand supply.

Datapoints: National shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters; No state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for the lowest-income renters; Post-2008 / pandemic underbuilding of new housing units; LIHTC is the largest federal source for affordable rental construction/rehab (over 3.8 million units to date)

National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Federal Highway Administration (DOT)Housing affordability research

The authoritative national survey of daily travel behavior in the United States, capturing trips, modes, and travel time by household demographics including income, useful for transportation-access and affordability research.

Datapoints: Trips and miles by mode and purpose; Travel patterns by income, age, and household type; Car access and commute time

Housing Underproduction in the U.S.

established-research-orgnationalreportUp for GrowthHousing affordability research

Up for Growth's flagship annual report quantifying U.S. housing underproduction (the gap between needed and available homes) at national, state, and metro levels, paired with an interactive housing dashboard.

Datapoints: National housing underproduction estimate (units needed); State- and metro-level underproduction gaps; Trend of underproduction over time; Pro-housing policy briefs with production/feasibility/equity scoring

Housing Underproduction in the U.S. (Annual Report)

established-research-orgnationalreportUp for GrowthHousing affordability research

Annual national report quantifying the U.S. housing shortage (housing underproduction) and analyzing housing production trends across 311 metropolitan areas. Used widely as a headline estimate of the national housing gap.

Datapoints: National housing gap / underproduction estimate (3.78 million homes for 2023); Year-over-year change in the housing gap; Metro-level production trends since 2012 across 311 metros; Median home price change 2019-2024 (~60%); Change in typical mortgage payment since COVID-19; Building permit trends (apartments and single-family)

Up for Growth: Housing Underproduction in the U.S.

established-research-orgnationalreportUp for GrowthHousing affordability research

Annual report quantifying the national 'missing homes' shortfall and underproduction by state and metro, with downloadable data and interactive visualizations.

Datapoints: National housing underproduction: ~3.78 million homes (2023), down from 3.85 million (2022); Underproduction by state and metro area; States with most severe shortages (California ~840,000); Median home sale price change 2019-2024 (+60%)

Mapping America's Rental Housing Crisis (interactive map)

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapUrban InstituteHousing affordability research

County-level interactive map of the affordable-rental-housing gap for extremely low-income (ELI) renter households across the United States, showing how many adequate affordable units exist for every 100 ELI households.

Datapoints: ELI renter households (<=30% of area median income); Adequate affordable rental units per 100 ELI households; Total available affordable rental units per county; HUD and USDA federal housing assistance by county; affordable units per 100 ELI renter households; ELI households earning <=30% of area median income; total affordable units by county; HUD and USDA assistance participation; coverage 2000 through 2010-2014

Rental Assistance Priority Index

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUrban InstituteHousing affordability research

Census-tract-level index identifying neighborhoods with the greatest need for rental assistance, combining housing, household, and income subindices. Built on ACS and HUD CHAS data with weights calibrated to eviction-filing rates.

Datapoints: Equity subindex; Housing Instability Risk subindex; Tract-level priority rankings for rental assistance; Overall priority index percentile (tract level, within-state); Housing subindex; Household Characteristics subindex; Income subindex; 10 standardized component indicators; Eviction-filing-rate-based weighting

The American Affordability Tracker

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUrban InstituteHousing affordability research

Interactive tracker monitoring whether American families can afford the true cost of living across essential categories, with national, state, and congressional-district data. Integrates food, housing, health care, child care, energy, and earnings indicators.

Datapoints: Housing cost trends vs. earnings over time; Cost trends for child care, health care, energy, gas; Indicators of household financial distress; Housing costs (home sale prices and rents); Grocery / food costs (via Feeding America Map the Meal Gap / NielsenIQ); Health care (ACA marketplace plan costs); Child care expenses; Energy, electricity, and gas prices; Earnings data; Financial distress indicators (credit card delinquency); Geography: national, state, and congressional district (119th Congress)

Urban Institute Housing & Housing Finance Policy Center

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUrban InstituteHousing affordability research

Urban Institute's topic hub for housing-policy research, data, and interactive tools spanning affordability, rental assistance, housing instability, and assisted housing. Gateway to named tools like the housing-instability risk map and Housing Finance at a Glance.

Datapoints: Housing Finance at a Glance monthly chartbook; Mortgage origination, delinquency, and credit-availability metrics; Rental market composition and affordability analysis; Housing stability and affordability research; Federal housing programs and voucher analysis; Mapping Neighborhoods with Highest Risk of Housing Instability (interactive index); Public and assisted housing analysis; Climate-resilient housing research

Urban Institute — Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond evaluation

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban InstituteHousing affordability research

Randomized controlled trial evaluation of Denver's supportive-housing Social Impact Bond, comparing public costs and housing stability for the housed group versus a control group. Standing Housing First evidence source.

Datapoints: Control group cost $25,554/yr vs housing group $18,678/yr (saves $6,876); 77% of the housing group stable at 3 years; Control group $25,554/person/yr in public services (jail, ER, detox, shelter); Supportive housing $18,678/person/yr - $6,876 less, with housing included; 77% still stably housed at 3 years; ~38 fewer jail days; 65% reduction in detox use

Housing Finance at a Glance: A Monthly Chartbook

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban Institute Housing Finance Policy CenterHousing affordability research

Monthly chartbook with 80+ curated figures tracking the U.S. housing finance market, including affordability, credit availability, delinquency, and mortgage activity. Updated monthly with a downloadable PDF.

Datapoints: Housing Credit Availability Index (HCAI); Mortgage origination and refinance volumes; Home price appreciation and affordability indicators; First-time homebuyer share; Housing affordability index and mortgage affordability; Credit availability / mortgage credit access; Serious delinquency rates; Home values and housing equity; Home sales trends; FHA loan origination (first-time homebuyers); Mortgage insurance activity

National Equity Atlas - Housing Burden indicator

othernationaldatasetUSC Equity Research Institute (ERI) & PolicyLinkHousing affordability research

Detailed indicator tracking the share of households that are cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened, disaggregated by race/ethnicity and tenure (owner vs renter), available down to the county and city level.

Datapoints: Cost-burdened: >30% of income on housing; Severely cost-burdened: >50% of income on housing; Breakouts by race/ethnicity and renter vs owner

Zillow Research Housing Data (ZORI / ZHVI)

othernationaldatasetZillow ResearchHousing affordability research

Free, downloadable housing-market time series at national, metro, county, and ZIP level, including the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), widely used to track local rent and home-value trends.

Datapoints: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) - typical market rent, quality-controlled; Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) - typical home value; Rent and value series down to ZIP/city level for Asheville; Rent forecast (ZORF); ZHVI typical home value (all homes; top/mid/bottom tier; by geography); ZORI smoothed market-rate rent index (repeat-rent, stock-weighted); For-sale and rental inventory, days-on-market, price cuts; New construction and market heat metrics; Geographies down to ZIP code; Econ Data API access

CBPP Federal Rental Assistance Fact Sheets

established-research-orgstate-NCreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Housing affordability research

State-by-state fact sheets summarizing federal rental assistance programs (Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing) and the population they serve. Documents both reach and unmet need across all states.

Datapoints: Number of NC households using Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing, and Project-Based assistance; Demographics of assisted families (elderly, children, disabled); Federal rental assistance funding flowing to NC; Nearly 10 million people in 5.3 million low-income households assisted; Three major programs assist ~82% of households receiving federal rental assistance; ~2,100 state and local public housing agencies administer vouchers; 75% of new voucher admissions each year must have extremely low incomes (<=poverty line or 30% of local median); 65% of non-elderly, non-disabled voucher households were working or recently worked (2024); 3 in 4 eligible low-income renter households receive no federal rental assistance due to funding limits

MAP Dashboard (University of Arizona)

primary-academicstate-NCdashboardEller College of Management, University of ArizonaHousing affordability research

Nonpartisan institutional dashboard plus interpretive Featured Articles tracking housing affordability, cost burden, and poverty in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Closest data-plus-explainer institutional match.

Datapoints: housing affordability and cost-burden indicators; poverty metrics; interpretive data articles; Housing affordability and cost-burden indicators; Poverty rates for Southern Arizona; Wage and economy indicators; Interpretive articles tied to each indicator

King County Regional Affordable Housing Dashboard

primary-govstate-NCdashboardKing County, WashingtonHousing affordability research

Nonpartisan government data dashboard tracking cost burden and affordability gaps for King County (Seattle metro), Washington. Data-only resource.

Datapoints: regional cost-burden data; affordable-housing supply gaps

North Carolina Housing Coalition

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Housing CoalitionHousing affordability research

Statewide housing-advocacy organization publishing county housing fact sheets and policy analysis covering affordability and need across NC's rural and urban counties.

Datapoints: More than 1 in 4 NC households are cost-burdened; ~90 hours/week at minimum wage needed to afford a 2BR apartment in NC; County-level housing profiles and affordability data; State housing policy and budget analysis; NC homelessness assessment (19% rise); Helene housing damage by county (e.g., Buncombe: 11,488 damaged, 372 destroyed); county housing-needs profiles; affordable housing policy tracking; county housing profiles/fact sheets; cost burden and wage-vs-rent gaps; affordable-housing policy tracking; rural housing need indicators

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Housing Finance AgencyHousing affordability research

Self-supporting state agency financing affordable housing in NC; publishes program data, the Qualified Allocation Plan, and analysis used in state housing planning.

Datapoints: Cumulative affordable homes/apartments financed (~333,400, $37.4B); LIHTC and HOME program allocations by county; State and National Housing Trust Fund activity; NC Home Advantage homebuyer program data

Terner Center — Affordability for Whom? (Interactive)

primary-academicstate-NCinteractive-mapTerner Center for Housing Innovation, UC BerkeleyHousing affordability research

Interactive county-level tool examining 'selection-robust' housing affordability for different demographic groups in California, factoring in transportation and childcare costs. California-focused but a transferable model/methodology for affordability analysis.

Datapoints: County-level affordability for rental and ownership; Sensitivity to down payment ($100K-$400K) and interest rate (2%-8%) assumptions; Inclusion of transportation and childcare costs in affordability; Affordability by demographic group

2025 Asheville Region Housing Needs Assessment (Bowen National Research)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportBowen National Research, commissioned by Land of Sky Regional CouncilHousing affordability research

Housing programs and regional housing data for the four-county Asheville/Western North Carolina region (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania), including senior home-modification and rehabilitation loan programs plus a regional housing needs assessment and affordable-housing directory.

Datapoints: Shortfall of 13,921 rental units and 20,400+ for-sale homes (region); More than 54,000 cost-burdened households in the region; Median Asheville home price ~$595,000; Need for 6,956 units at <=80% AMI; WNC needs ~34,000 new homes by 2028; Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP) for seniors 62+ below 80% AMI; Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool (up to $70,000, 0% deferred, forgiven $14,000/yr); 2021 Housing Needs Assessment: shortage of 6,115 rental units for households at 50% AMI; Cost-burden and wage-to-housing-gap infographics; Annual Affordable Housing Directory (4 counties)

Buncombe County Affordable Housing

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County, NCHousing affordability research

Buncombe County's affordable-housing program page with local data, the affordable-housing services program, and progress toward the county's 3,100-unit-by-2030 goal funded by housing bonds.

Datapoints: County goal of 3,100 affordable units by 2030; Housing bond / affordable-housing-services funding allocations; Local cost-burden and shortage data

City of Asheville Affordable Housing

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubCity of Asheville, Community & Economic Development DepartmentHousing affordability research

City of Asheville's affordable-housing program page, with local housing data, the Housing Trust Fund, bond projects, and affordability goals.

Datapoints: ~35% of Asheville households cost-burdened; Renters as majority of households (~61%); Affordable-housing unit production goals and pipeline; Housing Trust Fund and bond-funded project data; Five-year regional need of 34,358 homes (~13,921 rental, ~20,437 for-sale) across Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania + City of Asheville; City of Asheville alone: 6,441 rental and 5,217 for-sale of that total; Deepest rental need among households earning under half the area median income; ~19,951 housing units damaged by Helene; ~1,450 needing rebuild

Pratt Center for Community Development - Research & Reports

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubPratt Center for Community Development (Pratt Institute)Housing affordability research

Community-engaged research hub publishing reports and analyses on NYC housing affordability, displacement, and neighborhood planning, including studies of home-flipping, informal housing, and the right to remain in one's neighborhood.

Datapoints: Flipping Out series: how home-flipping erodes affordability in neighborhoods of color (2021-2025 data update); The Right to Remain: displacement and residents' ability to stay in their neighborhoods; New York's Housing Underground: documents informal/illegal housing arrangements; Regional Assessment and Barriers Analysis (RABA) reports across boroughs

HousingWorks RI — Housing Fact Books

otherglobalreportHousingWorks RI (Roger Williams University)Housing affordability research

Annual Housing Fact Book with municipal-level housing data for all 39 Rhode Island municipalities; a template for an annual local housing fact book.

Datapoints: Municipal housing data for 39 RI municipalities; Median rent and home prices by municipality; Affordable-housing stock and need by town; Income-to-housing-cost ratios

HousingWorks RI — Myths vs. Facts

otherglobalarticleHousingWorks RI (Roger Williams University)Housing affordability research

Statewide Rhode Island myth-busting explainer on housing affordability, paired with the annual Housing Fact Book. The strongest myth-vs-fact plus local-data format match found.

Datapoints: Myth-vs-fact statements on housing affordability; Rhode Island rent and home-price data; Cost-burden statistics

Custody Without Care: Strengthening How Corrections Handles Mental Illness

otherglobalreportMental Health Commission of CanadaHousing affordability research

Action plan on mental illness in the corrections system, relevant to the reentry/justice-involvement pathway into housing and food insecurity. Part of MHCC's criminal-justice-and-mental-health work.

Datapoints: Addresses gaps in correctional mental-health treatment; Companion to 'Finding New Pathways' criminal-justice action plan; Relevant to reentry, housing, and social-determinants pathways

Goering et al. 2014 — At Home/Chez Soi National Cross-Site Final Report (MHCC)

otherglobalreportMental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)Housing affordability research

The largest Housing First pragmatic RCT (n=2,148 across 5 Canadian cities): 62% of HF participants stably housed all of the time in the final six months vs 31% of treatment-as-usual; high-needs/ACT returned ~$9.60 per $10 invested ($21.72/$10 for the highest-cost 10%).

Datapoints: n=2,148; 62% HF vs 31% TAU stably housed; High-needs/ACT $9.60 per $10; top-cost 10% $21.72 per $10; Mental-health/substance-use improved similarly in both arms; 62% of HF participants stably housed all of the time (final 6 months) vs 31% of treatment-as-usual; 16% of HF vs 46% of TAU housed none of the time; ACT arm returned ~$9.60 per $10 invested; ICM arm ~$3.42 per $10; Highest-cost 10%: HF cost $19,582/person/year, $21.72 avoided per $10 invested

Metadata for SDG Indicator 11.1.1 (Population in Slums/Inadequate Housing)

primary-intlglobalguidelineUN-Habitat (custodian agency for SDG 11)Housing affordability research

Official metadata defining the methodology for SDG indicator 11.1.1 - the proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing. The international standard for measuring housing adequacy.

Datapoints: Definition of slum household (durability, sufficient living area, water, sanitation, secure tenure); Components of inadequate housing for SDG monitoring; Computation methodology and data sources for indicator 11.1.1

UN-Habitat Fact Sheet 21: The Right to Adequate Housing

primary-intlglobalguidelineUN-Habitat / OHCHRHousing affordability research

Joint OHCHR/UN-Habitat fact sheet laying out the legal content of the right to adequate housing, common misconceptions, who is protected, and state obligations.

Datapoints: Definition and freedoms/entitlements of the right to adequate housing; Criteria for adequacy; Links to forced evictions, security of tenure, non-discrimination

NYS Eviction Crisis Monitor

othernationaldashboardANHD, JustFix, BetaNYC, OCA Data CollectiveEviction & housing instability

Interactive monitor tracking active residential and commercial eviction cases across New York State and eviction filing rates by NYC zip code since March 2020. Built with court-administration data to show where landlords are filing evictions and how representation reduces them.

Datapoints: Active eviction cases statewide over time; Eviction filing rates by NYC ZIP code (map); Neighborhood disparities (highest rates in the Bronx); Filing trends since March 23, 2020; Eviction filing rates by NYC ZIP code; Attorney representation and marshal-eviction counts since Jan 2022; Documented exclusions: single-unit residences, town/village courts, informal evictions; Statewide active eviction case count over time (from March 23, 2020); NYC eviction filing rates by zip code (neighborhood map); Geographic disparities in filings (e.g., Bronx concentration); count of active residential and commercial eviction cases (since 3/23/2020); eviction filing rates by NYC zip code; temporal trends across moratoria and protection-expiration periods; Active eviction cases filed since March 23, 2020; Eviction filing rates by NYC zip code; Concentration of filings by neighborhood (e.g., Bronx) and demographic group; Residential vs commercial case breakdowns

Center for Public Health Law Research (PHLR) publications library

primary-academicnationalreportCenter for Public Health Law Research, Temple UniversityEviction & housing instability

Library of research and policy reports spanning more than 20 areas of public-health law, including state income-support policies and child health, housing/eviction, and other social determinants of health.

Datapoints: Research papers on state income support policies and child health; Housing and eviction legal-epidemiology studies; Methodology resources for policy surveillance; legal-epidemiology evidence on health-related laws; policy-effect analyses across public-health domains; methods literature for scientific legal mapping

LawAtlas Policy Surveillance Portal

othernationalinteractive-mapCenter for Public Health Law Research, Temple UniversityEviction & housing instability

Open library of scientific legal-mapping datasets coding the contents and characteristics of U.S. laws and policies of public-health importance across 20+ research areas, including housing, food, eviction, and social determinants of health. Datasets are downloadable and queryable by state and over time.

Datapoints: Coded legal variables across states/cities with effective dates; Housing, eviction, income support, paid leave, and minimum-wage policy datasets; Downloadable datasets and codebooks for research; Interactive state-by-state maps; state-by-state legal codings of housing, eviction, and tenant-protection laws; food-policy and nutrition-related law datasets; social-determinant and health-equity policy surveillance datasets; longitudinal policy effective dates by jurisdiction; Local Eviction Laws dataset across jurisdictions; State and Local Minimum Wage Laws (25 states / 40 largest cities, 2010-2023); State and Local Nonpayment of Wages laws; City Nuisance Property Ordinances and Just Cause Eviction / Retaliation laws; 150+ coded legal datasets; Local Eviction Laws dataset; housing and public-benefit policy collections; coverage by state/DC across multiple years; state/territory eviction laws (as of Jan 1, 2021, all 50 states + DC + 8 territories); local eviction laws across 30 U.S. cities; legal characteristics coded jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction; 20+ public-health law topic areas; Local Eviction Laws dataset (30 U.S. cities); Local Just Cause Eviction & Retaliation Laws; Local Inclusionary Zoning Laws; Residential Eviction Laws in 40 U.S. Cities; Downloadable, machine-readable legal coding with effective dates; Local Eviction Laws dataset (by jurisdiction, over time); Housing and injury-prevention legal datasets; State syringe access, HIV criminalization, e-cigarette, and vaccine law datasets; Longitudinal coding of statutory/regulatory provisions by state and locality; Local/Residential Eviction Laws (40 U.S. cities); City Nuisance Property Ordinances; Complete Streets initiatives; involuntary-commitment and substance-use laws; 150+ coded public health law datasets with downloadable data and legal text

LawAtlas: Local Eviction Laws dataset

othernationaldatasetCenter for Public Health Law Research, Temple UniversityEviction & housing instability

Dataset coding eviction regulations across 30 U.S. cities (effective Jan 1, 2021), developed as part of the Legal Services Corporation's congressionally funded study of eviction-related legal needs. Tracks grounds for eviction, notice requirements, judicial procedures, and enforcement rules.

Datapoints: Grounds for eviction by city; Notice-to-tenant requirements; Judicial process and timelines; Enforcement / lockout rules; Context: ~3.7 million eviction cases filed annually; ~20 million renters cost-burdened; 30 U.S. cities coded; Landlord grounds for eviction, tenant notice, judicial procedure, enforcement; Effective date January 1, 2021; Context: ~20 million U.S. renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing)

Introduction to the Housing Voucher Program (CBPP)

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy PrioritiesEviction & housing instability

CBPP backgrounder on the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, the largest federal low-income rental assistance program, covering its scale, administration, eligibility targeting, and how vouchers work.

Datapoints: More than 5 million people in 2.2 million low-income households use vouchers; Administered by ~2,400 public housing agencies under HUD; 75% of new admissions must be extremely low income (<=30% AMI or poverty line); Tenant-based vs. project-based voucher distinction

Project-Based Vouchers (CBPP)

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy PrioritiesEviction & housing instability

CBPP explainer on project-based vouchers, the option for public housing agencies to attach Housing Choice Voucher funding to specific buildings to preserve and create affordable units.

Datapoints: How PBVs differ from tenant-based vouchers; PHA authority to commit up to a share of voucher funding to projects; Role in preserving affordable housing and supportive housing; Tenant mobility/protections under PBVs

2025 Federal Rental Assistance Fact Sheets - Sources and Methodology

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Methodology behind CBPP's national and state federal rental assistance fact sheets, documenting how household counts, funding, demographics, and unmet need are derived from HUD and USDA administrative data and the ACS.

Datapoints: Housing Choice Voucher household counts (HUD Two-Year Tool, 2023 monthly average); Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance households (HUD Picture of Subsidized Households); Public Housing and Section 202/811 supportive housing funding (HUD CART); Estimated unmet need for rental assistance among low-income households (via ACS)

CBPP Housing Research Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Topic hub aggregating CBPP analysis, policy basics, and data on federal rental assistance, Housing Choice Vouchers, homelessness, and housing affordability.

Datapoints: Housing Choice Voucher program analysis and utilization; Federal rental-assistance funding and reach; Rent-burden and affordability statistics; State-by-state housing assistance fact sheets

CBPP — A Guide for Using Our Federal Rental Assistance Fact Sheets

established-research-orgnationalguidelineCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Companion guide explaining how to read and use CBPP's national and state federal-rental-assistance fact sheets, which compile household counts and program reach by jurisdiction.

Datapoints: How to interpret state/national household counts by program; Definitions of program categories and assisted-household metrics; Guidance on combining fact sheets with the sources-and-methodology documentation

CBPP — Federal Rental Assistance Fact Sheets: Sources and Methodology

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Documents the data sources and methodology behind CBPP's federal-rental-assistance fact sheets, which aggregate HUD and USDA administrative data into national and state-level estimates of households served by housing programs.

Datapoints: Methodology and data sources for federal rental assistance estimates; Underlying HUD administrative data (Voucher Management System, public housing, project-based Section 8); USDA Rural Development rental assistance data; State- and national-level household counts by program

CBPP — Policy Basics: Federal Rental Assistance

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Overview of the federal rental assistance system, summarizing how the major programs (Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Section 8, Public Housing) help low-income households afford modest homes.

Datapoints: Federal rental assistance helps about 5 million low-income households; Three major programs (vouchers, project-based Section 8, public housing) serve ~90% of assisted households; Demographics of assisted households (seniors, people with disabilities, families with children); Unmet need: only about 1 in 4 eligible households receives assistance

CBPP — Policy Basics: Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Explainer on Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), which subsidizes specific privately owned rental units, with national counts of households and people served.

Datapoints: Nearly 2 million people in 1.2 million low-income households assisted by PBRA; Subsidy tied to the unit rather than the tenant; Tenant rent contribution (~30% of income); Role in preserving affordable housing stock

CBPP — Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher Program

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Explainer on the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, the largest federal rental assistance program, with national figures on households served and how vouchers work in the private market.

Datapoints: More than 2 million low-income families (over 5 million people) use Housing Choice Vouchers; Voucher tenant contribution (~30% of income toward rent); Role of vouchers in reducing homelessness and housing instability; Program administration by local public housing agencies under HUD

Housing Choice Voucher Fact Sheets (national and state)

established-research-orgnationaldashboardCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

State-by-state fact sheets and downloadable data tables on who uses and who needs Housing Choice Vouchers, with utilization indicators from 2004 to present by state and local housing agency.

Datapoints: ~2 million households using Housing Choice Vouchers; Families using vouchers and percent of authorized vouchers utilized, by state/agency; Total voucher assistance payments; Demographics: ~60% elderly/disabled, ~30% families with children; Urban/suburban/rural distribution

Housing Vouchers (research topic hub)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

CBPP's curated research hub on the Housing Choice Voucher program, aggregating analyses of voucher funding, effectiveness, and policy proposals. Tracks the gap between need and assistance for low-income renters.

Datapoints: More than 2 million low-income families (5+ million people) use vouchers; Vouchers enable 900,000+ older adults and 1.4 million people with disabilities to live independently; Only ~1 in 4 households likely eligible for federal rental assistance receive it; Voucher impact on homelessness reduction and housing stability

Policy Basics: Federal Rental Assistance

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

Plain-language overview of the federal rental assistance system: who it serves, the main programs, eligibility rules, and its role in preventing homelessness and housing instability.

Datapoints: Three programs (Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Project-Based, public housing) provide ~90% of federal rental aid; HUD oversees all federal rental assistance except USDA Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance; Eligibility threshold: below 80% of local area median income; Coverage across all 50 states, DC and territories

Stout Study on Eviction Right to Counsel (Columbus, OH)

primary-govnationalreportCity of Columbus / Stout Risius Ross (Stout)Eviction & housing instability

Cost-benefit analysis by Stout estimating the economic impact of providing legal counsel to tenants facing eviction, projecting that a right-to-counsel program prevents disruptive displacements and returns multiple dollars in avoided social costs (emergency shelter, foster care, healthcare, lost jobs) per dollar invested. Part of Stout's national series of city/state eviction right-to-counsel studies.

Datapoints: share of tenants facing eviction without legal representation; estimated disruptive displacements prevented by guaranteed counsel; benefit-to-cost ratio of a right-to-counsel program; avoided downstream costs: shelter, healthcare, child welfare, lost employment

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

othernationalreportCrown / Penguin Random House (author Matthew Desmond)Eviction & housing instability

Pulitzer Prize-winning ethnographic study of eviction in Milwaukee, combining narrative with analysis of 250 tenant interviews and court records, arguing eviction is a cause (not just a condition) of poverty.

Datapoints: eviction as a driver of poverty; tenant and landlord lived-experience data; low-income rental market dynamics

Eviction Innovation — Data on Evictions & Housing (meta-hub)

othernationalorg-hubEviction Innovation (academic/practitioner collaborative)Eviction & housing instability

Curated catalog of national, state, and local eviction/housing data sources, dashboards, and tools — an invaluable index for snowballing to local trackers nationwide.

Datapoints: directory of 40+ national/state/local eviction data tools; links to court-records dashboards; housing-precarity risk models; ERA distribution maps

Eviction Lab Data Request

primary-academicnationaltoolEviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Application portal for researchers to request custom aggregate eviction datasets or to merge their own data against the Eviction Lab's 80+ million de-identified eviction records (2000-2018), subject to IRB and data-security requirements.

Datapoints: Custom aggregate eviction counts by geography; Data-merge service against 80M+ eviction records; De-identified case IDs and eviction outcomes; Coverage period 2000-2018

Eviction Lab Methods

primary-academicnationalreportEviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Methodology documentation for the Eviction Lab's national eviction database (99.9+ million records across all 50 states and D.C.), defining its core metrics and explaining its data collection, imputation, and validation approach.

Datapoints: Eviction filing rate (filings per renter-occupied household); Eviction rate (judgments ordering departure); 99.9 million+ eviction records, 2000-2018; Statistical imputation for missing-county data (33% of renting households); Data sources: court requests, web scraping, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, American Information Research Services

Eviction Tracking System: Get the Data

primary-academicnationaldatasetEviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Downloadable CSV datasets of weekly and monthly eviction filings from the Eviction Tracking System (Version 3.0), benchmarked against pre-pandemic baselines for 60+ U.S. jurisdictions including whole states and major cities.

Datapoints: Weekly eviction filings; Monthly eviction filings; Comparison to pre-pandemic baseline years; Census-tract and ZIP-code geographic breakdowns; 60+ tracked jurisdictions (cities and states)

FEAT — Foreclosure, Eviction, and Affordability Tool

othernationaltoolFEAT (eviction/foreclosure analytics collaborative)Eviction & housing instability

Interactive analysis tool combining eviction, foreclosure, and affordability data to support local policy decisions and identify at-risk areas.

Datapoints: eviction filings; foreclosure activity; rental affordability indicators; neighborhood risk overlays

Civil Justice Data Commons - CJDC datasets (Redivis)

othernationaldatasetGeorgetown Civil Justice Data CommonsEviction & housing instability

Secure data repository of civil-court datasets, focused on eviction and consumer-debt cases, that lets approved researchers study disparities in civil-justice access and outcomes, directly relevant to housing instability and eviction research.

Datapoints: Multiple standardized civil court datasets (eviction, debt collection); Access mediated through governed/authorized-researcher process; Hosted on Redivis secure analytic environment; Pilot obtained seventeen court datasets; Focus on eviction defendants and medical/consumer-debt cases; Demonstrates linking civil-court data to other sources to study access-to-justice disparities; Access via application (periodically closed during data-storage reorganization)

Civil Justice Data Commons (CJDC)

primary-academicnationaldatasetGeorgetown University (Massive Data Institute, McCourt School of Public Policy) with The Pew Charitable TrustsEviction & housing instability

Secure repository of civil legal data gathered from courts and legal-service providers, focused on eviction and consumer/medical debt cases, enabling researchers to study disparities in access to justice and housing outcomes. (Public site civiljusticedata.org is offline; access is currently paused, but the Knowledge Base remains available.)

Datapoints: Standardized eviction and housing court case records; Debt collection and small claims civil case data; Cross-jurisdiction civil court datasets for access-to-justice research; 17 court datasets obtained during pilot, focused on eviction and consumer debt; Linkable to outside data to study eviction defendants and medical-debt plaintiffs; Data-governance protocols and secure compute for vetted researchers; Obtained 17 court datasets during its demonstration phase; Focus areas: eviction and consumer/medical debt-collection cases; Secure compute space for authorized researchers (governed-access model); Currently closed to new access applications while data storage is reoriented; Knowledge Base remains open; Eviction and housing-court case records; Debt-collection and consumer-debt case data; Civil legal-needs and access-to-justice metrics; 17+ court datasets acquired and standardized; Research on eviction defendants and medical-debt plaintiffs; Secure compute space for authorized researchers; datasets via Redivis; Court records on eviction cases; Consumer and medical debt case data; Linkage of civil court data to other sources for disparity research; court records for eviction (defendant) cases; medical and consumer debt collection (plaintiff) cases; 17+ standardized court datasets; outcome and disparity measures in civil justice; Court records on eviction cases (defendant-level); Consumer and medical debt case data (plaintiff-level); Methods for adding race/ethnicity to civil case studies; Knowledge base on civil justice research and data standardization; Seventeen+ standardized court datasets covering eviction and debt-collection cases; Linkable civil court records for disparity research; Secure compute environment with data governance protocols

Civil Justice Data Commons (CJDC) Dataset Catalog

othernationaldatasetGeorgetown University Massive Data Institute (McCourt School of Public Policy)Eviction & housing instability

A secure data repository (hosted on Redivis) that aggregates and standardizes civil court records, including eviction, debt-collection, and small-claims cases, to enable research on civil justice and housing instability. Provides documented, access-controlled datasets for approved researchers.

Datapoints: eviction filings and outcomes from participating jurisdictions; debt-collection and small-claims case records; civil court case-level data with standardized schemas; tenant/defendant representation and judgment data

HUD LIHTC Database

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD User (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)Eviction & housing instability

The authoritative national database of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties, the largest source of affordable rental housing production in the U.S. Geocoded property- and tenant-level data covering projects placed in service 1987-2024.

Datapoints: 55,345 LIHTC projects and 3.9 million units placed in service 1987-2024; Project address, total units, low-income units, bedrooms; Year credit allocated and year placed in service; new construction vs. rehab; credit type; Tenant-level race, ethnicity, family composition, age, income, rental assistance use, disability status, monthly rent; Geocoded for neighborhood-level geographic analysis

FY2026 Fair Market Rents Overview (PDF)

primary-govnationalreportHUD USER / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEviction & housing instability

HUD's overview of how FY2026 Fair Market Rents are computed, the data sources used, and changes from prior years. Explains the methodology behind the rent standards that govern federal rental assistance.

Datapoints: FY2026 FMR computation methodology and data sources; Use of 2019-2023 5-year ACS gross-rent estimates; Statistical reliability thresholds (MOE < 50% of estimate); Adoption of updated OMB metropolitan area definitions

Housing Policy Debate (RePEc/IDEAS index)

othernationalorg-hubIDEAS/RePEc (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) indexing Taylor & FrancisEviction & housing instability

RePEc/IDEAS bibliographic index of the peer-reviewed journal Housing Policy Debate, listing articles on housing affordability, homelessness, eviction prevention, rental assistance, zoning, and gentrification with citation and download metrics.

Datapoints: article-level citation counts; download statistics; full back-catalog of housing-policy research articles

Cost of Eviction Calculator (eCalc) / Innovation for Justice

othernationaltoolInnovation for Justice (University of Arizona / University of Utah)Eviction & housing instability

An interactive calculator and research program that quantifies the social and economic community costs of eviction and models the savings from eviction-prevention policies such as right-to-counsel.

Datapoints: Estimated number of people at risk of eviction in a community; Eviction-related downstream service costs (shelter, emergency medical, child welfare, juvenile systems); Modeled cost/benefit of eviction-prevention and right-to-counsel policies; Rent-burden and demographic disparity inputs

Cost of Eviction Calculator (i4J)

othernationaltoolInnovation for Justice (University of Arizona / University of Utah)Eviction & housing instability

Interactive calculator that uses national and local data to estimate the community cost of providing social services to people experiencing eviction-related displacement.

Datapoints: Estimated renters at risk of eviction in a community; Cost estimates: emergency shelter, inpatient and emergency medical care, foster care, juvenile delinquency services; Eviction-prevention policy recommendations

Excess Mortality Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic for Renters Threatened With Eviction

primary-govnationalarticleJAMAEviction & housing instability

Study quantifying elevated death rates during the pandemic among renters facing eviction filings relative to the general population.

Datapoints: Observed mortality 238.6 per 100,000 person-months among threatened renters; 106% higher than expected, vs. 9-25% excess in comparison populations

America's Rental Housing

primary-academicnationalreportJoint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard UniversityEviction & housing instability

JCHS's flagship biennial assessment of U.S. rental markets, documenting record renter cost burdens, shrinking low-cost supply, and rising evictions and homelessness. A core authoritative source on rental affordability, with downloadable data appendix tables.

Datapoints: cost-burdened renter households (>30% of income); severely cost-burdened renters (>50%); rent growth; rental supply gaps; evictions and instability; 22.4 million cost-burdened renter households in 2022 (all-time high; half of all renters); Median residual income of $310/month for renters earning under $30,000 ($170 for cost-burdened); 2.1 million units renting under $600/month lost since 2012; 8.4 million units renting over $1,400 added 2012-2022; Rent growth slowed to under 1% by Q3 2023 (from ~15% in early 2022); Record homelessness counts and rising eviction filings

Worst Case Housing Needs for Renters Ticked Down, But Remain High

primary-academicnationalarticleJoint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHS)Eviction & housing instability

JCHS analysis of HUD's worst case housing needs data, decomposing the 2021-2023 decline in very low-income renters into rising incomes, improved rental assistance, and household-formation offsets. Independent academic interpretation of the federal worst case needs series.

Datapoints: Very low-income renter households fell 198,000 from 2021 to 2023; Income changes could have reduced worst case needs by ~163,000 households; Rental assistance changes could have reduced needs by ~169,000 households; Assisted very low-income households rose from 5.1M (2021) to 5.4M (2023); assistance rate still ~28%

Just Shelter

othernationalorg-hubJust Shelter (companion project to Evicted by Matthew Desmond)Eviction & housing instability

Advocacy and resource hub on housing instability and eviction, featuring community- and national-level resources, personal eviction narratives, and a directory of organizations preserving affordable housing and preventing displacement.

Datapoints: directory of eviction-prevention / housing organizations by community; national housing advocacy resources; personal eviction stories

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

othernationalorg-hubLegal Aid Society of ClevelandEviction & housing instability

Nonprofit civil legal-aid provider for low-income residents of Northeast Ohio, offering representation and self-help resources in housing/eviction, family, employment, and benefits matters. A model civil-legal-aid hub with reusable tenant-rights education.

Datapoints: Housing/eviction legal representation and self-help guides; Free neighborhood legal-advice clinics; Educational resources on housing, family, employment, and public benefits

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland - Right to Counsel Findings (2024 announcement)

othernationalarticleLegal Aid Society of ClevelandEviction & housing instability

Announcement and summary of the 2024 independent evaluation of Cleveland's Right to Counsel eviction program with key 2023 outcome metrics on representation rates and displacement prevention.

Datapoints: 2023: 4,519 residents assisted across 1,234 eviction cases; 81% of those helped prevented eviction or involuntary displacement; Tenant representation rose from 2-3% to 16% of eligible tenants (433% increase); Legal Aid represented 60-80% of all eligible households; 81% avoided eviction or involuntary move; Representation up 433% (from 2-3% to 16% of eligible tenants); 4,519 residents / 1,234 cases (2023); 60-80% of eligible households represented

Cleveland Eviction Right to Counsel Results (FreeEvictionHelpResults.org)

othernationalorg-hubLegal Aid Society of Cleveland & United Way of Greater Cleveland (evaluation by Stout)Eviction & housing instability

Microsite presenting outcomes of Cleveland's 2019 Right to Counsel ordinance (launched July 2020), the first such program in the Midwest, with links to Stout's multi-year independent evaluations of eviction-prevention and fiscal impact.

Datapoints: Program launched July 1, 2020; 5.5-year evaluation period (Sept 2020-Dec 2025); Six impact areas: equity, housing conditions, rental assistance, eviction prevention, fiscal benefit, access to justice; Downloadable independent evaluation reports; Eviction judgment prevention rates; Housing-quality (poor condition) findings; Disproportionate impact on Black and female households; Rental-assistance leverage; Community economic/fiscal impact

Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

primary-govnationalorg-hubLegal Services CorporationEviction & housing instability

LSC is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, established by Congress in 1974, supporting ~129 nonprofit legal aid organizations that handle eviction, foreclosure, and other poverty-related civil matters. Its site hosts research on the justice gap, eviction, and the economic return of civil legal aid.

Datapoints: Funds 129-130 legal aid organizations across all 50 states, DC, and territories (900+ offices); Client eligibility at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines ($19,563 individual / $40,188 family of four, 2025); 6.4 million people assisted by grantees; 1.9 million resolved housing/family/life-changing problems; Estimated $7 return on investment for every $1 spent on civil legal aid (50+ studies); 70% of clients are women

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) - About & Justice Gap Resources

primary-govnationalorg-hubLegal Services CorporationEviction & housing instability

LSC is the largest federal funder of civil legal aid, funding 129 nonprofit legal aid programs nationwide. Publishes the Justice Gap research, an Eviction Laws Database, and the Civil Court Data Initiative relevant to housing and eviction defense.

Datapoints: Justice Gap measures of unmet civil legal need; Eviction Laws Database (state/local eviction law tracking); Civil Court Data Initiative court-records analysis; Client demographics ('By the Numbers' report)

Legal Services Corporation — Civil Court Data Initiative (CCDI) Eviction Tracker

primary-govnationaldashboardLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

National civil-court data program (a peer to and frequently cited alongside the Civil Justice Data Commons) offering an Eviction Tracker with multi-year eviction-filing trend data plus adult-guardianship data. Useful for benchmarking NC/WNC eviction filings against national patterns.

Datapoints: total eviction filings; filing rates; default counts; legal representation rates; judgments; monthly and weekly series since 2020; rent-burden and poverty context; 30+ million court records collected from 30 states, filed since 2016; Eviction-filing trend data for 1,250 counties and municipalities across 30 states/territories; Estimate: low-income Americans receive inadequate legal help for 92% of civil legal problems; Debt-collection cases an upcoming focus area; Eviction filing counts; Filing rates; Latest month's filings; Poverty rates by jurisdiction; Monthly and weekly county- and state-level downloads; 1,250 counties/municipalities across 30 states/territories

LSC Civil Court Data Initiative (program hub)

primary-govnationalorg-hubLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

Program hub for LSC's Civil Court Data Initiative, described as the largest collection of U.S. civil court data, gathering 30+ million records since 2016 from ~60 court websites across 30 states and powering analytics tools such as the Eviction Tracker.

Datapoints: 30+ million civil court records since 2016; ~60 public court websites scraped; 30 states covered; Civil matters: evictions, debt collection, domestic violence; Automated reporting for legal aid providers

LSC Civil Court Data Initiative - FAQ / Methodology

primary-govnationalreportLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

Explains how the Civil Court Data Initiative builds a national repository of civil court records (eviction, debt, garnishment, family law), its three collection methods, validation against official court statistics, and known data-gap limitations.

Datapoints: Three collection methods: web scraping, court data-sharing agreements, community-contributed data; Baseline Court Statistics dataset for accuracy validation; Covered case types: eviction, debt collection, garnishment, domestic violence, probate, family law; Documented limitations: case sealing, incomplete digitization, classification variance, processing lag

LSC Eviction Laws Database

primary-govnationaldatasetLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

Searchable database documenting the full legal eviction process from pre-filing to post-judgment across all U.S. states, D.C., and territories, plus a deeper local dataset for 30 selected jurisdictions (laws as of January 1, 2021).

Datapoints: notice-to-quit requirements; filing-to-judgment timelines; right-to-cure provisions; sealing/expungement rules; habitability defenses; state-by-state legal coding; State/territory eviction-law dataset (all 50 states, D.C., territories); Local eviction-law dataset for 30 jurisdictions; Procedural stages from pre-filing to post-judgment; Laws current as of January 1, 2021; First public dataset to include U.S. territories

LSC Justice Gap Research

primary-govnationalreportLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

LSC's recurring national study (2005, 2009, 2017, 2022) measuring the gap between low-income Americans' need for civil legal assistance (eviction, foreclosure, debt, benefits) and the resources available to meet it.

Datapoints: 92% of low-income Americans' civil legal problems received no/insufficient help (2022); 74% of low-income households faced 1+ civil legal problem annually; Share of problems attributed to COVID-19; Eviction, foreclosure, debt, domestic violence, benefits categories

LSC: The Effect of State & Local Laws on Evictions

primary-govnationalreportLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

Congressionally directed LSC research initiative examining how state/local laws, court processes, and access to legal help affect eviction outcomes, including an interactive Eviction Laws Database (with Temple University) and the Civil Court Data Initiative.

Datapoints: State-by-state eviction process laws (Eviction Laws Database); Cost to defend low-income tenants (~$2,000-$2,500/case); Effect of right-to-counsel and eviction diversion on displacement; Nine issue briefs on eviction systems

The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans

primary-govnationalreportLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

LSC's flagship national study quantifying the gap between low-income Americans' civil legal needs and the help available, covering housing, eviction, income maintenance, and family issues.

Datapoints: 92% of low-income Americans' substantial civil legal problems get no or insufficient legal help; 74% of low-income households had at least one civil legal problem in the past year; 39% had 5+; Only 25% of substantial problems receive legal assistance; 46% cite cost as a barrier; LSC-funded organizations turn away ~49% of requests for help; Special breakouts for seniors, rural residents, and veterans

National Alliance to End Homelessness — Rapid Re-Housing Toolkit

established-research-orgnationaltoolNational Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)Eviction & housing instability

NAEH's authoritative toolkit and training materials on Rapid Re-Housing (RRH), the time-limited Housing First intervention combining housing identification, short/medium-term rental assistance, and tapering case management.

Datapoints: Defines RRH core components; Distinguishes RRH from permanent supportive housing; Rapid re-housing components: housing identification, time-limited rental assistance, case management; Time-limited intervention for lower-acuity households

Civil Right to Counsel Status Map (NCCRC)

othernationalinteractive-mapNational Coalition for a Civil Right to CounselEviction & housing instability

Interactive map and database tracking the status of a right to counsel in civil cases involving basic human needs, including eviction, foreclosure, and housing discrimination, by jurisdiction.

Datapoints: Right-to-counsel status by state/jurisdiction; Housing categories: evictions, foreclosure, discrimination, general; Current and former legislation by jurisdiction

National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel (NCCRC)

othernationalorg-hubNational Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel (Public Justice Center)Eviction & housing instability

Clearinghouse tracking eviction right-to-counsel laws, programs, and evaluations nationwide, indexing the Stout cost-benefit studies and jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction implementation status.

Datapoints: jurisdictions with eviction right to counsel; program evaluation results; tenant representation rates; outcome data (involuntary-move avoidance)

NCLC "Digital Denials" - tenant screening report

othernationalreportNational Consumer Law Center (NCLC)Eviction & housing instability

September 2023 report documenting how algorithmic tenant-screening reports and scores create barriers to housing, including inaccurate criminal/eviction records, opaque scoring, missing adverse-action notices, and racial disparities affecting Black and Latino renters.

Datapoints: 253-response advocate survey across 35 states; Documented racial disparities in screening outcomes; Prevalence of inaccurate eviction/criminal records; Failures in adverse-action notice and dispute processes; Use of credit reports/scores in rental decisions

NCLC Digital Library (consumer & housing law treatises)

othernationalorg-hubNational Consumer Law Center (NCLC)Eviction & housing instability

NCLC's digital library of consumer-protection legal treatises and analysis, including a Housing Practice Suite and treatises on Fair Credit Reporting, Credit Discrimination, and Collection Actions relevant to low-income tenants and consumers.

Datapoints: Housing Practice Suite (foreclosure, evictions, manufactured housing); Fair Credit Reporting / tenant-screening guidance; Credit discrimination and collection-action defenses; tenant-screening fair-housing guidance; credit reporting law; eviction-record reliability; disparate-impact framework under the FHA

NCLC Digital Library article: Tenant Screening Remedies / Fair Housing Act guidance

othernationalarticleNational Consumer Law Center (NCLC)Eviction & housing instability

NCLC analysis of HUD's April 2024 Fair Housing Act guidance on rental tenant screening, covering discriminatory effects of credit-based, eviction-record, and criminal-record screening and the disparate-impact remedies available to renters.

Datapoints: HUD/FHEO disparate-impact burden-shifting test for screening; Credit-score, eviction-record, and criminal-record screening barriers; AI/algorithmic tenant-screening concerns

HUD Mixed-Status Families Proposed Rule (NLIHC analysis)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionEviction & housing instability

NLIHC analysis of HUD's proposed rule eliminating prorated rental assistance for mixed-immigration-status families in subsidized housing, with estimated displacement impacts.

Datapoints: Up to 80,000 people (incl. 37,000 children) could lose rental assistance (CBPP 2025 estimate); Prior 2019 proposal projected ~25,000 evicted families / 55,000 affected eligible children; Affects HUD programs under Section 214 (public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers); Comment deadline April 21, 2026

National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) — Research & Publications Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubNational Low Income Housing CoalitionEviction & housing instability

Central hub for NLIHC's housing-affordability and homelessness research, including flagship reports on the shortage of affordable homes, the housing wage, preservation of federally assisted housing, and disaster risk for low-income renters.

Datapoints: Housing Wage; affordable-rental-home shortage; ERA spending; tenant protections; eviction-prevention program evidence; Links to Out of Reach and The Gap; National Housing Trust Fund allocation data; Rental assistance and eviction-prevention policy briefs; The Gap: shortage of affordable homes for extremely low-income renters; Out of Reach: the Housing Wage by geography; National Housing Preservation Database (at-risk assisted properties); Picture of Preservation (2024); Natural Hazards and Federally Assisted Housing (2023); National Risk Index and Racial Equity for Renters (2024); Rental Housing Programs Database

NLIHC — Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Dashboard

established-research-orgnationaldashboardNational Low Income Housing CoalitionEviction & housing instability

Searchable dashboard tracking ERA1/ERA2 program designs and spending by state, territory, tribe and locality, compiled from Treasury reports, program dashboards, and administrator communications. The most comprehensive public ERA tracker.

Datapoints: ERA1 ($25B) and ERA2 ($21.55B) funds approved/paid; households served (5.6M+ payments); program status (open/on hold/closed); self-attestation & direct-to-tenant policy flags; by-grantee detail; Program status (open / on hold / closed) by jurisdiction; ERA1 ($25B) and ERA2 ($21.55B) funds approved or paid; Share of funds spent; Self-attestation and direct-to-tenant features; Eligibility design (fact-specific proxy / categorical)

ERASE Project (End Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Eviction & housing instability

NLIHC's project to ensure pandemic-era Emergency Rental Assistance reached the lowest-income renters, tracking ERA utilization and documenting best practices, toolkits, and tenant protections. Concluded in 2023.

Datapoints: $46.5 billion in federal ERA tracked; Estimated 1.36 million evictions prevented by interventions in 2021; ERA program-design best practices (Visible/Accessible/Preventive framework); State and local tenant-protection inventories

New Research Released on the Costs of COVID-19 Evictions (NLIHC news)

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Eviction & housing instability

NLIHC news summary (November 2020) of the COVID-19 eviction-cost research, adding context on the number of renter households at risk and the disproportionate burden on Black and Latino renters during the pandemic.

Datapoints: 6.7 to 13.9 million renter households projected at risk of eviction; $62B–$129B estimated public costs of eviction-driven homelessness; Over one-fourth of Black renters behind on rent; Renter coping behaviors: borrowing from family/friends, using credit cards, spending down savings; Draws on Federal Reserve and Stout Risius Ross economic projections

NLIHC Resource Hub & Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Dashboard

established-research-orgnationaldashboardNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Eviction & housing instability

NLIHC's resource hub and Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Dashboard track the $46.55 billion federal ERA program (ERA1 + ERA2), including program status, eligibility/design features, and a searchable program database renters can use to find rental assistance. Part of NLIHC's ERASE eviction-prevention project. (The original /era-resource-hub URL now resolves here.)

Datapoints: $46.55B total ERA funding (ERA1 $25B Dec 2020; ERA2 $21.55B ARPA Mar 2021); Program status (open/on hold/closed) and spending progress by state and locality; Eligibility/design features: self-attestation, fact-specific proxy, direct-to-tenant payments, relocation/late-fee/hotel/internet assistance; Searchable mobile-friendly database for renters to find ERA programs; ERASE checklists (visible, accessible, preventive program design)

The Costs of COVID-19 Evictions

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Eviction & housing instability

Research brief estimating the public-health and economic costs of pandemic-era evictions, quantifying excess COVID-19 cases and deaths and downstream costs attributable to lapsed eviction moratoria.

Datapoints: estimated excess COVID-19 infections from evictions; estimated excess COVID-19 deaths from evictions; economic/societal cost estimates of evictions; eviction moratorium impact modeling

Costs of COVID-19 Evictions (NLIHC + Innovation for Justice report)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Innovation for Justice (i4J) Program, University of ArizonaEviction & housing instability

Joint NLIHC/i4J report (November 2020) estimating the downstream public costs of a wave of pandemic evictions, using the i4J Cost of Eviction Calculator. Quantifies the public-budget burden of eviction-driven homelessness across emergency shelter, medical care, foster care, and juvenile services.

Datapoints: Estimated $62 billion to $129 billion in downstream public costs; Cost categories: emergency shelter, medical care, foster care, juvenile delinquency services; Estimates exclude direct personal costs to evicted households and landlord rent losses; Built on the i4J Cost of Eviction Calculator

CBPP State Fact Sheets: Federal Rental Assistance and Vouchers (NLIHC summary)

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), summarizing Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Eviction & housing instability

NLIHC resource announcing and summarizing CBPP's state-by-state fact sheets on federal rental assistance and the Housing Choice Voucher program. Provides demographic and reach data on who federal rental assistance serves and where vouchers are the dominant form of aid.

Datapoints: ~60% of assisted households are elderly or disabled; ~30% are families with children; More than two-thirds of non-elderly, non-disabled assisted adults worked recently; Housing Choice Vouchers are the most common rental assistance in 42 states; HUD-VASH vouchers serving homeless veterans by state; Unmet need: many eligible households go unassisted due to inadequate funding

Network for Public Health Law - Healthy and Affordable Housing topic hub

othernationalorg-hubNetwork for Public Health LawEviction & housing instability

Curated legal and policy resource hub on equitable access to healthy, affordable, and habitable housing, including eviction prevention, habitability, and housing-as-health-determinant law.

Datapoints: housing policy tools; eviction prevention law; habitability standards; housing and health equity

New America

othernationalorg-hubNew AmericaEviction & housing instability

National think tank whose Future of Land and Housing program researches housing loss, eviction data infrastructure, and a national housing-loss rate, plus reports on improving local/national eviction data.

Datapoints: National Housing Loss Rate research; Eviction Data Response Network (EDRN) state-level eviction data work; Recommendations for improving local/national eviction data; Housing-insecurity research for vulnerable populations

Improving Local and National Eviction Data (8 Recommendations)

othernationalreportNew America (Future of Land and Housing program)Eviction & housing instability

Brief presenting eight recommendations, co-developed with nine organizations, for improving how eviction data is collected and tracked at local and national levels.

Datapoints: Eight recommendations for eviction data collection/standardization; National annual eviction estimate (~3 million Americans); Inter-organizational data coordination guidance

New America — Why Is Eviction Data So Bad? & Eviction/Foreclosure Data project

othernationalreportNew America Foundation (Future of Land & Housing)Eviction & housing instability

Research project and report diagnosing the structural weaknesses in U.S. eviction and foreclosure data, with stakeholder recommendations for improving local and national data systems.

Datapoints: data-availability inventory by jurisdiction; court-records access barriers; 8 recommendations for better eviction data; comparison of public datasets

New York State Unified Court System (NYCOURTS.GOV)

primary-govnationalorg-hubNew York State Unified Court SystemEviction & housing instability

Statewide court portal for New York, including housing court rules, eviction procedures, self-help resources, and court records that underpin eviction case tracking.

Datapoints: housing court / landlord-tenant procedures; eviction case rules and forms; self-help and legal-aid referral resources; court records access

NYC Housing Court - Warrants of Eviction (NY Courts)

primary-govnationalorg-hubNew York State Unified Court SystemEviction & housing instability

Official NYC Housing Court guidance on the eviction process, warrants of eviction, and tenant rights. Primary authority on how eviction cases move through housing court and are executed by city marshals.

Datapoints: warrant of eviction process and timeline; housing court case procedure; tenant rights and stay/relief options; marshal eviction execution rules

Pandemic Oversight — Emergency Rental Assistance Interactive Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardPandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC)Eviction & housing instability

Interactive dashboard and downloadable datasets from federal inspectors general tracking $46 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance, showing how much funding each state, county, and city received and spent and how many households received help (Jan 2021 through Dec 2023).

Datapoints: ERA funds disbursed by state/grantee; payments to households; spend rate over time; downloadable data files; $46 billion in ERA tracked across grantees; Funds received and spent by state, county, and city; Households assisted per location; Time series January 2021 to December 2023; Downloadable raw data files

Eviction and Household Health and Hardships in Families With Very Young Children

primary-govnationalarticlePediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics) / PubMed (NLM)Eviction & housing instability

Peer-reviewed study (Cutts et al., Pediatrics, 2022) examining associations between eviction and the health and material hardships of caregivers and children under age 4, using Children's HealthWatch multisite data.

Datapoints: Associations of eviction with maternal/child health; Food insecurity outcomes following eviction; Energy insecurity and forgone medical care hardships; Children's HealthWatch multisite emergency-department sample

The Eviction Lab

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapPrinceton University (Matthew Desmond)Eviction & housing instability

Princeton University research lab that compiles, models, and visualizes the most comprehensive national eviction dataset in the US, covering filing, judgment, and household-threatened rates down to the census-tract level. Provides downloadable data, an interactive national map, rankings, and a real-time Eviction Tracking System.

Datapoints: eviction filing rate; eviction judgment rate; number of evictions; demographic disparities; city/county rankings; nationwide eviction filings and judgments (2000-2018, ~83M records); eviction rates by neighborhood/city/state; Eviction Tracking System (real-time filings); eviction rankings; National Zoning & Land Use Database; racial/gender disparity metrics; eviction filings; eviction judgments; eviction rate; households threatened with eviction; county/tract/block-group geography 2000-2018; Eviction filing and judgment counts and rates; Eviction data by state/county/city/tract; Research on causes and consequences of eviction; Eviction Tracking System (weekly filings in select cities); Eviction filing and judgment rates by county/state; Historical eviction estimates; Eviction tracking system (real-time filings in select cities); 3.6 million evictions filed nationally in 2018; 7.6 million renters threatened with eviction annually; National eviction map covering all 50 states + DC, 2000-2018; City eviction rate rankings; National Zoning and Land Use Database (2,600+ municipalities); Eviction filing rate (filings per 100 renter homes per year); Households threatened rate (accounts for serial filing); Eviction judgment rate (data quality noted as low); Rent burden (% of renters paying >35% of income on rent); 99.9M+ eviction-related filings, 2000-2018; ~3.7M filings and ~2.7M households threatened annually; Coverage: states, counties, cities, census tracts, block groups, ~30,000 Census places; Disparity finding: Black renters ~1/5 of renters but >half of eviction filings; ~3.6 million eviction cases filed in a typical year; 7.6 million renters facing eviction threats annually; 2.7 million unique households evicted (2018); Roughly one-third of evictions are repeat cases; Eviction filing counts and rates by geography; National Zoning & Land Use Database (2,600+ municipalities)

Eviction Lab — Eviction Rankings

primary-academicnationaldatasetPrinceton University / The Eviction LabEviction & housing instability

Comparative rankings of U.S. cities and areas by eviction rates and filing rates, allowing users to see which places have the highest displacement burdens.

Datapoints: city eviction rate rank; city eviction filing rate rank; evictions per day; 2016 baseline figures; City-level eviction rates; City-level eviction filing rates; Ranked comparison across U.S. cities; Underlying counts of eviction filings and judgments

Eviction Lab — Federal Moratorium & Evictions analysis (CARES/CDC moratorium tracking)

primary-academicnationalarticlePrinceton University / The Eviction LabEviction & housing instability

Analysis documenting how eviction filings continued through the CARES Act and CDC moratorium periods, with measured filing-rate changes around key policy dates — useful baseline for moratorium-era context.

Datapoints: filing-rate change around moratorium start/end; median filing-rate drop (~74% in late July 2020 per GAO); city-level moratorium compliance gaps

Eviction Lab — National Eviction Map (v2.0)

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapPrinceton University / The Eviction LabEviction & housing instability

The definitive national eviction dataset and interactive map (80M+ court records, 50 states + DC) plus a real-time Eviction Tracking System for selected cities/states, georeferenced against Census demographics.

Datapoints: eviction filing rate; eviction rate; rent burden; poverty rate; median gross rent; median household income; population demographics; 2000-2018 time series; Eviction filings, filing rates, and judgments by geography; Households threatened with eviction; Demographic cross-tabs (race, income, household type); Real-time tracking in select cities/states; Downloadable open dataset (2000-2018 + tracking); Eviction filing counts and rates (2000-2018); Eviction judgment counts and rates; Geographies: state, county, city, census tract; All 50 states plus D.C.; Renter demographic overlays

A Comprehensive Demographic Profile of the US Evicted Population (PNAS)

othernationalarticleProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Graetz, Gershenson, Hepburn, Porter, Sandler, Desmond)Eviction & housing instability

Linked court-and-Census study profiling who faces eviction nationally, a major peer-reviewed follow-on to the Eviction Lab dataset documenting the over-representation of children and Black women.

Datapoints: share of evicted who are children; eviction risk by race and gender; income distribution of evicted renters

Right to Counsel NYC Coalition - Eviction Crisis Monitors

othernationaldashboardRight to Counsel NYC CoalitionEviction & housing instability

Tenant-organizing coalition that pioneered eviction right to counsel and publishes eviction-tracking monitors at the NYC and NY State level along with worst-evictor data.

Datapoints: NYC Eviction Crisis Monitor (local eviction filing/outcome data); NYS Eviction Crisis Monitor (statewide data); COVID Top 20 Worst Evictors; Housing court watch program data

NYC Crisis Monitor (Right to Counsel)

othernationaldashboardRight to Counsel NYC Coalition, ANHD, JustFix, BetaNYC, OCA Data CollectiveEviction & housing instability

An interactive dashboard tracking the rate of tenant legal representation in New York City eviction cases and the number of households evicted since pandemic-era protections ended on January 15, 2022. Includes a building-level eviction map.

Datapoints: Share of represented vs. unrepresented tenants by week filed; Court-ordered marshal evictions executed (cumulative); Households displaced since January 2022 (45,000+); Geographic distribution of evictions via DAP Portal map; Share of represented vs. unrepresented tenants in eviction cases; 88,180 represented cases vs. 124,124 unrepresented (since Jan 15, 2022); 45,000+ households evicted by court-ordered marshals; DAP Portal mapping of buildings at immediate eviction risk; Weekly tenant representation rate in eviction cases; Represented vs. unrepresented eviction case counts since Jan 15, 2022; Total eviction cases filed; Marshal-executed evictions (households evicted); Building-level eviction map via DAP Portal; active eviction case counts over time; eviction filing rates by neighborhood/zip code; tenant displacement and right-to-counsel coverage indicators

Racial and Gender Disparities among Evicted Americans

othernationalarticleSociological ScienceEviction & housing instability

Peer-reviewed study (Hepburn, Louis & Desmond, 2020) analyzing ~2 million eviction court records across 39 states (2012-2016), documenting that Black renters and Black/Latinx women face disproportionately high eviction filing and judgment rates.

Datapoints: eviction filing rates by race; eviction filing rates by gender; serial / repeat eviction filings by demographic group; ~2 million eviction records, 39 states, 2012-2016

Stanford Legal Design Lab

othernationalorg-hubStanford Law School & d.school (Legal Design Lab)Eviction & housing instability

Interdisciplinary lab building human-centered legal tools and research for access to justice, including 50-state renter-protection legal-help FAQs, eviction innovation case studies, and the Eviction Prevention Learning Lab.

Datapoints: Legal Help FAQs with 50-state coverage on renter protections; Eviction Innovations case studies and guides; Legal Issues Taxonomy (LIST) standardized problem codes; Eviction Prevention Learning Lab (multi-city cohort); Legal Issues Taxonomy (LIST) classification system; Eviction Legal Help FAQs (50-state renter rights); Eviction Innovation platform of city eviction-prevention case studies; Legal Help Dashboard for court/legal-aid websites

Cleveland Right to Counsel 2024 Evaluation - Executive Summary

othernationalreportStout (for Legal Aid Society of Cleveland & United Way of Greater Cleveland)Eviction & housing instability

Executive summary of the independent evaluation of Cleveland's Right to Counsel eviction program, reporting outcomes for low-income tenants provided free legal representation. Documents displacement prevention, housing-quality interventions, and fiscal impact.

Datapoints: Eviction prevention / displacement avoidance rate among represented tenants; Representation coverage of eligible tenants over time; Estimated community fiscal benefit ($44.7M cited); 81% of tenants helped avoided eviction or involuntary move; Representation rose from 2-3% to 16% of eligible tenants; 4,519 residents assisted across 1,234 eviction cases (2023); 60-80% of eligible households represented; Economic/fiscal benefit estimates

Stout - Economic Impact of Eviction Right to Counsel (Detroit)

established-research-orgnationalreportStout (for Rocket Community Fund)Eviction & housing instability

Economic impact analysis quantifying the costs and benefits of an eviction right-to-counsel program, estimating investment needed versus avoided costs across housing, healthcare, foster care, education, and justice systems.

Datapoints: Annual program investment (~$16.7M for Detroit); Estimated economic benefits (at least $58.8M); Migration/displacement value lost ($28.7M); Cost avoidance across housing, healthcare, foster care, education, juvenile justice

Stout (Right to Counsel / Cost of Eviction analyses)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubStout Risius RossEviction & housing instability

Advisory firm whose community-development practice produces the economic-impact and cost-of-eviction analyses widely cited in right-to-counsel policy debates, estimating taxpayer and social costs avoided by tenant legal representation.

Datapoints: Estimated economic impact of right to counsel in eviction cases; Costs of eviction-driven homelessness, shelter, and emergency services; Benefit-cost ratios for tenant legal representation programs; Estimated fiscal/economic return per dollar invested in eviction right to counsel (e.g. Detroit ~$58.8M benefit on ~$16.7M; Baltimore at least $6.24/$1; Nashville $4.18/$1); Avoided social-safety-net, healthcare, and shelter costs from preventing eviction; Jurisdiction-specific eviction filing and displacement estimates; Independent program evaluations (Cleveland, Nashville, NYC, etc.)

Stout — Eviction Right to Counsel & Rent Shortfall / Eviction Risk Dashboard

othernationaldashboardStout Risius Ross (Stout)Eviction & housing instability

Stout's interactive dashboard estimating aggregate rent shortfalls and households at risk of eviction by geography, alongside its body of right-to-counsel cost-benefit analyses for cities and states.

Datapoints: estimated rent shortfall ($); households at risk of eviction; renters behind on rent; right-to-counsel ROI per dollar invested; fiscal benefits (shelter, health, foster care, education)

Stout — Eviction Right to Counsel Cost-Benefit Analyses (report series)

established-research-orgnationalreportStout Risius Ross (Stout)Eviction & housing instability

The authoritative series of independent fiscal/economic analyses quantifying the costs and returns of providing tenants a right to counsel in eviction cases across many jurisdictions (NYC, Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, NJ, CT, LA, Philadelphia, etc.).

Datapoints: program cost vs. fiscal savings; return per dollar invested (e.g., $6.24 Baltimore/MD, $2.30-$3.14 NJ); homelessness/shelter cost avoided; evictions prevented; outcomes for represented tenants

Stout Independent Evaluation of Cleveland's Eviction Right to Counsel (2024)

othernationalreportStout Risius Ross for United Way of Greater ClevelandEviction & housing instability

Independent evaluation of outcomes from Cleveland's first-in-the-nation eviction right to counsel program (July 2020 through December 2024), measuring representation rates, case outcomes, and the fiscal/economic benefits realized by the city and county.

Datapoints: Number of tenants represented under the program; Share of represented tenants who avoided eviction or involuntary move; Estimated avoided disruption costs and program return on investment; Tenant representation outcomes in Cleveland eviction cases; Households avoiding disruptive displacement; Program cost and economic benefit / return-on-investment estimates; Annual program performance metrics; share of represented tenants avoiding eviction/disruptive displacement; households served by the right-to-counsel program; economic and social outcomes of legal representation; year-over-year program performance metrics; ~$35.1M in economic and fiscal benefits (Jul 2020-Dec 2024); ~80% of case goals achieved for clients in 2024; 3,034 residents in 1,051 cases; Tenant representation rose from 2-3% pre-RTC to ~16%; Benefit breakdown: $11.7M shelter/rehousing, $6.6M resident retention, $5M school funding, $2.6M foster care, $2.3M Medicaid, $2.2M crime reduction

Estimated Economic Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Columbus & Franklin County (Stout Study)

established-research-orgnationalreportStout Risius Ross, LLC (commissioned by City of Columbus, Ohio)Eviction & housing instability

Cost-benefit analysis (Aug 2024) estimating the fiscal and economic impact of guaranteeing legal counsel to tenants facing eviction in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio; part of Stout's national series of right-to-counsel economic studies used to justify RTC laws in multiple cities. (The npr.brightspotcdn.com copy is a hosting CDN; Stout is the authoritative publisher.)

Datapoints: ~$6.1M estimated annual program cost (city $5.1M, county $1M); at least ~$24.4M in estimated annual economic benefits; 4,964 income-eligible tenant households reachable with free representation; report dated 2024-08-23; Program cost ~$6.1M/yr ($5.1M city, $1M county); Estimated economic return at least $24.4M/yr (~$4 saved per $1 spent); Could serve ~4,964 income-eligible tenant households; Projected ~5% annual decline in eviction cases after implementation; Benefits across healthcare, employment, education, homelessness avoidance; Estimated avoided costs of disruptive displacement (emergency shelter, foster care, health care, lost productivity); ~3% of households would relocate out of jurisdiction in comparable RTC evaluations; Methodology consistent with Stout RTC studies in Cleveland, Detroit, NYC, Philadelphia; Estimated annual evictions and disruptive displacements prevented; Avoided costs (shelter, emergency services, health care, child welfare, lost productivity); Projected program cost vs. taxpayer/public-system savings (benefit-cost ratio); Estimated program cost ~$6.1 million annually; Estimated economic benefits of at least ~$24.4 million (about $4 per $1 invested); ~4,964 income-eligible tenant households served; ~3,643 households estimated to avoid disruptive displacement; ~$3.1 million in retained local economic value; ~$6.1M annual program cost vs. at least $24.4M in economic benefits (roughly $4 returned per $1 invested); 4,964 income-eligible tenant households served; ~161 children expected to complete high school; benefits spanning healthcare, employment, and education; ~$3.1M retained economic value from preventing out-of-jurisdiction migration; Program cost ~$6.1M/year ($5.1M city, $1M county); Estimated economic benefits of at least $24.4M; 4,964 income-eligible tenant households could receive free representation; 3,643 households with high likelihood of avoiding disruptive displacement; ~15% of those households likely to experience job loss without RTC; $6.1M annual program cost vs. $24.4M+ economic return; 4,964 income-eligible tenant households served at full implementation; successful case resolution rises from 8% to ~82%; projected 5% annual decline in eviction filings; 161 added high-school completions; 113 households retained

The Estimated Economic Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Detroit

othernationalreportStout Risius Ross, LLC (commissioned by Rocket Community Fund)Eviction & housing instability

Cost-benefit analysis estimating the economic impact of providing a right to legal counsel for tenants facing eviction in Detroit. A template for right-to-counsel return-on-investment analyses applicable nationally.

Datapoints: Tenant representation rate 4% vs landlord 83%; ~12% of renter households with an eviction filing likely migrated out of the city; $3.52 economic benefit per $1 spent (352% return); $18.9M estimated annual social-safety-net savings; $39.9M additional economic value; $58.8M total benefit

The Concentrated Geography of Eviction

othernationalarticleThe ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (SAGE)Eviction & housing instability

Peer-reviewed study (Rutan & Desmond, 2021) showing that eviction filings are spatially concentrated in a small number of neighborhoods, with implications for targeting eviction-prevention resources.

Datapoints: neighborhood-level concentration of eviction filings; geographic distribution of evictions; spatial targeting of prevention resources

Eviction Lab - Eviction Data Hub & FAQ

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapThe Eviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Princeton's Eviction Lab compiles the most comprehensive national eviction dataset (over 99.9 million records) with an interactive map, rankings, and downloadable data covering eviction filings, judgments, and rates from states down to census block groups.

Datapoints: Eviction filings and judgments by geography; Filing and judgment rates per 100 renter homes; Households threatened (unique households, serial-filing adjusted); Ongoing Eviction Tracking System time series; Demographic correlations (rent burden, race, population)

Eviction Lab - Eviction Tracking System Acknowledgements & Sources

primary-academicnationaldatasetThe Eviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Documentation of the data sources and partner courts behind the Eviction Lab's weekly/monthly Eviction Tracking System, covering current eviction-filing trends in selected cities and states.

Datapoints: Current weekly eviction filing counts in tracked cities/states; Filings relative to historical average (percent of average); Source courts and data-provider attribution

Eviction Lab Data Downloads (S3 archive)

primary-academicnationaldatasetThe Eviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Open AWS S3 archive of the Eviction Lab's published research datasets, covering eviction prevalence, demographics, public-housing evictions, and the eviction tracking system. Files are downloadable directly and via the S3 API under the ODC-BY 1.0 license.

Datapoints: Eviction prevalence estimates across the US (Gromis et al., 2022); Demographics of eviction by race and gender (Hepburn, Louis, and Desmond, 2020); Eviction Tracking System (ETS) raw data files; Evictions from public housing (Gromis, Hendrickson, and Desmond, 2022); PNAS national eviction profile (Graetz et al., 2023)

Eviction Tracking System (near real-time filings)

primary-academicnationaldashboardThe Eviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

A continuously updated dashboard of weekly/monthly eviction filings across dozens of cities and states, with downloadable aggregate data and a data dictionary. Complements the historical Eviction Lab dataset with current-conditions tracking.

Datapoints: weekly eviction filings by city; filings relative to historical average; neighborhood and racial breakdowns; weekly eviction filing counts; monthly eviction filing counts; percent change vs last week / last 4 weeks; comparison to 2012-2019 baseline; tract- and ZIP-level breakdowns; Monthly eviction filing counts and rates per 100 renters; Coverage of 41 cities and 10 states, Jan 2020-present; Comparison to 2023-2024 baseline averages; Race/ethnicity and gender of eviction defendants (statistically imputed); Year-over-year filing trends; Monthly eviction filing counts (10 states, 41 cities); Filing rates (evictions per capita); Baseline comparisons vs. 2023-2024 averages; 12-month trend / directional change; Estimated racial, ethnic, and gender breakdowns of filings; Finding: 53% of people facing eviction were women, disproportionately Black and Hispanic women

National Zoning and Land Use Database

primary-academicnationaldatasetThe Eviction Lab, Princeton UniversityEviction & housing instability

Database of zoning and land-use regulations across more than 2,600 US municipalities, supporting analysis of how local land-use policy relates to housing supply, affordability, and displacement.

Datapoints: Zoning/land-use rules for 2,600+ municipalities; Regulatory variables relevant to housing supply and affordability

The Eviction Lab — National Eviction Data & Downloads

primary-academicnationaldatasetThe Eviction Lab, Princeton University (Matthew Desmond)Eviction & housing instability

The first nationwide database of eviction filings and judgments, drawn from ~80 million court records back to 2000, downloadable for states, counties, cities, and census tracts. Built by Matthew Desmond's lab as the citation-anchor for U.S. eviction research.

Datapoints: eviction rate; eviction filing rate; annual evictions and filings by geography; demographic profiles of evicted renters; eviction filings; eviction judgments; eviction/filing rates; renter-occupied household counts; geographic crosswalks; CSV/data files by geography; Downloadable national eviction dataset (2000-2018); Eviction Tracking System data exports; Eviction rankings data; National Zoning & Land Use Database; Data Request Application for restricted datasets; Methodology and FAQ documentation

U.S. Census Bureau — Household Pulse Survey / Household Trends & Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauEviction & housing instability

Data hub for the Household Pulse Survey, a rapid-response survey measuring household experiences of economic and social hardship, including housing, food sufficiency, and financial difficulty. Cross-sectional collection ended Sept 2024; succeeded by the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS) from Jan 2025.

Datapoints: renters behind on rent; caught up on rent; likelihood of eviction in next 2 months; housing insecurity; by state and 15 largest metros; data tables + public-use files + interactive tool; Housing insecurity indicators (rent/mortgage payment status, eviction/foreclosure risk); Food sufficiency indicators (food scarcity, SNAP/food-bank use); Household financial hardship measures; Data Tables, Public Use File (PUF) microdata, and interactive Data Tool; State- and metro-level estimates over recurring survey weeks

USDA Rural Development - Multifamily Housing Programs

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural DevelopmentEviction & housing instability

Hub for USDA Rural Development's multifamily affordable rental housing programs (Section 515, 514/516 farm labor housing, Section 538 guarantees, and rental assistance) serving low-income, elderly, and disabled rural residents.

Datapoints: Section 515 Rural Rental Housing loans; Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing; Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing; Rural Rental Assistance subsidy program counts

HUD LIHTC Database (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER / PD&R)Eviction & housing instability

HUD's national database of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties (property level and tenant level), the largest source of subsidized affordable rental housing data in the U.S., with a query tool and downloadable files.

Datapoints: 55,345 projects and ~3.9 million units placed in service 1987-2024; Project address, total units and low-income units, bedroom counts; Year credit allocated; year placed in service; New construction vs. rehab; credit type; other financing sources; Tenant-level demographic data

HUD's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Database (ongoing research)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD User / PD&R)Eviction & housing instability

Program/research hub describing HUD's ongoing collection, maintenance, and annual update of the national LIHTC property and tenant databases, with links to access points and related publications.

Datapoints: Annual update cadence (typically spring) for both property and tenant data; Scope: projects placed in service 1987 onward; Links to interactive query, tenant tabulations, and methodology

LIHTC Tenant-Level Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD User / PD&R)Eviction & housing instability

Tabulations of demographic and economic characteristics of households living in LIHTC properties, reported to HUD by state housing finance agencies under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Updated annually.

Datapoints: Race and ethnicity of LIHTC tenant households; Family composition and age; Household income; Use of rental assistance; Disability status; monthly rental payments

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Eviction & housing instability

Official HUD program hub for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, the federal government's major rental assistance program for very low-income households.

Datapoints: voucher eligibility rules; payment standards; income limits; public housing agency directory

Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Eviction & housing instability

HUD program letting housing authorities convert public housing onto the Section 8 platform so they can borrow and use tax credits to recapitalize aging units.

Datapoints: ~87,000 units converted under RAD (2018-2024); about half used tax credits to fund rehab; Conversion is permission, not capital, requiring building-by-building deals

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities (incl. Project Rental Assistance)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Eviction & housing instability

HUD program page for Section 811, which funds multifamily supportive housing for very low-income persons with disabilities, including the Project Rental Assistance (PRA) model created by the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010.

Datapoints: Targets very low-income persons with disabilities; Project Rental Assistance (PRA) component for state housing agencies; Authorized under the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010; HUD-HHS Housing Capacity Building Initiative for Community Living

HUD Public Housing Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Public and Indian HousingEviction & housing instability

Official program hub for HUD Public Housing, which provides affordable rental housing for low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities through local public housing agencies.

Datapoints: Public housing eligibility and income limits; Role of local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs); Rent set at ~30% of adjusted income; Program rules and resources for residents and PHAs

Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program — Public Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of the TreasuryEviction & housing instability

Treasury's public reporting data for the $46.55 billion COVID-era Emergency Rental Assistance program (ERA1 and ERA2), compiled from quarterly submissions by state, local, territorial, and tribal grantees. Provides cumulative program data, compliance reports, and disaggregated demographic data on households assisted.

Datapoints: ERA1 ($25B) and ERA2 ($21.55B) allocations and obligations; Cumulative payments to households (more than 6 million payments since January 2021); Total spent on assistance, administrative expenses, and housing stability services ($30.2B); Households assisted by income band (about 85% below 50% of area median income); Average payment by urban vs. rural geography; Disaggregated demographic data (race, ethnicity, gender) Q1 2021–Q4 2022; Quarterly ERA2 cumulative program data Q2 2021–Q4 2024

Emergency Rental Assistance Program: Allocations and Payments

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of the TreasuryEviction & housing instability

Treasury's official allocation and payment data for the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA1 and ERA2) programs, by state, local, tribal, and territorial grantee. Documents how $46+ billion in rental aid was distributed and spent.

Datapoints: ERA1 ($25B) and ERA2 ($21.55B) allocations by grantee; 9.7+ million household payments made through program life; Reallocation of $4.3+ billion in unused funds; Quarterly spending and obligation totals

U.S. Treasury — Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of the TreasuryEviction & housing instability

Treasury's official hub for the pandemic-era Emergency Rental Assistance programs (ERA1 and ERA2), which together provided over $46 billion to help eligible renters pay rent, utilities, and stay housed. Includes program guidance, demographic data, and grantee spending reports.

Datapoints: funds obligated/expended by grantee; number of payments and households served; average assistance amount; race/ethnicity/income of assisted households; quarterly demographic reporting; ERA1 authorized $25 billion (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021); ERA2 authorized $21.55 billion (American Rescue Plan Act, 2021); Total ERA funding over $46 billion; Grantee-level funds received and spent (state, local, territorial, tribal); Number of households assisted; Disaggregated demographic data (Q1 2021 through Q4 2022/2024); ERA1/ERA2 cumulative program data and final compliance reports

VA NCHAV Research Briefs

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - National Center on Homelessness Among VeteransEviction & housing instability

Library of 30+ publicly accessible (2020-2024) research briefs summarizing findings on veteran homelessness, including Housing First evidence, HUD-VASH for older/disabled veterans, eviction/foreclosure prevalence, telehealth disparities, and unsheltered homelessness.

Datapoints: Housing First model evidence briefs; HUD-VASH program improvements and peer services; Eviction and foreclosure prevalence among veterans; Briefs on aging, women, post-9/11, and justice-involved veterans

HUD USER — A Picture of Subsidized Households

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (PD&R)Eviction & housing instability

Periodic HUD survey describing nearly 5 million households living in HUD-subsidized housing, aggregated by program and geography (national, state, PHA, project, census tract, county, CBSA, and city). Covers public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, Mod Rehab, Project-Based Section 8, RentSup/RAP, Section 236/BMIR, and Section 202/811 supportive housing.

Datapoints: assisted units by program; household income; family composition & demographics; out-of-pocket rent; occupancy rate; unit bedroom mix; by tract/county/city; Counts of assisted units and households by program (Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers/Section 8, Section 236, Mod Rehab, LIHTC, Indian Housing); Geographic summaries: national, state, PHA, project, census tract, county, CBSA, city; Household demographics (income, household composition, age, race/ethnicity); Rent burden and subsidy amounts; Coverage of 50 states, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands; Number and location of HUD-subsidized housing units and households; Resident demographics (household income, family composition, age, race/ethnicity); Average tenant rent and HUD subsidy amounts; Occupancy and utilization by program and geography; Data by national, state, PHA, project, tract, county, CBSA, and city levels

Covid-19 Housing Protections: Moratoriums Have Helped Limit Evictions, but Further Outreach Is Needed (GAO-21-370)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability OfficeEviction & housing instability

March 2021 GAO report analyzing the effectiveness of federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums during the pandemic and early implementation of emergency rental assistance.

Datapoints: In 63 jurisdictions, median eviction filing rates were ~74% lower in the last week of July 2020 vs 2019; CDC moratorium (Sept 2020 onward) reduced filings; gaps where no state/local protections existed; Treasury disbursed 99% of the $25 billion ERA appropriation to grantees by late January 2021; Renters may not understand they must act to claim moratorium protections

Emergency Rental Assistance: Treasury Should Improve Data Completeness and Public Reporting (GAO-24-107084)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability OfficeEviction & housing instability

May 2024 GAO audit of Treasury's administration of the ~$47 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program, examining data completeness, public reporting transparency, and improper-payment risk.

Datapoints: As of June 30, 2023, 10% of grantees controlling $787 million failed to report household payment data; 3% of ERA2 grantees with $581 million did not submit required quarterly data; Grantees collectively expended ~87% of total ERA funds; Public reports omitted disclosure of underreporting, demographics, and declined/transferred funds; Treasury had not evaluated risk of improper payments to households

U.S. GAO — Evictions: National Data Are Limited and Challenging to Collect (GAO-24-106637)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability OfficeEviction & housing instability

Authoritative federal assessment of the eviction-data landscape: how court-record and survey-based estimates differ, where the gaps are, and recommendations to improve national eviction measurement.

Datapoints: estimated annual evictions; court-record vs survey methodology comparison; data coverage gaps by state; filing-rate change around CARES Act moratorium expiration; Princeton Eviction Lab: 7.8 evictions filed per 100 renting households in 2018; Census American Housing Survey (2017): national physical eviction rate of 5.3%; Court records capture only filed evictions, missing informal lock-outs; Surveys may undercount due to question design and low response rates; Two federal improvement options: national court-records database or strengthened national surveys

Emergency Rental Assistance: Treasury's Oversight Is Limited by Incomplete Data and Risk Assessment (GAO-23-105410)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)Eviction & housing instability

GAO audit (December 2022) of Treasury's oversight of the $46.55 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program, examining data completeness, improper-payment risk, and program reach. Documents who was assisted and where data gaps exist.

Datapoints: 26% of 2021 payments missing from Treasury's records; ~85% of assisted households had incomes below 50% of area median income; Average payment $7,200 (urban) vs. $5,200 (rural); About one-quarter of grantees had made no payments by June 2021; ~2% of households received potentially duplicative payments; Three recommendations (complete quarterly data, publish disaggregated measures, improper-payment risk assessment), all closed as implemented by Sept 2025

Urban Displacement Project

othernationalinteractive-mapUC Berkeley Institute of Governmental StudiesEviction & housing instability

Research hub with interactive maps and tools to identify gentrification, displacement, and eviction risk across 15+ U.S. and international metro regions, including a Housing Precarity Risk Model and displacement typology maps.

Datapoints: neighborhood displacement typologies; housing precarity / eviction risk model; anti-displacement policy maps; climate-policy displacement effects

Uniform Law Commission Acts Catalog

othernationalorg-hubUniform Law CommissionEviction & housing instability

Searchable catalog of model uniform acts drafted by state-appointed commissioners, including several relevant to housing stability and household financial distress such as the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Assignment of Rents Act, Abandoned (Unclaimed) Property Act, and creditor/debt-related acts.

Datapoints: Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Uniform Assignment of Rents Act; Uniform Unclaimed/Abandoned Property Act; Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Act and other debt/consumer acts; Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA, 1972; revised); Assignment of Rents Act; Abandoned property and certificate-of-title acts; Searchable acts catalog with adoption status by state; Drafting committees and final act texts

Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA)

othernationalguidelineUniform Law Commission (National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws)Eviction & housing instability

Model state law (originally 1972, revised 2015) governing residential landlord-tenant relationships, including lease terms, security deposits, habitability/repair duties, and eviction procedures. Many states have adopted all or part of it, making it a reference baseline for tenant-protection and eviction policy.

Datapoints: implied warranty of habitability and landlord repair duties; security-deposit limits and return rules; tenant remedies and eviction (forcible entry/detainer) procedures; adopted in whole or part by roughly half of U.S. states; model rules on habitability, security deposits, and termination; 1972 original act; 2015 revised act; drafted by state-appointed commissioners for adoption by legislatures

Innovation for Justice (i4J)

othernationalorg-hubUniversity of Arizona College of Law & University of Utah Eccles School of BusinessEviction & housing instability

Social-justice innovation lab developing replicable legal-empowerment models for low-income people, including housing-instability legal advocacy and an eviction cost calculator for quantifying the community cost of evictions.

Datapoints: Cost-of-eviction calculator inputs and outputs; Housing Stability Legal Advocate program research; 29+ publications on housing, medical debt, and civil justice; Eviction Cost Calculator (community/fiscal cost-of-eviction estimates); Housing Stability Legal Advocate (HSLA) program model and outcomes; 29+ reports/papers on civil legal access and legal empowerment

University of Arizona — Cost of Eviction Calculator

primary-academicnationaltoolUniversity of Arizona James E. Rogers College of LawEviction & housing instability

Interactive calculator that estimates the aggregate downstream community costs of eviction using local, borrowed, or national data, and models how eviction-prevention policies can save communities money. Built to support eviction-prevention policymaking.

Datapoints: per-eviction societal cost; shelter/emergency-services cost; health-care cost; child-welfare and education cost; configurable local inputs; Estimated community costs of eviction (shelter, healthcare, child welfare, lost economic activity, etc.); Per-cost-category breakdown report; Modeled savings from eviction-prevention policy interventions; Customizable with local or national input data; Draws on Neil Steinkamp's right-to-counsel cost-benefit analysis

UC Berkeley Urban Displacement Project — Housing Precarity Risk Model

othernationalinteractive-mapUniversity of California, Berkeley (Urban Displacement Project)Eviction & housing instability

Interactive map modeling neighborhood-level risk of housing instability and eviction using socioeconomic, housing-market, and demographic indicators.

Datapoints: housing precarity risk score by tract; rent burden; displacement pressure; renter demographics; housing-market indicators

Housing Initiative at Penn (HIP)

othernationalorg-hubUniversity of Pennsylvania (Weitzman School of Design, Dept. of City & Regional Planning)Eviction & housing instability

Penn-based research initiative (founded 2021, faculty director Vincent Reina) evaluating emergency rental assistance, eviction prevention, and affordable-housing policy. Co-authored the national evaluations of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program with NLIHC and NYU Furman Center.

Datapoints: ERA program administrator surveys across dozens of jurisdictions; Tenant and landlord ERA experience outcomes (housing stability and beyond); Jurisdiction case studies (Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia, California); Lessons for permanent emergency rental assistance design; COVID-19 and housing research series; Evaluations of direct-to-tenant cash rental assistance (PHLHousing+); Permanent supportive housing in rural areas; Subsidized housing preservation / expiring federal subsidies; COVID-19 housing impacts and universal-voucher research

Emergency Rental Assistance Priority (ERAP) Index 2.0

othernationaltoolUrban InstituteEviction & housing instability

Open-source code and data for a census-tract index identifying neighborhoods at highest risk of housing instability and eviction, powering an interactive map; combines housing, demographic, and income subindices weighted against eviction filings.

Datapoints: Tract-level renter cost-burden (50%+ of income) and extremely-low-income renter shares; Renter-occupied and multi-unit rental shares; average renter household size; Weighted-quantile-sum index correlated with eviction filings; Housing subindex: renter share, multi-unit share, median housing costs; Household demographics subindex: renter household size, racial/ethnic composition; Income subindex: severely cost-burdened (50%+) and extremely low-income (<=30% AMI) renters; Census-tract overall priority score

Emergency Rental Assistance Priority Index 2.0 (dataset)

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUrban InstituteEviction & housing instability

Census-tract dataset underlying the ERAP Index 2.0, containing 10 indicators grouped into three subindices plus standardized percentile scores. The December 2025 update uses 2019-23 ACS and 2017-21 CHAS data and excludes tracts with zero extremely low-income renters.

Datapoints: 10 tract-level indicators with standardized percentile scores; Housing Subindex, Household Demographics Subindex, Income Subindex scores; Overall ERAP Index 2.0 percentile value per tract; Count of extremely low-income (ELI) renters per tract

Housing Matters (Urban Institute)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUrban InstituteEviction & housing instability

Urban Institute evidence hub on how housing intersects with health, education, economic mobility, and longevity, publishing research summaries, blog analyses, and curated tools on affordability, eviction, and homelessness. Aggregates rigorous housing research for policy and practice.

Datapoints: Research summaries on affordability and housing stability; Eviction impacts on renters' records; Homelessness intervention (Housing First) evidence; Zoning, supply, and vacant-housing conversion analyses

Mapping Neighborhoods with the Highest Risk of Housing Instability and Homelessness

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapUrban InstituteEviction & housing instability

Interactive census-tract map (the Emergency Rental Assistance Priority Index 2.0 front end) that scores neighborhoods on relative risk of housing instability and homelessness. Comparisons are made within each state to help local leaders target assistance.

Datapoints: Census-tract Housing subindex: median monthly housing cost, renter occupancy rate, multiunit building prevalence; Household Characteristics subindex: household size and racial/ethnic composition; Income subindex: cost-burdened and extremely low-income renter households; Composite ERAP Index percentile score per tract (within-state comparison)

Testing the Emergency Rental Assistance Priority Index

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban InstituteEviction & housing instability

October 2020 brief validating the Emergency Rental Assistance Priority (ERAP) Index against eviction-filing data, finding that the composite index correlates with eviction filings more strongly than any individual subindex and that historical indicators outperform COVID-19 impact measures.

Datapoints: Two-thirds of states: pre-pandemic eviction filings correlate strongly/moderately with the ERAP Index; Composite ERAP Index correlates with evictions more than component subindexes; Historical indicators correlate more closely with eviction filings than COVID-19 impact measures; Risk factors disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and Latinx renters

Durham Neighborhood Compass — Evictions (Summary Ejectments) by Census Tract

primary-govstate-NCinteractive-mapCity/County of Durham + DataWorks NCEviction & housing instability

Interactive neighborhood map of eviction (summary ejectment) filings for Durham at census-tract and block-group level — a replicable template for an Asheville/Buncombe local eviction map.

Datapoints: summary ejectment filings per tract/block group; filings per square mile; year-over-year change; neighborhood concentration

DataWorks NC — Evictions in Durham

otherstate-NCdashboardDataWorks NCEviction & housing instability

A leading NC local model: neighborhood-level summary-ejectment data for Durham County drawn from Sheriff civil-process records, with tenant-demographics analysis. Demonstrates the granular local layer feasible in North Carolina.

Datapoints: summary ejectments per month; filings per census tract / block group; filings per square mile; tenant demographics by neighborhood

LSC Civil Court Data Initiative — North Carolina

primary-govstate-NCdatasetLegal Services Corporation (LSC)Eviction & housing instability

North Carolina eviction-filing dashboard covering 100 of 100 counties, with monthly and weekly filing counts, default rates, and demographic context (poverty and rent burden) drawn from the NC Judicial Branch and the American Community Survey.

Datapoints: total NC filings since 2020-03-16 (621,596+); monthly filing counts; default counts; filing rate; NC rent-burdened share (47.8%); NC poverty rate (13.2%); county-level filter + CSV export; Total eviction filings since March 16, 2020 (621,596); Monthly and annual filing counts (updated each October for prior year); County-level filing counts and rates (100 of 100 counties); Default counts; CSV export of filtered data; Total eviction filings since March 2020 (600,000+); Monthly filing counts by county; Default rates vs. national average; County-level eviction map (all 100 counties); 100 of 100 NC counties tracked; 621,596 filings since March 16, 2020; Monthly and weekly eviction filing counts; Default rates; County-level filing rates; Poverty rates and rent burden; ACS 5-year tables B25070, B25032, B25008

North Carolina Judicial Branch — Court Statistics / Case Statistics Dashboard

primary-govstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC)Eviction & housing instability

Official NC court dashboard with statewide and county-level civil caseload statistics, including summary-ejectment (eviction) filings, dispositions, and case-aging by jurisdiction. Upstream source for NC eviction trackers.

Datapoints: civil filings by case type (incl. summary ejectment); dispositions by type; disposition times / case aging; by county and court type (district/superior)

North Carolina Judicial Branch — Obtaining Court Records (Remote Public Access)

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC)Eviction & housing instability

Guidance on accessing NC civil/eviction case records, including the Remote Public Access (RPA) Program providing statewide civil court data across all 100 counties (eFiling completed statewide Oct 2025).

Datapoints: RPA Legacy and RPA Cloud data access; statewide civil case records; summary-ejectment case lookup; 100-county coverage

North Carolina Housing Coalition — Housing Matters / county housing data

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Housing CoalitionEviction & housing instability

Statewide housing advocacy org publishing eviction and affordability analysis plus county-level housing profiles for all 100 NC counties, including cost burden and affordable-supply gaps.

Datapoints: county cost-burdened renter share; affordable-housing gap by county; eviction-prevention policy tracking; fair market rent vs income

North Carolina Justice Center — A Snapshot of Evictions in North Carolina (BTC Brief)

local-authoritystate-NCreportNorth Carolina Justice Center (Budget & Tax Center)Eviction & housing instability

Statewide policy brief analyzing eviction patterns and drivers across North Carolina counties, situating evictions within rent burden and low-wage economics.

Datapoints: NC eviction filing rates by county; eviction rate vs national; rent-burden context; demographic disparities

Ohio Legal Help — Housing & Eviction Hub

otherstate-NCtoolOhio Legal HelpEviction & housing instability

Plain-language self-help hub covering eviction, repairs, landlords, utilities, security deposits, subsidized housing, mobile homes, and foreclosure, with interactive forms via a MyOLH account. Ohio-specific but a strong model template for tenant/legal-aid resources.

Datapoints: Eviction defense steps and forms; Security-deposit and repair remedies; Subsidized housing and foreclosure guidance; eviction process; tenant rights and repairs; utilities and security deposits; subsidized housing; foreclosure; interactive court-form completion; Eviction process and tenant rights walkthroughs; Interactive court-form generation (MyOLH portal); Available in 11 languages; Topics: repairs, deposits, subsidized housing, foreclosure

ANHD Displacement Alert Project (DAP) Portal & Housing Risk Map

otherlocal-AVLinteractive-mapAssociation for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD)Eviction & housing instability

ANHD is a coalition of NYC community housing groups that publishes interactive displacement-risk tools and affordability analyses. Its DAP Portal and Housing Risk Map flag where affordable and rent-stabilized housing is threatened, with an annual AMI Cheat Sheet contextualizing Area Median Income affordability.

Datapoints: Neighborhood-level displacement/housing-risk indicators; Rent-stabilized housing risk; Area Median Income (AMI) affordability cheat sheet; Affordable housing preservation metrics

Displacement Alert Project (DAP) Map

otherlocal-AVLinteractive-mapAssociation for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD)Eviction & housing instability

Interactive citywide map of NYC displacement risk built on more than a decade of data, layering deregulation, recent sales, housing-code violations, and executed evictions at the building level with Council District, Community Board, and ZIP geographies.

Datapoints: deregulation risk from rent-stabilized registration changes since 2019; property sales risk (price per unit) since 2003; open housing-code violations per 100 units since 2010; marshal eviction rates per unit since 2017; filtering by council district, community board, and zip code; Deregulation Risk: change in rent-stabilized unit share since the 2019 HSTPA; New Sale Risk: most recent property sales since Jan 1, 2003, by price per unit; Violations Risk: open Class C Housing Maintenance Code violations per 100 units since Jan 10, 2010; Eviction Risk: marshal-executed evictions since 2017 divided by building unit count

Buncombe County — Renter Resources & Homelessness Resources

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County, NCEviction & housing instability

Official county hub linking eviction-prevention assistance, rental aid, and homelessness services for Asheville/Buncombe residents, including allocations to address eviction-related needs.

Datapoints: local eviction-prevention funding ($2.5M city+county allocation); rental-assistance program links; homelessness service referrals; tenant rights resources

NYC Evictions Dataset (Data.gov)

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetCity of New York (NYC Marshals) via Data.gov / NYC Open DataEviction & housing instability

Open dataset of executed residential and commercial evictions in New York City compiled from NYC Marshals, a model for local eviction tracking; covers 2017 to present across the five boroughs.

Datapoints: Executed evictions, 2017-present; 20 fields including Court Index Number, Docket Number, Eviction Address, Marshal name, Borough; Residential vs. commercial eviction flag; Geographic detail to address level

Heat Seek (Heat Sensor Program)

otherlocal-AVLtoolHeat Seek (nonprofit)Eviction & housing instability

NYC civic-tech nonprofit that gives low-income tenants internet-connected temperature sensors which log hourly readings to a central database, producing evidence of inadequate heat for housing-court cases and enforcement of the warranty of habitability.

Datapoints: Legal minimum indoor temps: 68F (6am-10pm when outdoor below 55F) and 62F (10pm-6am); Buildings in the Heat Sensor Program saw a 46% average decrease in heat complaints across the 2022-2024 heat seasons; Hourly automated temperature logging used as housing-court evidence for rent abatements

Heat Seek NYC

otherlocal-AVLtoolHeat Seek (nonprofit) with NYC HPD and legal-services partnersEviction & housing instability

A nonprofit that installs low-cost internet-connected temperature sensors in NYC apartments and provides a web app that compares indoor temperatures against the NYC heating code to document heat violations. Generates objective habitability data tenants and attorneys use in housing-court enforcement.

Datapoints: 24/7 indoor temperature readings vs. outdoor temperature and code minimums; documented heat-code violations by apartment/building; evidence used to win legal concessions across multiple buildings and cases; deployment focused on income-qualified tenants via HPD and legal-aid partners

Housing Court Answers - For Tenants

otherlocal-AVLguidelineHousing Court Answers, Inc.Eviction & housing instability

Plain-language tenant guidance on eviction prevention, nonpayment and holdover cases, repairs (HP actions), and rent assistance from a long-running NYC housing-court nonprofit; model content for tenant-rights explainers.

Datapoints: eviction defense steps; nonpayment vs holdover cases; HP repair actions; rent arrears assistance

Housing Data Coalition (HDC)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubHousing Data CoalitionEviction & housing instability

Collaborative civic-data hub that makes public housing data actionable for tenant organizers and housing-justice groups, maintaining cleaned datasets and a roster of free tools for mapping landlords, evictions, displacement, and habitability. NYC-focused but a reusable model and methodology reference for local housing-data work.

Datapoints: NYCDB cleaned public housing datasets (API/Python access); landlord-ownership network mapping (Who Owns What); eviction-filing monitors from state court data; displacement and rent-stabilized-unit-loss tracking (DAP Map); 160,000+ properties indexed in Who Owns What for landlord/shell-company networks; NYCDB compiled public housing datasets queryable via SQL/Python; Displacement Alert Project (DAP) map of lost rent-stabilized units, sales, permits (2007+) and evictions (2017+); weekly eviction-case filing counts by zip code via Right to Counsel Eviction Crisis Monitor; Curated directory of NYC housing data tools and dashboards; NYCDB open-source housing database (aggregates public datasets); Geoclient address-to-BBL geocoding tooling; Community Data Help Desk prioritizing BIPOC-led tenant groups; Methodology examples for tenant-facing data products

Housing for All Columbus - Stout Right-to-Counsel Study

otherlocal-AVLreportHousing for All Columbus / Stout Risius Ross (study)Eviction & housing instability

Landing page for the Stout economic-impact assessment (commissioned by Columbus City Council) of an eviction right-to-counsel program, with the full PDF and summary findings on costs, benefits, and case-outcome improvements.

Datapoints: Annual investment ~$6.1M; estimated economic benefit at least $24.4M; Return of at least $4 for every $1 invested; Over 4,900 eligible households assisted; Successful case-resolution rate rises from ~8% to ~82% with counsel; Projected ~5% annual decrease in eviction cases

Good Cause NYC eviction-protection screener (JustFix)

otherlocal-AVLtoolJustFixEviction & housing instability

Interactive eligibility screener and rent-increase calculator that tells tenants whether Good Cause eviction protections apply to their unit and lease renewal. A reusable model for jurisdictions adopting good-cause/just-cause rules.

Datapoints: Eligibility screener for Good Cause eviction protections; Rent-renewal increase calculator; Demonstrates how statutory tenant protections can be operationalized for the public

Who Owns What (NYC landlord/building lookup)

otherlocal-AVLtoolJustFixEviction & housing instability

Free property-ownership and building-conditions lookup for New York City (NYC-local data; included as a national model for tenant-facing housing-justice tooling) that maps a landlord's full portfolio across LLCs and surfaces HPD complaints, eviction filings, executed evictions, and DOB/PLUTO records. A leading model of tenant-facing housing-justice data tooling (NYC scope, methodology transparent).

Datapoints: Maps associated buildings likely owned by the same landlord/LLC via HPD registration data; Surfaces HPD complaints, DOB job filings, PLUTO land-use data, and OCA eviction-filing data; Timeline feature tracks landlord behavior (violations, evictions) over time; HPD registration data refreshed monthly; Building portfolios linked by shared landlord/owner; HPD housing-code violations and complaints per building; Eviction filings and rent-stabilization status (NYC); Landlord portfolio mapping via HPD-registered owner/officer names grouped by shared business address (networkx); HPD complaints (NYC Open Data, monthly), eviction filings (NY OCA via Housing Data Coalition, daily); Executed evictions (ANHD/Housing Data Coalition via NYC Marshals, daily); DOB job filings and PLUTO land use

JustFix - Tenant Tools Hub

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubJustFix (501(c)(3) housing-justice technology nonprofit)Eviction & housing instability

Nonprofit building free digital tools that help tenants exercise rights, document conditions, and fight displacement. Tools are NYC-centric but the model and open-source codebase are widely cited as a template for tenant-data and tenant-empowerment tooling.

Datapoints: Free certified-mail Letter of Complaint tool for requesting repairs; Open-source approach; tools reused/forked by tenant orgs nationally; Suite spans repairs, rent history, eviction defense, and landlord research; Letter of Complaint (certified mail to landlord); Good Cause eligibility screener and rent calculator; Rent History request tools

JustFix Letter of Complaint Tool

otherlocal-AVLtoolJustFix (501(c)(3) nonprofit)Eviction & housing instability

Free tool that helps tenants generate a legally-vetted letter of complaint to a landlord about repair/habitability issues and mails it via USPS Certified Mail at no cost. Built for tenants, organizers, and legal advocates fighting displacement (NYC-focused, model is replicable).

Datapoints: Repair/habitability complaint documentation; Certified-mail proof of notice to landlord; Housing-type guidance (rent stabilized, rent controlled, market rate, NYCHA/public, affordable)

JustFix Rent History Request Tool

otherlocal-AVLtoolJustFix (501(c)(3) nonprofit)Eviction & housing instability

Tool that helps tenants order their apartment's official rent registration history to verify rent-regulation status and detect possible overcharges, part of JustFix's tenant-rights toolkit.

Datapoints: Rent registration history; Rent-regulation status verification; Overcharge detection

Legal Services NYC - Housing & Foreclosure Resources

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubLegal Services NYCEviction & housing instability

Civil legal-aid resource hub on tenant rights, eviction defense, and foreclosure prevention from the largest U.S. provider of free civil legal services; useful for tenant-protection explainers and referral patterns.

Datapoints: tenant rights guidance; foreclosure prevention; serves 108,000+ New Yorkers annually

NYC Marshals Evictions Dataset & City Marshals (Dept. of Investigation)

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetNew York City Department of Investigation (DOI)Eviction & housing instability

DOI oversight of NYC City Marshals plus a daily-updated executed-evictions dataset (2017-present) on the NYC Open Data Portal listing every marshal-executed eviction by address, borough, and marshal.

Datapoints: executed evictions by address and borough (2017-present, daily updated); court index / docket numbers per eviction; marshal name and contact per case; annual eviction counts (e.g., ~16,853 in 2024; ~13,000 prior year; 268 in 2021 under moratorium)

Pisgah Legal Services — Eviction Prevention & Housing program (Buncombe/WNC)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubPisgah Legal ServicesEviction & housing instability

WNC's regional civil legal-aid provider (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania core, ~17 counties served). Annual reports report clients served, practice-area breakdowns, and outcomes for housing, healthcare access, safety, and income.

Datapoints: evictions prevented / dismissed; client demographics and income; WNC eviction filings (incl. post-Helene); homelessness-prevention outcomes; demand surge metrics (110% post-Helene); People helped annually (18,000+ across WNC); Service area (6 core + up to 17 WNC counties); Staff/attorney count and 19 offices; Practice areas: housing/eviction defense, healthcare enrollment, domestic violence, income/benefits; Annual budget (~$11.1M)

Eviction Free NYC

otherlocal-AVLtoolRight to Counsel NYC Coalition & JustFixEviction & housing instability

Tenant-facing portal that screens NYC renters for Right to Counsel eligibility and guides them through responding to an eviction case, including an income-eligibility check and court-process guidance. A national model for tenant right-to-counsel programs.

Datapoints: Right to Counsel income threshold at or below 200% of the federal poverty line; Covers eviction lawsuits and NYCHA termination hearings regardless of immigration status; One-time legal consultation for non-income-eligible tenants; Office of Civil Justice contact and intake routing

NYC's Worst Evictors

otherlocal-AVLinteractive-mapRight to Counsel NYC Coalition, JustFix, and the Anti-Eviction Mapping ProjectEviction & housing instability

Tenant-built data project and interactive map ranking the NYC landlords who filed the most eviction lawsuits, using Housing Court filing data (notably the COVID-19 period, March 2020 to September 2021). A model of place-based eviction-transparency tooling.

Datapoints: ranked list of top 20 evicting landlords plus dishonorable mentions; eviction-filing counts by landlord/entity; geographic distribution of evictions across the five boroughs; correlation of evictions with COVID-19 case rates, race, and income

United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County — Local Housing Crisis Stats

otherlocal-AVLarticleUnited Way of Asheville and Buncombe CountyEviction & housing instability

Local data compilation on Asheville/Buncombe housing instability, cost burden, and the affordable-housing gap, drawing on the WNC Housing Needs Assessment.

Datapoints: Buncombe renter cost-burden (48.5%); severe cost burden (19.4%); children in poor/near-poor homes (46%); affordable-supply gap

United Way of Greater Cleveland (211 + ALICE data hub)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubUnited Way of Greater ClevelandEviction & housing instability

Regional United Way operating a 211 helpline/resource database of ~22,800 programs (food, housing, utilities, employment, health) and publishing ALICE financial-hardship data, plus eviction Right to Counsel and food-insecurity initiatives.

Datapoints: 211 directory of 22,800+ community programs (expanding to all 88 Ohio counties); ALICE household share and trends for the Cleveland region; Right to Counsel community benefit ($44.7M); 211 resource database (~22,800 programs); ALICE household counts and trends (2026 report); Top community need (food insecurity); Right to Counsel eviction-prevention program

WOSU: Columbus Eviction Right-to-Counsel Study Coverage

otherlocal-AVLarticleWOSU Public Media (NPR/PBS, The Ohio State University)Eviction & housing instability

Public-media news report on a Stout economic-impact study of a proposed eviction right-to-counsel program in Columbus and Franklin County, summarizing projected costs, savings, and downstream homelessness effects.

Datapoints: Program cost ~$6.1M/year ($5.1M city, $1M county); projected savings over $20M/year; ROI of about $4 saved per $1 spent on tenant legal representation; 4,964 income-eligible tenant families would be served; Columbus eviction filings: nearly 24,000 in 2023 vs ~18,000 in 2019; Franklin County homelessness: 2,300+ people in 2024 (all-time high); ~$15,000/year emergency-shelter cost per individual

ACF Program Office Data Pages (OPRE)

primary-govnationalorg-hubACF Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), U.S. HHSUSDA & federal food security data

OPRE index linking the data pages of ACF program offices (TANF, Head Start, child care, child welfare, refugee resettlement, LIHEAP) so researchers can find administrative data across the agency's human-services programs.

Datapoints: Links to TANF data and reports; Head Start program data; Child Care and Development Fund data; Child welfare (AFCARS/NCANDS) data; Refugee resettlement and LIHEAP data

MEPS Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) Data Tools

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive data tool from AHRQ's annual survey of private employers and state/local governments, providing national, state, and metro estimates of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums, contributions, and cost-sharing (1996-present).

Datapoints: Employer and employee premium contributions; Deductibles, copays, coinsurance; Offer and take-up rates; Estimates by firm size, industry, region, state, wage quartile; Metro area data for 20 largest cities

AAP Policy Statement: Promoting Food Security for All Children

othernationalguidelineAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (Pediatrics journal)USDA & federal food security data

Foundational 2015 AAP policy recommending that pediatricians universally screen families for food insecurity using the validated two-item Hunger Vital Sign, connect families to federal nutrition programs, and advocate for food-access policy.

Datapoints: recommendation to screen all families with the Hunger Vital Sign; guidance to refer to SNAP, WIC, school meals, and food banks; 1 in 7 U.S. children lives in a food-insecure household

Survey of Consumer Finances Interactive Data Visualization

primary-govnationaldashboardBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive charting tool for the Survey of Consumer Finances covering 1989-2022, letting users explore household assets, liabilities, net worth, and income by demographic group. Supports median/mean/share-holding views and CSV download.

Datapoints: Net worth, income, assets, and liabilities (1989-2022, 2022 dollars); Breakdowns by income percentile, age, education, race; Median value, mean value, and percent of families holding each item; Downloadable CSV dataset

Hunger by the Numbers (Bread for the World Fact Sheet)

othernationalreportBread for the WorldUSDA & federal food security data

Advocacy fact sheet compiling U.S. food insecurity statistics from federal data, with attention to racial disparities and the pace needed to reach hunger-reduction goals.

Datapoints: 37.2 million people food insecure in 2018 (11.1% of households); 11.2 million children at risk of hunger; State range 7.8% (NH) to 16.8% (NM); Black and Latino households at ~double the white-household rate

Candid - SNAP cuts leave a food-aid gap food banks and nonprofits can't fill

othernationalarticleCandidUSDA & federal food security data

Candid analysis documenting that when SNAP contracts the nonprofit sector cannot fill the resulting food-aid gap.

Datapoints: Charitable sector cannot offset SNAP cuts at scale; Scale mismatch between SNAP and food banks; Scale of SNAP vs. charitable food; Nonprofit capacity limits

CLASP No More Double Punishments (SNAP/TANF Drug Felony Ban)

othernationalreportCenter for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)USDA & federal food security data

Report on the lifetime federal ban (PRWORA §115 / 21 U.S.C. §862a) restricting SNAP and TANF for people with drug felony convictions, and the case for state opt-outs. Relevant to food insecurity among formerly incarcerated people.

Datapoints: State variation in the SNAP/TANF drug-felony ban; Effect of benefit bans on reentry food insecurity; Racial disparities in the ban's impact; Documents how the 1996 drug-felony ban restricts food/cash assistance access; Argues modified bans remain punitive and harm reentry; State-by-state status of the SNAP/TANF drug-felony ban (opt-out, modified, full ban); Impact of benefit bans on food security and reentry; Policy recommendations to lift remaining bans

CLASP Public Benefits Justice / Cross-Program Benefit Access

othernationalorg-hubCenter for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)USDA & federal food security data

CLASP topic hub on streamlining access across safety-net programs (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, tax credits, child care), including immigrant access to benefits and administrative-burden reduction.

Datapoints: Cross-program enrollment and benefit access barriers; Immigrant eligibility for federal child care and benefit programs; Refundable tax credits (EITC/CTC) for low-income families

CLASP SNAP Issue Hub

othernationalorg-hubCenter for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)USDA & federal food security data

CLASP's clearinghouse of analyses, briefs, and fact sheets on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), covering eligibility, work requirements, food sovereignty, asset limits, and federal food-security policy.

Datapoints: SNAP eligibility and work-requirement policy analysis; Impact of ending the USDA Household Food Security report on measuring hunger; Asset-limit elimination effects on families and states; Food sovereignty beyond SNAP and WIC; SNAP described as alleviating poverty and generating local economic activity; Brief: 'Eliminating Asset Limits: Creating Savings for Families and State Governments'; Brief: 'Fading to Invisible: Why Ending the USDA Food Security Report Makes Hunger in America Invisible' (Oct 2025); Brief: 'Food Sovereignty: Why Food Assistance Can't Stop at Just SNAP and WIC' (Mar 2026)

CLASP — Public Benefits Justice Hub (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid)

othernationalorg-hubCenter for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)USDA & federal food security data

National nonpartisan anti-poverty policy center's hub for cross-program public benefits access, covering SNAP, TANF, refundable tax credits, and immigrant access to benefits. Source of policy reports, fact sheets, and analysis on food and income assistance.

Datapoints: SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and refundable tax credit policy work; Immigrant access to benefits analysis; Asset-limit and work-requirement policy briefs

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCenter on Budget and Policy PrioritiesUSDA & federal food security data

Nonpartisan policy research institute analyzing federal and state budget, tax, and social-program policy affecting low- and moderate-income people, with extensive analysis of SNAP, housing assistance, Medicaid, and the safety net.

Datapoints: SNAP serves ~41M people/month; two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, elderly, or disabled; SNAP cuts food insecurity by up to 10 percentage points; SNAP participation and benefit-policy analysis; Federal rental assistance / Housing Choice Voucher analysis; State fact sheets on safety-net programs; Poverty and income-security trends; Federal and state budget/tax analysis

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — SNAP analysis

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCenter on Budget and Policy PrioritiesUSDA & federal food security data

Independent analyses of the 2025 federal budget reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025) describing the largest reductions to SNAP in the program's history.

Datapoints: Corroborates the ~$186B / ~20% SNAP funding reduction through 2034; Used as a standing figure-ledger citation source for food and housing policy; SNAP state fact sheets (incl. NC); poverty-reduction impact of SNAP; benefit adequacy analysis; policy change impacts; ~$186 billion in reduced federal SNAP funding through 2034; First-ever requirement that states pay 5-15% of benefit costs; Expanded work requirements (age raised to 64; parents of children over 14 added; exemptions removed for veterans, former foster youth, people experiencing homelessness); Cap limiting future benefit growth to inflation rather than food costs

A Quick Guide to SNAP Eligibility and Benefits

established-research-orgnationalguidelineCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

Plain-language reference on SNAP eligibility rules (gross/net income tests, asset limits, deductions) and how monthly benefit amounts are calculated, with current income thresholds and maximum allotments.

Datapoints: Gross income limit (130% of poverty); Net income limit (100% of poverty); Asset limits and deductions; Maximum monthly benefit allotments by household size

CBPP — Over Two-Thirds of SNAP Recipients Are Children, Elderly, or Disabled

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

Documents the demographic composition of SNAP recipients, countering the myth that benefits primarily go to able-bodied non-working adults.

Datapoints: Roughly two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, elderly, or disabled; Working-family participation in SNAP; Household composition breakdown

CBPP — SNAP Helps Struggling Families Put Food on the Table

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

Data anchor for the claim that food banks cannot replace SNAP, documenting SNAP's scale and anti-hunger impact. Center-left; used as a citation source.

Datapoints: SNAP serves roughly 41 million people per month; SNAP reduces food insecurity by up to 10 percentage points; Comparison of SNAP scale to charitable food assistance

Medicaid Can Partner With Housing Providers and Others to Address Enrollees' Social Needs

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

CBPP report on how Medicaid waivers and managed care can address social determinants of health, especially housing instability, and the policy levers (CMS waivers, data sharing, funding affordable housing) that enable it.

Datapoints: Evidence linking stable affordable housing to health outcomes; Medicaid Section 1115 waiver authorities for health-related social needs; Recommendations for CMS, Congress, and states on cross-program coordination

Restore SNAP for People With Drug-Related Convictions

established-research-orgnationalarticleCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

CBPP analysis of the 1996 welfare-law lifetime SNAP ban for people with drug-related felony convictions, the state-by-state modifications, and the case for repeal (RESTORE Act).

Datapoints: Over 20 states still restrict SNAP for some people with drug felony convictions; South Carolina maintains a lifetime SNAP disqualification; Rearrest rates up to 50% for people with prior drug offenses; 91% food-insecurity rate among formerly incarcerated people

States Can Use Medicaid to Help Address Health-Related Social Needs

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

Policy analysis of how states use Medicaid Section 1115 waivers to fund housing and nutrition supports for enrollees, including which states are approved and recent federal guidance changes.

Datapoints: States may cover up to 6 months transitional housing and/or nutrition services; CMS December 2022 HRSN framework (Oregon, Massachusetts first); Eight states approved as of Feb 2024 (AZ, AR, CA, MA, NJ, NY, OR, WA); March 2025 rescission of HRSN guidance

Temporary Pandemic SNAP Benefits Will End in Remaining 35 States in March 2023

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

CBPP analysis of the rollback of pandemic SNAP Emergency Allotments and the resulting benefit reductions across states.

Datapoints: SNAP Emergency Allotments ended in remaining 35 states March 2023; Average benefit reduction per household; Pandemic SNAP EAs ended in remaining 35 states in March 2023; Benefit cuts increase food insecurity; SNAP Emergency Allotment phase-out by state; Per-household benefit reduction estimates

Tracking the COVID-19 Economy's Effects on Food, Housing, and Employment Hardships

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)USDA & federal food security data

CBPP's running analysis (PDF snapshot at /sites/default/files/8-13-20pov.pdf) synthesizing Household Pulse Survey data into food, housing, and employment hardship indicators, including how government relief (American Rescue Plan, expanded Child Tax Credit) reduced hardship. A widely cited interpretive source for pandemic-era hardship trends.

Datapoints: Adults in households not getting enough to eat (~20 million, Oct 2021); Adult renters behind on rent (~12 million, Oct 2021); Over 1 in 3 children in rental housing in a food- or rent-insecure household; Hardship declines after the American Rescue Plan Act (March 2021) and monthly Child Tax Credit payments (July 2021); Adults in households that didn't get enough to eat (food insufficiency); Adult renters behind on rent; Households having difficulty paying usual expenses; Hardship by race/ethnicity and by household-with-children status; Time series tracking improvement after relief legislation (e.g., $1,400 payments)

CDC PLACES — Local Data for Better Health (with SDOH measures)

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and PreventionUSDA & federal food security data

Model-based small-area estimates of chronic-disease, prevention, and social-determinant measures down to census-tract and ZIP level, with an interactive map and downloadable datasets. Connects health outcomes to local social conditions.

Datapoints: county/tract chronic-disease prevalence; 9 SDOH measures from ACS; health-risk behaviors; preventive-service use; Housing cost burden (% spending >=30% of income on housing); Crowding among housing units; Single-parent households; Unemployment / no high school diploma; Persons below 150% poverty; Lack of broadband / no health insurance; Census tract and ZCTA-level modeled estimates

CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

The nation's largest health-related telephone survey system, collecting state-level data on health risk behaviors, chronic conditions, and preventive-service use across all 50 states, DC, and three territories, with over 400,000 adult interviews annually.

Datapoints: Health-related risk behaviors and chronic conditions by state; Preventive service utilization; Optional modules (including social determinants / food security in some states); Prevalence data tools, SMART city/county data, GIS maps, annual datasets (2020-2024)

CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Data on data.cdc.gov

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

Open-data hub for the BRFSS, the largest continuously conducted state-based telephone health survey in the US, providing prevalence and trend data on adult health behaviors, chronic conditions, and preventive practices, queryable and downloadable via API.

Datapoints: Adult prevalence of chronic conditions and risk behaviors by state; Preventive health practice rates; Annual and trend prevalence estimates; SMART city/county-level estimates; Socrata/SODA API access

CDC PLACES: Social Determinants of Health Measure Definitions

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

CDC PLACES provides model-based small-area estimates of chronic disease, health risk behaviors, and health-related social needs for every U.S. county, place, census tract, and ZCTA. Includes a defined set of SDOH/health-related social need measures derived from BRFSS and ACS.

Datapoints: 49 measures across health outcomes, prevention, disabilities, health risk behaviors, health status; 7 health-related social needs factors (e.g., food insecurity, housing instability, lack of transportation); 9 non-medical/community factors derived from ACS; Census tract and ZCTA level estimates; Model-based estimates from BRFSS, decennial census, ACS 5-year

CDC Social Determinants of Health (Agency Approach)

primary-govnationalguidelineCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

CDC's agency-wide framework and resource hub on social determinants of health, organized around six pillars (data/surveillance, evidence-building, partnerships, community engagement, infrastructure, policy/law) to reduce health disparities.

Datapoints: Six-pillar SDOH framework; SDOH data standardization and surveillance approach; Policy and law evidence/tools for stakeholders; six-pillar SDOH framework; SDOH data and surveillance standards; health disparity evaluation strategies; policy and law guidance

data.CDC.gov Open Data Portal

primary-govnationalapiCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

CDC's centralized open data portal (built on Socrata) providing public, programmatically accessible datasets on chronic disease, behavioral health, disease surveillance, and prevention, including PLACES local-area health estimates.

Datapoints: Chronic disease prevalence (diabetes, hypertension, obesity); Behavioral health indicators (smoking, physical activity); Disease surveillance (COVID-19, RSV, measles, Lyme); PLACES local health estimates; Socrata SODA API for programmatic access

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

primary-govnationalorg-hubCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

The nation's principal health statistics agency, providing official datasets on health status, healthcare access, births, and deaths through major national surveys.

Datapoints: NHANES (health exams and lab tests); NHIS (oldest and largest household health survey); NVSS vital statistics (births and deaths); Data Query System with estimates on 180+ health topics; National Health Care Surveys (healthcare use and access)

PLACES Online Data Tools (Map, Data Portal, Comparison Report)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

The three interactive tools behind CDC PLACES: a customizable choropleth map of local health measures, a searchable/downloadable data portal (current and prior releases, with API access), and a comparison report tool for up to three counties or places.

Datapoints: Customizable county/place/tract/ZCTA health-measure maps; Downloadable datasets by release year; Side-by-side comparison of PLACES measures across up to 3 geographies; API access to PLACES data; county/place/tract/ZCTA health estimates; chronic disease prevalence; health risk behaviors; prevention measure use; health status indicators; downloadable datasets by release year; up-to-3-area comparison reports

PLACES: Local Data for Better Health

primary-govnationaldashboardCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)USDA & federal food security data

CDC initiative providing model-based small-area estimates of chronic disease, health risk behaviors, prevention practices, and health-related social needs for every US county, place, census tract, and ZIP Code tabulation area. Includes an interactive map, downloadable data portal, and a multi-area comparison report.

Datapoints: Chronic disease prevalence (diabetes, obesity, asthma, COPD, heart disease, cancer); Health risk behaviors (smoking, physical inactivity, binge drinking); Preventive service use (cancer screening, dental visits, checkups); Health status measures (mental/physical health, disability); Health-related social needs measures; County, place, census-tract, and ZCTA-level estimates

BRFSS Questionnaires (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

Archive of BRFSS survey questionnaires (core, rotating, optional modules, state-added questions) spanning 1984-2024, the nation's premier system of state-level behavioral health and risk-factor surveillance, including SDOH and food/housing security modules.

Datapoints: English questionnaires 1984-2023; Spanish 1997-2020; Optional modules by state and category 1998-2024; Core, rotating, and emerging health topics; Health behaviors, chronic disease, demographic characteristics; Historical questions searchable database

CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention / ATSDRUSDA & federal food security data

Index using 16 U.S. Census/ACS variables across four themes to identify communities likely to need support before, during, and after disasters or other stressors. Available as downloadable data and an interactive map at county and tract level.

Datapoints: Overall SVI percentile by tract; Socioeconomic status theme; Housing type and transportation theme; Household composition and disability theme; Household characteristics theme (age, disability, single-parent, English proficiency); Racial & ethnic minority status theme; Housing type & transportation theme (crowding, no vehicle, group quarters, mobile homes); Overall SVI percentile rank by county/tract

CMS Informational Bulletin: Coverage of Services to Address HRSN in Medicaid and CHIP (Nov 16, 2023)

primary-govnationalguidelineCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)USDA & federal food security data

CMS Informational Bulletin establishing the federal framework and standards for state coverage of services and supports addressing health-related social needs (housing, nutrition) in Medicaid and CHIP through Section 1115 demonstrations and other authorities.

Datapoints: HRSN service categories and approval authorities; Section 1115 vs in-lieu-of-services pathways; housing and nutrition support standards; infrastructure and operational requirements

CMS Office of Minority Health (OMH)

primary-govnationalorg-hubCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)USDA & federal food security data

CMS Office of Minority Health hub providing data, tools, and reports on health disparities and equity among Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP populations, including SDOH and race/ethnicity stratified measures.

Datapoints: health disparity reports by race/ethnicity; Mapping Medicare Disparities tool; equity-focused quality measures; SDOH and rural health resources

Coverage of Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Services in Medicaid — Coverage Table

primary-govnationalguidelineCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)USDA & federal food security data

CMS coverage table accompanying its November 2023 HRSN framework, listing the specific housing, nutrition, and case-management interventions states may cover in Medicaid, the approval pathways, and the room-and-board/duration limits.

Datapoints: allowable HRSN interventions (housing, nutrition, case management); four federal approval pathways/authorities; rent/utilities coverage up to 6 months; meal support up to 3 meals/day for up to 6 months; room-and-board restrictions and eligibility (homeless/at-risk per HUD 24 CFR 91.5)

Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstrations

primary-govnationalorg-hubCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)USDA & federal food security data

Federal hub for Section 1115 demonstration waivers, the authority states use to pilot Medicaid coverage of health-related social needs such as transitional housing and nutrition services.

Datapoints: Up to 6 months of transitional housing (including rent) coverage; Up to 6 months of nutrition services (medically tailored meals, food boxes); State-by-state demonstration approvals and applications; Health-related social needs (HRSN) framework

Medicaid TMSIS Blog: Social Determinants of Health Z-Code Reporting

primary-govnationalarticleCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)USDA & federal food security data

CMS Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) blog post on reporting and analyzing social-determinant-of-health Z codes in Medicaid claims data.

Datapoints: SDOH Z-code reporting in T-MSIS Medicaid claims; State-level Z-code data completeness/quality notes

CMS Accountable Health Communities Model (AHCM)

primary-govnationalreportCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Center for Medicare and Medicaid InnovationUSDA & federal food security data

CMS Innovation Center model (2017-2023) testing whether systematically screening and navigating Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries for health-related social needs affects health and total cost of care; source of the widely used AHC HRSN screening tool.

Datapoints: 10-question AHC HRSN screening tool across 5 core domains; Core HRSNs: housing instability, food insecurity, transportation, utilities, interpersonal safety; 28 participating organizations (as of April 2022); Performance period May 2017 - April 2023; Beneficiary-level screening/navigation research file (RIF)

Section 1115 Demonstration and Waiver List

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicaid.govUSDA & federal food security data

CMS official list of approved, pending, and expired Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers by state, including waivers that test health-related social needs interventions such as housing and nutrition supports.

Datapoints: approved/pending/expired waivers by state; demonstration scope and authorities; HRSN-related demonstrations; effective dates and renewal status

Housing and Caregiver/Child Health in Renter Families (HVS White Paper)

primary-academicnationalreportChildren's HealthWatchUSDA & federal food security data

White paper from the Housing Vulnerability Study examining how unstable, unaffordable, or poor-quality housing affects the health of caregivers and young children in renter families. Quantifies the avoidable health and education costs of housing instability.

Datapoints: Estimated $111 billion in avoidable health and education costs over 10 years from unstable housing among families with children; Hospitalization risk among infants in food-insecure families with vs. without rental assistance; Housing cost burden, crowding, and frequent moves linked to child and caregiver health outcomes; Behind-on-rent indicators and maternal depression rates; Prevalence of housing insecurity dimensions among renter families with young children; Associations between housing instability and child/caregiver fair-or-poor health; Associations with developmental risk and caregiver depressive symptoms

The Hunger Vital Sign — Validated 2-Question Food Insecurity Screener

primary-academicnationaltoolChildren's HealthWatchUSDA & federal food security data

A free, validated 2-item screener (derived from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module) used in pediatric and clinical settings to identify households at risk of food insecurity; endorsed by AAP, AHA, and Feeding America.

Datapoints: 97% sensitivity / 83% specificity; two screening questions; validated in 30,000-caregiver sample; AAP universal-screening recommendation; Two screening statements (food running out; food didn't last); 97% sensitivity for identifying food-insecure families (validated on ~30,000 caregivers); Positive if either item 'often/sometimes true'; No fee or license required

Children's HealthWatch: Food Insecurity and SNAP Fact Sheets

primary-academicnationalreportChildren's HealthWatch (Boston Medical Center)USDA & federal food security data

Downloadable national and site-level (Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Little Rock) fact sheets linking SNAP participation and policy changes to food insecurity among families with young children.

Datapoints: ~25% of households in the 2025 dataset experienced food insecurity; SNAP participation trends among families with young children pre/post pandemic; Effect of July 2025 SNAP changes (H.R.1) on eligible-family participation; Site-level data for Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Little Rock

Children's HealthWatch: Food Insecurity Data Snapshot

primary-academicnationalreportChildren's HealthWatch (Boston Medical Center)USDA & federal food security data

Data snapshot from Children's HealthWatch's 'Democratizing Our Data' initiative summarizing the organization's longitudinal research on household and child food insecurity and its health consequences.

Datapoints: Household food insecurity prevalence among families with young children; Association of food insecurity with child and caregiver health outcomes; Trends drawn from 27 years of sentinel survey data at hospital sites

Hunger Vital Sign & Food Is Medicine (Children's HealthWatch)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubChildren's HealthWatch (Boston Medical Center)USDA & federal food security data

Research-organization hub on the Hunger Vital Sign, a validated two-question food-insecurity screening tool, and the link between food insecurity, poverty, and child health outcomes. Provides policy briefs and peer-reviewed publications on nutrition, housing, and health.

Datapoints: Hunger Vital Sign two-question screening tool; AAP recommendation to screen all children for food insecurity; research linking food insecurity/poverty to adverse child health outcomes; Hunger Vital Sign two-question screen; American Academy of Pediatrics food-insecurity screening recommendation; Food insecurity to health/poverty linkage

Hunger Vital Sign (2-Question Food Insecurity Screener)

primary-academicnationaltoolChildren's HealthWatch (Boston Medical Center)USDA & federal food security data

A validated 2-question food-insecurity screener derived from the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, identifying households at risk based on worry about food running out and food not lasting. Free to use; adopted by AAP and CMS's Accountable Health Communities tool.

Datapoints: Two validated screening questions (food running out; inability to afford balanced meals) with often/sometimes/never-true response scale; Positive screen threshold (affirmative response to either item); Validation across families with young children, youth/adolescents (2015), and adults (2017); Two-item food insecurity screen (sensitivity/specificity validated); Validated for families with young children (2010), youth (2015), adults (2017); Risk flag if 'often/sometimes true' to either item

3.5M+ lose food stamp access as bill cuts take effect

othernationalarticleCNBCUSDA & federal food security data

Reporting on federal SNAP cuts taking effect, estimating at least 3.5 million people losing food-stamp access, with the legislative work-requirement changes driving the drop.

Datapoints: At least 3.5M people lose SNAP access; Federal SNAP work-requirement and eligibility cuts

Collateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC)

othernationalorg-hubCollateral Consequences Resource CenterUSDA & federal food security data

Free legal-resource hub documenting how criminal convictions create lasting barriers to employment, housing, public benefits, and civil rights, and how laws restore those opportunities. Anchors the Restoration of Rights Project and topic commentary on government benefits and housing.

Datapoints: Commentary organized by consequence type (housing, government benefits, employment, voting); Annual 'Criminal Record Reforms Enacted' report series (since 2013); Practice manuals and model laws for reentry advocates

Accessing SNAP and TANF Benefits After a Drug Conviction: A Survey of State Laws

othernationalreportCollateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive 50-state survey (Dec 2023) of how each state treats the federal lifetime ban on SNAP and TANF after a drug conviction, with maps showing full opt-outs, modifications, and remaining bans. The leading national reference on benefit eligibility after a drug felony.

Datapoints: 25 states + DC fully opted out of both SNAP and TANF bans; South Carolina maintains complete bans on both programs; 14 states modified both bans; 6 modified SNAP but kept full TANF ban; Five categories of modified-ban conditions (sentence completion, treatment/testing, offense severity, waiting periods, combined); As of Dec 2023, 25 states + D.C. fully opted out of both bans; 24 states maintain modified bans (drug testing, treatment, supervision conditions); South Carolina is the only state maintaining complete bans; Eight states reformed since 2020; Pennsylvania moved backward (2019); State-by-state SNAP drug-felony ban status; State-by-state TANF drug-felony ban status; Conditions and waivers attached to modified bans

The Community Guide (Guide to Community Preventive Services)

othernationalguidelineCommunity Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) / CDCUSDA & federal food security data

Collection of evidence-based recommendations from systematic reviews of effectiveness and economic impact across health topics, including Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition, used by decision-makers to identify 'what works' for health.

Datapoints: systematic-review recommendations by health topic; social determinants of health interventions; nutrition and physical activity interventions; economic / cost-effectiveness evidence

Congressional Research Service — 2025 SNAP changes (P.L. 119-21, R48552)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

CRS analysis of the SNAP provisions in the July 4 2025 reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21), described as the largest SNAP cuts in program history. Volatile/legislative; re-verify before reuse.

Datapoints: ~$186B reduction in federal SNAP funding through 2034 (~20%); First-ever state benefit cost-share of 5-15%; +25% state admin costs from Oct 2026; Work requirements widened (ABAWD age to 64; parents of children over 14; removed exemptions for veterans, former foster youth, homeless individuals); future benefit growth capped to CPI

Cornell Legal Information Institute (LII) — U.S. Code

primary-academicnationalguidelineCornell Law School, Legal Information InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

Free authoritative full text of the U.S. Code, CFR, Constitution, and court rules. The cited section, 21 U.S.C. 862a, governs the federal SNAP/TANF ban for individuals with drug-related felony convictions (with state opt-out), a key benefits-eligibility statute affecting food security and reentry.

Datapoints: 21 USC 862a: SNAP/TANF drug-felony ban and state opt-out; full U.S. Code and CFR full text; no-fee public legal reference

Cornell Center for Social Sciences (CCSS) Data Resources - Kilts-Nielsen Marketing Data

primary-govnationaldatasetCornell University, Center for Social Sciences (CCSS / formerly CISER)USDA & federal food security data

CCSS hub page documenting access to the restricted Kilts-Nielsen consumer panel and retail-scanner data, a leading source for household food-purchasing behavior and food-price research, plus pointers to Cornell's broader regulated-research data infrastructure.

Datapoints: Consumer Panel: 40,000-60,000 households, ~1.4 million UPCs, annual surveys since 2004; Retail Scanner: weekly price/volume from 35,000-50,000 stores, 2.6-4.5 million UPCs, since 2006; Ad Intel advertising-occurrence data across media; Access via Cornell's Regulated Research Environment with project approval

EveryCRSReport.com

othernationalreportDemand Progress / Congressional Data Coalition (republishing Congressional Research Service reports)USDA & federal food security data

Free public archive of 23,000+ nonpartisan Congressional Research Service reports, fully searchable and browsable, covering housing, SNAP and food assistance, poverty, minimum wage, TANF, and child nutrition.

Datapoints: 23,274 CRS reports; Domestic Social Policy: 2,214 reports; Economic Policy: 4,525 reports; Health Policy: 1,419 reports; bulk download available

Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

primary-govnationalreportDietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (USDA/HHS)USDA & federal food security data

The independent expert committee's evidence review that informs the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It synthesizes the peer-reviewed nutrition science (including socioeconomic and food-security context) that underpins federal nutrition program standards.

Datapoints: Systematic reviews of diet-health relationships across the lifespan; Analyses informing nutrient and food-group recommendations used by SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs; Public-facing report and supporting protocols available for download

EPI Family Budget Calculator

established-research-orgnationaltoolEconomic Policy InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive tool estimating the income a family needs to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living, by family type and by U.S. county and metro area. A widely cited cost-of-living benchmark above the federal poverty line (host returns 403 to automated fetchers but is a live, working public tool).

Datapoints: Monthly cost of housing, food, child care, health care, transportation, taxes; Family budget by county/metro for 10 family types; Income adequacy thresholds; monthly budget for 10 family types; seven components (housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, taxes, other necessities); county- and metro-level estimates; comparison to federal poverty line and SPM; budgets for 10 family types; ~3,000+ counties and metro areas; components: housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, other necessities; income needed for a modest standard of living; Budgets cover housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities; Available for 10 family compositions across all U.S. counties and metro areas; Provides a county-level basic family budget for Buncombe County / Asheville, NC; Monthly/annual family budgets for housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, other necessities, and taxes; Estimates for all U.S. counties and metro areas; 10 family types (1-2 adults, 0-4 children); Downloadable dataset; Seven budget components: housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, taxes, other necessities; Coverage of all 3,143 U.S. counties/county-equivalents and 613 HUD FMR metro areas; Monthly income needed for a modest adequate living standard; Comparison of up to three locations; monthly/annual family budgets for 3,143 counties and 613 metro areas; Family budgets for 3,143 counties and 613 metro areas; Seven budget components; Inflated to current-year dollars

EPI Productivity-Pay Gap

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive series comparing economy-wide labor productivity against the hourly compensation of typical (production/nonsupervisory) workers since 1948, documenting the growing gap between output growth and worker pay.

Datapoints: 2024: productivity index 398.2 vs typical-worker compensation 242.9 (1948 = 100); Demonstrates decoupling of pay from productivity since the 1970s

EPI Wage Disparities collection

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive series quantifying U.S. wage gaps – Black-white, Hispanic-white, and gender pay gaps, the college wage premium, and CEO-to-worker pay ratios – relevant to understanding structural drivers of economic insecurity.

Datapoints: Black-white and Hispanic-white wage gaps; Gender wage gap; College wage premium; CEO-to-worker pay ratio; teacher wage gap

Using Household Fit Indices to Examine the Psychometric Quality of Food Insecurity Measures

primary-govnationalarticleEducational and Psychological MeasurementUSDA & federal food security data

Methodological study of measurement quality in the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module across 7,324 low-income households.

Datapoints: 6.73%-21.33% of households showed significant measurement misfit; Higher misfit among male respondents, lower-education, and non-SNAP households

Enterprise Community Partners - 2024 Social Return on Investment Report

established-research-orgnationalreportEnterprise Community PartnersUSDA & federal food security data

Social Return on Investment report quantifying the impact of preserving affordable housing through Enterprise's first Preservation Equity fund (2013-2024), with unit-preservation totals and community case studies. Useful evidence on the cost-effectiveness of preservation versus new construction.

Datapoints: Nearly 2,500 affordable homes preserved across 11 communities; Case studies: Reserve at Northglenn (Denver), Winton Manor (Cleveland), Bridge at Volente (Austin); Financial returns to mission-driven equity investors; Preservation cost-effectiveness framing

Preserving Affordability, Preventing Displacement

established-research-orgnationalreportEnterprise Community PartnersUSDA & federal food security data

Enterprise Community Partners report on strategies and policy tools to preserve affordable rental housing and prevent the displacement of low-income residents in changing markets.

Datapoints: Affordable-housing preservation strategies; Anti-displacement policy tools; Expiring affordability / at-risk units framing; Tenant protection and acquisition approaches

The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge: The Power of Innovation (Full Report)

established-research-orgnationalreportEnterprise Community Partners (with Wells Fargo Foundation)USDA & federal food security data

Report on the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge documenting innovative affordable-housing solutions selected from ~900 proposals, including health-housing integration, trauma-informed housing, and modular construction.

Datapoints: Six funded innovation teams ($2.5M each); Health-and-housing integration models; Trauma-informed housing approaches; Modular/construction-cost innovations; Participatory evaluation findings

Farm Bill Law Enterprise: Food Access for the Formerly Incarcerated

othernationalreportFarm Bill Law Enterprise (academic law-school consortium)USDA & federal food security data

Analysis from the Farm Bill Law Enterprise, a consortium of university law schools, on barriers to SNAP and food access for formerly incarcerated people, including the federal drug-felony SNAP/TANF ban and reentry food-security policy. (Host returns HTTP 500 to automated fetchers; entry retained from the citation record.)

Datapoints: SNAP/TANF drug-felony ban and its food-access effects; Reentry food security policy recommendations; Farm Bill nutrition-title reform proposals

Farm Bill Law Enterprise (SNAP & nutrition)

othernationalorg-hubFarm Bill Law Enterprise (academic legal coalition)USDA & federal food security data

Coalition of academic legal experts producing analysis and recommendations on the Farm Bill, including SNAP, nutrition, and food access for vulnerable groups such as the formerly incarcerated.

Datapoints: SNAP policy recommendations; Farm Bill nutrition title analysis; food access for formerly incarcerated (drug-felony ban); anti-hunger legal reform

FHFA House Price Index Calculator

primary-govnationaltoolFederal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive calculator that estimates what a home purchased at a given time would be worth today based on the average appreciation rate for the area, drawn from the FHFA House Price Index. Covers national, state, metro, county, ZIP, and tract levels.

Datapoints: Estimated current home value from purchase price and date; Average area appreciation rate (nominal, not inflation-adjusted); House price trends back to mid-1970s across all 50 states and 400+ cities

Home Ownership Affordability Monitor (HOAM) Interactive Tool

othernationaldashboardFederal Reserve Bank of AtlantaUSDA & federal food security data

The interactive Tableau dashboard backing the Atlanta Fed HOAM, allowing users to explore the homeownership affordability index and its cost components across U.S. metros and counties over time.

Datapoints: Interactive HOAM index by metro/county; Time series of affordability; Cost-component breakdown (P&I, taxes, insurance, PMI)

Termination of SNAP Emergency Allotments: Food Sufficiency and Economic Hardships (FEDS WP 2023-46)

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Board (Finance and Economics Discussion Series)USDA & federal food security data

Federal Reserve working paper measuring how the 2023 end of pandemic SNAP Emergency Allotments reduced food sufficiency and raised economic hardship. Evidence that food insecurity is elastic to benefit levels.

Datapoints: Ending SNAP Emergency Allotments followed by measurable drop in food sufficiency; Rise in difficulty paying household bills; Food insecurity is highly elastic to benefit levels; Measurable drop in food sufficiency after EA termination; Food insecurity is elastic to benefit levels; Measured drop in food sufficiency after EA termination; Benefit-cut elasticity of hunger

Feeding America

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubFeeding AmericaUSDA & federal food security data

National hunger-relief network of 200+ food banks and the publisher of Map the Meal Gap and a suite of food-insecurity research reports and a food-bank locator.

Datapoints: 48 million people facing hunger in the U.S., including 14 million children; 5.7 billion meals distributed; 4.3 billion pounds of food rescued; Map the Meal Gap county/congressional-district food-insecurity estimates; Senior hunger, race/ethnicity, rural, and child food-insecurity research; Food-bank and SNAP locator tools

Feeding America — SNAP impact and the charitable food network

established-research-orgnationalarticleFeeding AmericaUSDA & federal food security data

Feeding America's national framing of SNAP's role relative to charity. Source for the SNAP-to-charity ratio used to argue food banks cannot backfill SNAP cuts, and the SNAP economic multiplier.

Datapoints: 9 meals from SNAP for every 1 meal from the charitable food network (do not invert); Every $1 in SNAP generates ~$1.50 in economic activity

Map the Meal Gap Technical Brief

established-research-orgnationalreportFeeding AmericaUSDA & federal food security data

Methodology document describing how Map the Meal Gap derives county- and district-level food insecurity and meal-cost estimates from USDA food security data, ACS, and food price data.

Datapoints: Statistical model linking food insecurity to poverty, unemployment, and demographics; Meal cost / cost-of-food methodology; County and congressional-district estimation approach

First Nations FDPIR & Native Nutrition Resources

othernationaltoolFirst Nations Development InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

Knowledge hub of publications, toolkits, recipes, videos, and webinars on Native American food sovereignty, food systems, economic development, and Native economic justice. Authoritative source on food insecurity and food systems in tribal communities.

Datapoints: Cooking healthier with FDPIR commodity foods; Nutrition Education for Native Communities project outcomes; Fact Sheet #9: Commodity Foods and SNAP; Traditional-foods recipes (blue corn mush, outdoor cooking); Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments program; Food sovereignty toolkits and assessment instruments; Native economic justice research and advocacy; Native Agriculture and Food Systems publications; Research and advocacy for Native economic justice; Reports on Native food sovereignty, nutrition, and hunger

First Nations Native Agriculture and Food Systems / Food Sovereignty Program

othernationalorg-hubFirst Nations Development InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

First Nations' food-sovereignty program hub funding and supporting Native food systems, including Native Food Sovereignty Grants, Native Farm to School, the Native Food Pantry Initiative, and the Tribal Food Systems Research Fellowship. The leading Native-led grantmaker and research source on tribal food security.

Datapoints: Native Food Sovereignty Grants to tribes and Native nonprofits; Native Food Pantry Initiative and Farm to School programs; Tribal Food Systems Research Fellowship; Indigenous Food Systems Community of Practice

Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubFood Research & Action CenterUSDA & federal food security data

National anti-hunger research and advocacy organization producing SNAP/hunger research, fact sheets, and one-pagers. Strong topic and format overlap on food insecurity; more advocacy-leaning.

Datapoints: SNAP participation research; hunger fact sheets and one-pagers; SNAP and hunger research and fact sheets; Corroborates USDA food-insecurity trend; SNAP participation and benefit-adequacy data; National and state hunger fact sheets; School-meal and federal nutrition-program statistics

Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) Data & Reports

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubFood Research & Action CenterUSDA & federal food security data

Authoritative anti-hunger research hub that synthesizes USDA, Census, and program data into state profiles, SNAP/school-meal participation reports, and food-hardship trackers.

Datapoints: state food hardship rates; SNAP and school meal participation gaps; summer nutrition reach; WIC coverage; food insecurity policy analysis; School meals, summer meals, SNAP, WIC participation reports; Resource library and interactive data tools; Mapping tools and policy fact sheets

Creating a State or Local School Breakfast Report (tool)

established-research-orgnationaltoolFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)USDA & federal food security data

FRAC instructional guide and template enabling advocates to build state- or local-level school breakfast participation reports, including breakfast-to-lunch ratios and federal dollars lost to low participation.

Datapoints: Low-income children receiving breakfast per 100 receiving lunch (by school/district); Breakfast-to-lunch participation ratios ranked; Federal dollars lost through low breakfast participation; Free, reduced-price, and paid meal participation by district

FRAC - Senior Hunger in the United States (Fact Sheet)

established-research-orgnationalreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)USDA & federal food security data

Fact sheet summarizing food insecurity among older adults in the U.S., with national prevalence figures and the consequences of senior hunger, drawing on USDA and federal survey data.

Datapoints: national food-insecurity rate among seniors (65+); marginal/very-low food security among older adults; health and nutrition consequences of senior hunger; SNAP participation gaps among eligible seniors

FRAC School Breakfast Reach Report 2024 (School Year 2022-2023)

established-research-orgnationalreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)USDA & federal food security data

FRAC's annual analysis of national and state-level school breakfast and lunch participation, tracking how children's access to free/reduced-price meals shifted after pandemic-era universal meal waivers expired.

Datapoints: ~14.3 million children in daily school breakfast; 11.3 million free/reduced-price; ~28.1 million children in daily school lunch; ~19.7 million subsidized; School breakfast participation down ~1.2 million (7.7%) year over year; School lunch participation down ~1.8 million (6%) year over year; 14.3 million children in school breakfast on an average day (11.3M free/reduced-price); 28.1 million children in school lunch on an average day (19.7M free/reduced-price); Breakfast-to-lunch participation ratio (50.9 per 100); Year-over-year participation change by state; Effect of Healthy School Meals for All policies

Older Adult SNAP Primer

established-research-orgnationalreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)USDA & federal food security data

FRAC primer on food insecurity and SNAP among older adults, covering eligibility, participation gaps, and demographic disparities.

Datapoints: Senior food insecurity rates and disparities (2018-2020 data); Older-adult SNAP eligibility and participation gaps; State-level breakdowns

SNAP Map: SNAP Matters to Seniors

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive state-by-state map and table showing SNAP participation among eligible seniors versus the overall eligible population, with downloadable state fact sheets.

Datapoints: Only ~42% of eligible seniors (60+) use SNAP each month vs. 83% of all eligible people; State-by-state senior SNAP participation rates; State fact sheets

The State of Healthy School Meals for All

established-research-orgnationalreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)USDA & federal food security data

FRAC report comparing school meal participation in the five states (CA, ME, MA, NV, VT) that adopted universal Healthy School Meals for All policies, against a pre-pandemic 2018-2019 baseline.

Datapoints: School lunch participation change in all five universal-meal states; School breakfast participation change (rose in 4 of 5 states); Comparison of 2018-2019 vs 2022-2023 school years; Federal legislative proposals for universal school meals

SNAP Participation Lags Among Eligible Seniors in Every State

established-research-orgnationalreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC) and AARP FoundationUSDA & federal food security data

FRAC/AARP Foundation analysis showing that roughly three in five eligible older adults miss out on SNAP each month, with state-by-state participation rates highlighting underutilization among seniors age 60+.

Datapoints: ~40% national SNAP participation rate among eligible adults 60+ (3 in 5 eligible seniors not participating); Highest state participation: New York at 70%; Lowest state participation: California (19%) and Wyoming (20%); Links underuse to elevated risk of diabetes, hypertension, and depression among seniors

Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies — State of the Nation's Housing 2026

primary-academicnationalreportHarvard Joint Center for Housing StudiesUSDA & federal food security data

Harvard JCHS flagship annual report on U.S. housing, the primary source for the 2026 demand-decline thesis: slowing household growth (1.1M in 2025), declining homeownership (65.2%), record cost-burdened renters (22.7M / 49%), and a 30%+ loss of sub-$1,000 rentals over 2014-2024.

Datapoints: household growth 1.1M in 2025 (3rd consecutive slowdown from ~2.0M/yr 2021 peak); net international migration -50% in 2025; projected ~321K in 2026; homeownership rate 65.2%; under-35 at 37%; record 22.7M cost-burdened renters (49%); 12.1M severely burdened (26%); ~7M sub-$1,000 rentals lost 2014-2024; Household growth 1.1M (2025), third consecutive slowdown; Record 22.7M cost-burdened renters (49%); 12.1M severely burdened (26%); Sub-$1,000 rentals down 30%+ (~7M units lost), 2014-2024; Home prices fell YoY in 41 of 100 largest metros (Feb 2026); Household growth 1.1M in 2025 (3rd consecutive slowdown); Homeownership rate 65.2%; under-35 at 37%; Record 22.7M cost-burdened renters (49%); severe 12.1M (26%); Household growth 1.1M (2025); 3rd consecutive slowdown; Record 22.7M cost-burdened renters (49%); 12.1M severe; 20.7M cost-burdened owners; ~7M sub-$1,000 rentals lost 2014-2024; 1 in 4 very-low-income households assisted; 13.8M eligible unassisted; 58% of older renters and 43% of older homeowners with a mortgage were cost-burdened in 2023; ~11.2 million cost-burdened older adults in 2021 (up from 9.7M in 2016); National rental vacancy rose from a record-low 5.9% (2022) to 7.3% (Q1 2026); for-sale vacancy 0.81% to 1.13%; National asking rents fell ~0.6% year over year by late 2025, first decline since 2021; ~77% of older adults want to age in place at home; Cost-burdened renter and owner households; Housing supply and construction trends; Rent and home-price affordability indicators

Health Affairs study on SNAP emergency allotment expiration (Richterman et al., 2024)

primary-academicnationalreportHealth AffairsUSDA & federal food security data

Quasi-experimental study using Census Household Pulse Survey data measuring the effect of the March 2023 end of pandemic SNAP emergency allotments on food hardship.

Datapoints: Expiration associated with an 8.4-point rise in food insufficiency among SNAP participants; 2.1-point rise in food-pantry use; 2.0-point rise in difficulty paying expenses; UPenn researchers estimated ~2 million additional Americans experiencing food insufficiency nationally; Corroborated by Federal Reserve working paper FEDS 2023-46

Richterman et al. — Emergency Allotment termination and food insufficiency (Health Affairs)

primary-academicnationalarticleHealth Affairs (Oct 2024)USDA & federal food security data

Quasi-experimental (difference-in-differences) study of the March 2023 termination of pandemic SNAP Emergency Allotments and its association with food insufficiency among SNAP participants. Use 'associated with', not causal.

Datapoints: Emergency Allotments added $95-$250+/month; ended March 2023 in 35 states; EA expiration associated with a +8.4 percentage-point rise in food insufficiency among SNAP participants; ~2M more Americans food-insufficient nationally (Penn LDI/FRAC extrapolation)

Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes

primary-govnationalarticleHealth Affairs (Project HOPE)USDA & federal food security data

Review documenting the bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and poor health outcomes and the mitigating role of SNAP.

Datapoints: ~50 million Americans food insecure; Food-insecure children ~2x likelihood of poor health and 40% higher asthma rates; SNAP reduces food insecurity and its health consequences

HRSA Uniform Data System (UDS)

primary-govnationaldatasetHealth Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. HHSUSDA & federal food security data

Annual reporting system for HRSA-funded health centers capturing patient demographics, services, clinical outcomes, and social-need indicators (including income relative to poverty and insurance status) for medically underserved and low-income populations.

Datapoints: Health center patients by income vs. federal poverty level; Patient demographics, insurance, and clinical outcomes; Service-area and uninsured patient counts; ~1,400 reporting health centers; 32.4 million patients served annually; patient demographics, income, insurance status; clinical quality and utilization measures; ~1,400 health centers reporting; ~32.4 million patients served annually; Patient demographics, payer mix, and service utilization including Health Care for the Homeless grantees

Housing Assistance Council - USDA Rural Housing Information & Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetHousing Assistance Council (HAC)USDA & federal food security data

HAC's compilation of USDA Rural Development housing program data, including annual and historic program obligations and multifamily (Section 515/514/521) occupancy and rental-assistance data.

Datapoints: USDA-RD annual program obligations by state and nationally; Historic funds obligated since program inception; Section 515 rural rental and Section 514 farm labor housing properties; Section 521 rental assistance demographics (since FY2013); USDA rural eligibility area data

The Rural Data Portal

othernationaldatasetHousing Assistance Council (HAC)USDA & federal food security data

Searchable portal providing data on rural people, poverty, and housing for the nation, states, counties, and rural-specific geographies, drawn from Census, ACS, and HUD/USDA sources.

Datapoints: rural housing characteristics; poverty rates; cost burden; population and demographics; by state and county

IPUMS CPS Food Security Supplement Variables

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS / Minnesota Population Center, University of MinnesotaUSDA & federal food security data

Harmonized person- and household-level food security variables drawn from the CPS Food Security Supplement, accessible as integrated microdata for longitudinal food insecurity research.

Datapoints: Household food security status / scale; Food Security Supplement person weight (FSSUPPWT); Food spending, adequacy, and assistance utilization items; Available across CPS-FSS sample years (1995-present)

IPUMS CPS (Current Population Survey microdata)

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS, University of MinnesotaUSDA & federal food security data

Harmonized microdata from the U.S. Current Population Survey (1962-present), including the ASEC poverty/income supplement and the Food Security Supplement, for custom extracts on income, poverty, and food insecurity.

Datapoints: CPS Food Security Supplement microdata; ASEC income and poverty estimates; program participation (SNAP, public assistance) variables; harmonized demographic and employment series back to 1962

ipumsr R package

primary-academicnationaltoolIPUMS, University of MinnesotaUSDA & federal food security data

R client package for defining, submitting, and reading IPUMS data extracts via the IPUMS API, with helpers for microdata, aggregate data, and shapefiles.

Datapoints: read_ipums_micro() for microdata; read_ipums_agg() for aggregate data; API extract definition and submission from R; Shapefile reading into sf objects

USDA SNAP economic / multiplier and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health SNAP analysis

primary-academicnationalarticleJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthUSDA & federal food security data

Johns Hopkins public-health analysis citing USDA SNAP scale data. Used as a corroborating source for national SNAP participation.

Datapoints: ~41.7M people/month on SNAP (~1 in 8 Americans), FY2024

KFF Medicaid Waiver Tracker: Approved and Pending Section 1115 Waivers by State

established-research-orgnationaldashboardKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive tracker of approved and pending Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers by state, including waivers addressing health-related social needs such as housing, food security, and transportation.

Datapoints: Eligibility, benefit, SDOH, and work-requirement waiver categories by state; Pre-release coverage approvals (19 states under Biden era); Multi-year continuous eligibility for children (9 states); State-by-state maps of waiver activity

KFF: Section 1115 Waiver Watch - Recent Approvals to Address Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN)

established-research-orgnationalarticleKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)USDA & federal food security data

Analysis of CMS approvals of Section 1115 waivers covering health-related social needs, summarizing the covered services (housing, food, recuperative care), target populations, financing caps, and approved states.

Datapoints: 8 states approved under the HRSN framework as of Feb 2024; Housing support up to 6 months; meals up to 6 months; HRSN expenditures capped at 3% of total Medicaid spending; infrastructure 15%; Provider rate floor at 80% of Medicare for primary/behavioral/OB care; Target populations: homelessness, SMI/SUD, high-risk pregnancy, youth transitions

MIT Living Wage Calculator

primary-academicnationaltoolMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive calculator estimating the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to cover the basic costs of a family's needs in any U.S. county, metro, or state. Covers household types of one or two adults with zero to three children.

Datapoints: Living wage by family type and county; Basic-needs budget components; Comparison to minimum wage and poverty wage; Typical local expenses; living wage by family type; poverty wage; minimum wage; typical annual expenses by category (food, child care, medical, housing, transportation, civic, internet & mobile, other); typical annual salaries by occupation

Mathematica Food Security and Hunger Research

established-research-orgnationalreportMathematicaUSDA & federal food security data

Policy-research hub of Mathematica, a leading evaluator of food security and nutrition-assistance programs, including national surveys of the emergency food system (food banks, pantries, shelters) and impact studies of SNAP, WIC, and child nutrition programs.

Datapoints: National emergency-food-system surveys (food banks/pantries); WIC access and food insecurity studies; SNAP and child-nutrition program impact evaluations

Toward an Economic Fair Housing Act

othernationalarticleMichigan Law Review (Nat Jordan)USDA & federal food security data

Law review article (Feb 2025) proposing income/economic status as a protected class under the Fair Housing Act to challenge exclusionary zoning. Analyzes disparate treatment, disparate impact, and segregative-effect theories and offers model legislative language.

Datapoints: Moving to Opportunity: children who moved earned ~31% more over lifetimes; Relaxing zoning in NY/SF/San Jose to median-city levels could raise GDP 8.9% (~$1.2 trillion); Three FHA legal theories applied to economic exclusion; State models: Mount Laurel doctrine (NJ), Massachusetts zoning reforms

Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Research & Economics

othernationalreportMortgage Bankers AssociationUSDA & federal food security data

MBA's research division publishes authoritative mortgage-market surveys and forecasts, including delinquency and foreclosure data and weekly application activity, directly relevant to housing-payment distress. (Host blocks automated fetch; canonical product pages are reachable in a browser.)

Datapoints: National Delinquency Survey (mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates); Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey; Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI); Mortgage Finance Forecast; forbearance/loan-monitoring data; National Delinquency Survey: ~40 million first-lien loans; national, regional, and state delinquency/foreclosure rates; Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey: purchase and refinance application indexes since 1990; Mortgage Finance Forecast (origination volume, rates); Commercial/Multifamily mortgage data and Chart of the Week

NACo County Explorer

othernationalinteractive-mapNational Association of Counties (NACo)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive county-level data and mapping tool providing standardized snapshots across U.S. counties on demographics, economy, health and human services, infrastructure, and finance. Enables county-by-county comparison and downloadable datasets, including poverty, household income, unemployment, and health-insurance coverage.

Datapoints: County poverty levels; Household income and GDP by county; Unemployment rate and labor force; Health insurance coverage rates; Census 2020 demographics, broadband access, federal funding allocations

National Association of FDPIR (NAFDPIR) / Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

othernationalorg-hubNational Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian ReservationsUSDA & federal food security data

NAFDPIR is the national association of tribal and state agencies that administer FDPIR, the USDA program providing monthly USDA Foods packages to income-eligible Native American households on and near reservations as an alternative to SNAP, a key tribal food-security resource.

Datapoints: FDPIR FY2023 average monthly participation ~49,339 individuals; FY2024 estimated average monthly participation ~53,277 individuals; 110 administering agencies (107 ITOs + 3 state agencies); serves ~278 federally recognized Tribes; Partners with First Nations Development Institute on Native nutrition education

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)

othernationaldashboardNational Association of Home Builders (NAHB) with Wells FargoUSDA & federal food security data

Monthly index gauging single-family homebuilder confidence on a 0-100 scale, a leading indicator of new-home construction activity and market sentiment.

Datapoints: Builder confidence index (0-100; >50 = optimism); Component: current single-family sales conditions; Component: expected sales next six months; Component: prospective buyer traffic; Share of builders cutting prices and average price reduction; Regional breakdowns

Long Run Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net (NBER w18535)

primary-academicnationalarticleNational Bureau of Economic ResearchUSDA & federal food security data

Hoynes, Schanzenbach, and Almond study exploiting the county-by-county rollout of the Food Stamp Program (1961-1975) to measure long-term health and economic effects of childhood safety-net access.

Datapoints: Childhood food stamp access significantly reduced adult metabolic syndrome (obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes); Increased economic self-sufficiency for women; Effects measured decades after exposure

Is the Social Safety Net a Long-Term Investment? Evidence from Food Stamps (Hoynes et al.)

primary-academicnationalreportNational Bureau of Economic Research (Bailey, Hoynes, Rossin-Slater, Walker)USDA & federal food security data

Large-scale study using the county-by-county 1961-1975 rollout of food stamps to estimate long-run adult effects of childhood SNAP access on health, economic self-sufficiency, and longevity. Foundational SNAP cost-benefit evidence.

Datapoints: adult human-capital gains from childhood access; longevity increase; reduced incarceration; improved economic self-sufficiency

NAEP Data Explorer (NDE Core)

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive tool to build custom statistical tables, graphics, and maps from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Achievement data can be broken out by National School Lunch Program (NSLP) eligibility, parental education, race/ethnicity, disability, and English-learner status as proxies for socioeconomic disadvantage.

Datapoints: NAEP reading/math/science/writing scores by grade (4, 8, 12); Results disaggregated by NSLP free/reduced-price lunch eligibility; Results by parental education and student demographics; National and state/jurisdiction-level results

Clarifying Access: What New Federal SNAP Restrictions and Guidance Mean for Immigrant Communities

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Immigration Law Center (NILC)USDA & federal food security data

Analysis of 2025 federal SNAP eligibility restrictions for immigrants, explaining the interaction of the 1996 PRWORA rules with the 2025 reconciliation bill and the FNS implementation guidance. Details effects on mixed-status families and humanitarian immigrants.

Datapoints: 1996 PRWORA five-year waiting period and humanitarian exceptions; 2025 reconciliation-bill restriction of most lawfully present immigrants (except LPRs); FNS guidance effective immediately for new applicants; restrictions at recertification for current recipients; Pro-rated SNAP benefits in mixed-status households (e.g., refugee parent + US-citizen children)

Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs (PDF)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Immigration Law Center (NILC)USDA & federal food security data

Printable PDF edition of NILC's program-by-program summary of immigrant eligibility for major federal public-benefit programs, suitable for practitioners and benefit screeners.

Datapoints: Program-by-program eligibility narrative; Qualified vs. non-qualified immigrant distinctions; Major means-tested federal programs covered (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, SSI, housing)

Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs (Table)

established-research-orgnationalguidelineNational Immigration Law Center (NILC)USDA & federal food security data

Regularly updated reference table mapping immigrant eligibility (qualified vs. not-qualified categories) across major federal public-assistance programs including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security.

Datapoints: Programs covered: ACA subsidies, SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, SSI; Defines 'qualified' vs 'not qualified' immigrant categories (LPRs, refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, battered spouses/children, etc.); Last updated December 11, 2025 (originally Nov 2015); Notes 2025 H.R. 1 restrictions on immigrant access to SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and ACA premium tax credits; Eligibility by immigration status for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, Social Security; Qualified vs. not-qualified immigrant categories; 5-year bar and exceptions; 2025 H.R. 1 restrictions on SNAP/Medicaid/CHIP/premium tax credits

Public Benefits for Immigrants: A Guide for Practitioners

established-research-orgnationalguidelineNational Immigration Law Center (NILC)USDA & federal food security data

Practitioner guide on immigrant eligibility for federal public benefits including SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance, reflecting 2025 federal restrictions. Explains qualified-immigrant categories, the five-year waiting period, and humanitarian exceptions.

Datapoints: Qualified-immigrant eligibility categories for SNAP/Medicaid/housing; Five-year waiting period rules and humanitarian (refugee/asylee) exceptions; 2025 reconciliation-bill restrictions on lawfully present immigrants; Public-charge and verification rules

Mapping Food Insecurity: Using Local Data to Drive Community Solutions

othernationalarticleNational League of Cities (with City Health Dashboard)USDA & federal food security data

Guidance piece for city leaders on using local food-insecurity data, anchored on the City Health Dashboard's tract/city-level food-insecurity metric derived from CDC PLACES. Explains how to interpret and act on small-area food-insecurity estimates.

Datapoints: Share of adults reporting not enough food and no money to get more (City Health Dashboard food-insecurity metric); City Health Dashboard catalog of 45+ health and health-driver metrics; Food-insecurity estimates available for 39 states from CDC PLACES; U.S. food insecurity: ~18 million households / 1 in 7 (2023); City Health Dashboard food-insecurity metric (% of adults reporting not enough food in past year); 45+ city/neighborhood health metrics from CDC PLACES (39 states); Links food insecurity to depression, anxiety, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease; 2023: more than 18 million (~1 in 7) households food insecure; City- and neighborhood-level food insecurity (City Health Dashboard, 45+ metrics); Food insecurity links to depression, anxiety, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease; Regional disparities (South and California higher)

Urban Institute Fact Sheet: One in Six Immigrant Families Avoided Public Programs in 2022

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (summarizing Urban Institute)USDA & federal food security data

Summary of the Urban Institute Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey documenting the persistent 'chilling effect' of public-charge concerns on immigrant families' use of SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance.

Datapoints: 1 in 6 adults in immigrant families with children avoided public programs in 2022 over green-card concerns; Chilling effect may keep ~3-4 million children in immigrant families from benefits; Programs avoided: SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance; Effect persisted despite the 2021 reversal of the Trump-era public-charge rule

Network for Public Health Law - Safe and Healthy Food topic hub

othernationalorg-hubNetwork for Public Health LawUSDA & federal food security data

Legal and policy resources on food access, food safety, and food security, addressing how law shapes the availability of safe, healthy food for low-income populations.

Datapoints: food access policy; food safety law; food security legal tools

SNAP enrollment declines and food-bank strain

othernationalarticleNewsweekUSDA & federal food security data

National reporting on falling SNAP enrollment across the U.S. and the resulting pressure on food banks, with state-level enrollment figures.

Datapoints: SNAP enrollment declines across states; Food-bank demand increases

NOAA Digital Coast

primary-govnationalorg-hubNOAA Office for Coastal ManagementUSDA & federal food security data

Federally authorized (Digital Coast Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1467) platform of data, tools, and training for community resilience, flood exposure, and hazard planning, supporting analysis of how disasters intersect with housing vulnerability.

Datapoints: Flood Exposure tool identifies populations and assets in flood-prone areas; Lidar/elevation and high-resolution land-cover datasets; Coastal County Snapshots and ENOW economic data (2001-2024)

Nonprofit Quarterly - The SNAP Crisis Exposes Deadly Nonprofit Assumptions

othernationalarticleNonprofit QuarterlyUSDA & federal food security data

Analysis arguing that the nonprofit food sector mathematically cannot fill the gap left by SNAP cuts, given SNAP outweighs charitable food roughly 9 to 1.

Datapoints: SNAP delivers ~9 meals for every 1 meal the charitable system provides; Food banks structurally cannot absorb federal retrenchment; SNAP-to-charitable-food ratio ~9:1; Food banks cannot absorb federal benefit retrenchment; SNAP-to-charity meal ratio ~9:1; Structural limits of food banks vs. federal benefits

Disability Data Source User Guides

othernationalguidelineNortheast ADA Center / Yang-Tan Institute, Cornell UniversityUSDA & federal food security data

Detailed user guides describing how major federal surveys measure disability, helping researchers choose the right data source. Covers ACS, CPS, BRFSS, NHIS, SIPP, PSID, NAEP, the Decennial Census, and the TBI Model Systems database.

Datapoints: Guides for ACS, CPS, BRFSS, NHIS, NHIS-D, SIPP, PSID, NAEP, Census 2000, and TBI Model Systems; Explains disability definitions, geographic coverage, and best uses for each survey; BRFSS guide covers state-based chronic-disease and disability modules; CPS guide covers work-limitation employment data from 1980 onward

Ohio Legal Help - Health and Public Benefits guide

othernationaltoolOhio Legal Help (Ohio Access to Justice Foundation)USDA & federal food security data

Self-help guide on public benefits (SNAP, WIC, Ohio Works First/TANF, unemployment, Medicaid, SSI, SSDI), plus an interactive SNAP Work Requirements Screening Tool reflecting recent federal work-requirement changes. Ohio-specific model.

Datapoints: SNAP and SNAP work requirements; WIC; TANF (Ohio Works First); Medicaid; SSI/SSDI; unemployment; Covers SNAP, WIC, TANF, unemployment, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI; SNAP Work Requirements Screening Tool (interactive); Eligibility and application guidance

Opportunity Starts at Home

othernationalorg-hubOpportunity Starts at Home (National Low Income Housing Coalition-led multi-sector campaign)USDA & federal food security data

A multi-sector advocacy campaign building cross-sector support for federal affordable-housing policy, with research briefs connecting housing to health, education, and economic mobility. Founding partners include Children's HealthWatch, NAEH, NLIHC, and CBPP.

Datapoints: In only ~6% of U.S. counties can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a one-bedroom rental at fair market rent (NLIHC data); Cross-sector housing policy briefs and fact sheets; Federal rental-assistance and housing-investment policy positions

Promoting Food Security for All Children (AAP Policy Statement)

othernationalguidelinePediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics), Council on Community Pediatrics & Committee on NutritionUSDA & federal food security data

2015 AAP policy statement (Pediatrics 136(5):e1431-e1438) recommending universal food-insecurity screening at pediatric health-maintenance visits and documenting child-health consequences of food insecurity.

Datapoints: 16 million US children (21%) live in food-insecure households; Food-insecure children are sick more often, recover more slowly, and are hospitalized more frequently; AAP recommendation to screen for food insecurity at health-maintenance visits

PolicyMap

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapPolicyMap (founded by The Reinvestment Fund)USDA & federal food security data

Online GIS and data-mapping platform aggregating thousands of federal and proprietary indicators on housing, income, demographics, and access; offers a free tier plus paid subscriptions for deeper data and downloads.

Datapoints: Housing affordability, home values, rents, mortgage and lending data; Income, poverty, and demographic indicators; Health, food access, and neighborhood condition layers; Geographies from block group to national

National Housing Preservation Database Preservation Toolkit

othernationaltoolPublic and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) & National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)USDA & federal food security data

Locally customizable affordable-housing preservation toolkit built on the National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD), helping advocates and planners assess subsidized housing stock and preservation risk by geography.

Datapoints: Federally assisted/subsidized housing inventory by locality; Expiring-affordability and preservation-risk indicators; Property-level program (Section 8, LIHTC, 202/811, etc.) records; Local housing-stock assessment metrics; Local subsidized/affordable housing inventory by program (LIHTC, Section 8, Section 202/811, USDA, public housing); Units with expiring affordability restrictions / at-risk properties; Pre-made toolkits for all 50 states and the 50 largest metros; Custom geography toolkits

Results for America - Economic Mobility Catalog

othernationalorg-hubResults for AmericaUSDA & federal food security data

A nonprofit helping government leaders identify, fund, and implement evidence-based solutions for economic mobility. Its Economic Mobility Catalog and Spending Guides compile vetted strategies and case studies for poverty, workforce, and infrastructure programs.

Datapoints: Economic Mobility Catalog (evidence-based strategies); Federal/state/local evidence-based spending guides; Job Quality Playbook; Evaluation Policy Guide

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Research, Evaluation and Learning

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubRobert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)USDA & federal food security data

RWJF's research hub on health equity and the social determinants of health, including food systems, economic inclusion, housing/built environment, and structural drivers of health. RWJF is the funder behind County Health Rankings.

Datapoints: health equity research; food systems; economic inclusion; built environment / housing; social determinants of health

Switchboard Resource Library

othernationalorg-hubSwitchboard (International Rescue Committee, funded by HHS Administration for Children and Families, Grant #90RB0053)USDA & federal food security data

Searchable multimedia library of guides, tip sheets, and webinars for refugee resettlement and newcomer service providers, filterable by topic, audience, language, and year. Covers housing, employment, health, food, and benefits navigation for newly arrived refugees and immigrants.

Datapoints: Housing resources for newcomers (Refugee Housing Solutions Housing Hub); Employment and financial-literacy guides; Health and mental-health service navigation; Benefits and case-management toolkits across 14 topic areas

Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey

othernationalreportThe Commonwealth FundUSDA & federal food security data

Recurring national survey series tracking insurance coverage, underinsurance, medical debt, and cost-related barriers to care among working-age U.S. adults, a core determinant of household financial and food security.

Datapoints: share of adults uninsured or underinsured; medical bill problems and medical debt; cost-related care avoidance; coverage gaps by income

BJS Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 States in 2012 (5-Year Follow-Up)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)USDA & federal food security data

Longitudinal BJS study tracking state prisoners released in 2012 across 34 states for five years, reporting rearrest, reincarceration, and interstate recidivism by demographics, offense, and criminal history.

Datapoints: 62% rearrested within 3 years; 71% within 5 years; 46% returned to prison within 5 years; 11% arrested out-of-state within 5 years; 81% of those 24 or younger rearrested within 5 years vs 61% for age 40+

Census Bureau Developers Portal

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Developer hub for building applications on Census data, listing available APIs (ACS 5-Year, Microdata, Community Resilience Estimates, Economic Census, public-sector finances) with tutorials, user guides, and the API Discovery Tool.

Datapoints: ACS 5-Year API (2009-2024); Census Microdata API; Community Resilience Estimates; Economic Census (2002-2022); public-sector finance datasets; API key signup

Census Data API User Guide

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Official user guide for the Census Data API, instructing developers and researchers how to request data programmatically from Census Bureau datasets by geography (FIPS) and vintage year, including API-key requirements and dataset discovery.

Datapoints: Census Data API query structure (geography by FIPS, vintage year); API key signup requirement; Census Data API Discovery Tool; Access to ACS, decennial, and economic datasets via the API

Census Geocoding Services

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Free geocoder that converts addresses or coordinates into latitude/longitude and Census geographic identifiers (tract, block, etc.) using the MAF/TIGER benchmark database, with single-record and batch modes. Used to attach addresses of clients or service sites to Census geographies for poverty/housing/food analysis.

Datapoints: Address-to-coordinate geocoding (single and batch); Coordinate-to-Census-geography lookup (tract/block); MAF/TIGER benchmark and vintage selection

CPS Food Security Supplement Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Public microdata files and technical documentation for the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement, the primary national source for measuring hunger, food expenditure, and food access. Includes data files, replicate weights, and SAS input statements.

Datapoints: Food expenditure, access, quality/safety measures; Microdata files (DOS/Windows, gzip, CSV); Replicate weight files with SAS input; Historical data 2010-2024

Guidance for Poverty Data Users

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Methodological guidance helping users choose among and correctly interpret Census poverty datasets (CPS ASEC, ACS, SIPP, SAIPE), explaining why different surveys produce different poverty estimates and which to use for national, state, or substate analysis.

Datapoints: How the Census Bureau measures poverty; Differences between available surveys/programs; Which data source to use (by geographic scope); Survey data collection and methodology considerations; Group quarters and residence rules; CPS ASEC redesign and processing changes

Household Pulse Survey

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Near-real-time experimental survey measuring household food sufficiency over the prior 7 days, fielded since April 2020. ERS uses CPS-FSS to translate Pulse food-sufficiency responses into food-security estimates.

Datapoints: Food sufficiency (sometimes/often not enough to eat); Households behind on rent; Eviction/foreclosure likelihood; Difficulty paying expenses; Food sufficiency in last 7 days (enough/not enough food); Reasons for insufficiency (cost, access); State and metro-area tables; High-frequency (biweekly) data tables; Households with children breakdowns

New Snapshots from SIPP (Survey of Income and Program Participation)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Census Bureau feature introducing mobile-friendly SIPP fact sheets summarizing 2022 data on safety-net program participation and economic well-being across demographic groups.

Datapoints: Half of children ages 0-17 received help from at least one nutrition program (2022); ~31% of Americans accessed one or more means-tested benefit; 88% of TANF recipients had Medicaid or CHIP coverage; ~26% of seniors 65+ received pension income; ~1.3% of working-age adults received UI

SAIPE Model Input Tables (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Model input tables for the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates program, combining IRS tax data, SNAP participation counts, and population estimates to produce county- and state-level poverty and median-income estimates.

Datapoints: Total and poor exemptions by age (IRS Form 1040 aggregates); Mean and median AGI by county/state; SNAP participant counts by county and state; Poverty universe population estimates

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

Nationally representative longitudinal survey tracking monthly dynamics of income, poverty, employment, household composition, and government program participation, including food security and assistance program receipt.

Datapoints: monthly income and poverty dynamics; government program participation (SNAP, housing assistance, TANF); food security, health insurance, child care, and wealth; annual data releases (e.g., 2024 SIPP covering 2023)

U.S. Census Bureau - Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Census BureauUSDA & federal food security data

The Supplemental Poverty Measure complements the official poverty measure by accounting for non-cash benefits (e.g., SNAP, housing subsidies, tax credits) and necessary expenses, showing how programs and costs affect poverty rates. Includes state-level estimates via the ACS.

Datapoints: SPM poverty rate; anti-poverty effect of SNAP/EITC/housing subsidies; geographic adjustment for housing costs; child SPM poverty; SPM poverty rate (national, 12.9% in 2024); effect of programs (SNAP, EITC, housing subsidies) on poverty; geographic housing-cost adjusted thresholds; state-level SPM (ACS); effect of tax credits and transfers on poverty; poverty by age group; Annual SPM poverty rates by demographic group; Impact of individual programs and expenses on the poverty rate; Comparison of official vs. supplemental poverty measures; State-level SPM estimates (via ACS)

Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS) data source

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau & USDA Economic Research Service (via ODPHP Healthy People)USDA & federal food security data

Documentation of the CPS Food Security Supplement, the official annual source for measuring the prevalence and severity of food insecurity among U.S. households, used as a Healthy People data source.

Datapoints: Prevalence and severity of household food insecurity; Severe food insecurity among children; Food access, adequacy, spending, and food assistance utilization; Annual since 1995; ~50,000 households surveyed; civilian noninstitutionalized population

Current Population Survey (CPS) data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau / Bureau of Labor StatisticsUSDA & federal food security data

Monthly household survey that is the source of official national poverty, income, employment, and the annual Food Security Supplement used to measure food insecurity.

Datapoints: National poverty and median income; Employment and earnings; Food Security Supplement (food insecurity); Health insurance coverage

Current Population Survey (CPS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsUSDA & federal food security data

The primary source of U.S. labor-force statistics, jointly run by the Census Bureau and BLS. Its Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) is the source for official national income, poverty, and health-insurance estimates, and its December supplement is the basis for USDA food-security measures.

Datapoints: Official poverty rate and number in poverty (ASEC); Median household and family income (ASEC); Employment, unemployment, and labor-force participation; Health insurance coverage; Food Security Supplement (basis for USDA household food-insecurity rates)

SNAP Emergency Allotments Are Ending (USDA)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of AgricultureUSDA & federal food security data

USDA notice on the February/March 2023 end of pandemic SNAP Emergency Allotments and the return to pre-pandemic benefit levels.

Datapoints: Timeline for ending SNAP Emergency Allotments; Return to regular SNAP benefit amounts; Confirms timing/mechanics of EA termination; Timing of EA termination; Minimum benefit reduction guidance

USDA Food Loss and Waste FAQs

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of AgricultureUSDA & federal food security data

USDA reference page explaining food loss and waste definitions, scale, and the federal reduction goal, relevant context for food-recovery and hunger-relief efforts.

Datapoints: Federal goal to cut food loss and waste 50% by 2030; Estimated share of the U.S. food supply that is wasted; Definitions of food loss vs. food waste; Links to USDA/EPA/FDA food-recovery resources

USDA Modernizes the Thrifty Food Plan, Updates SNAP Benefits (2021)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)USDA & federal food security data

Official USDA announcement of the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan reevaluation, which permanently raised SNAP benefit levels by 21% effective October 1, 2021. Primary source for the largest permanent SNAP benefit change in program history.

Datapoints: Thrifty Food Plan cost found 21% higher; benefits permanently increased 21%; Average benefit increase of $36.24 per person per month ($1.19/day) for FY2022; Projected to lift 2.4M participants (incl. 1M+ children) above poverty line; Directed by the 2018 Farm Bill

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)USDA & federal food security data

The federal government's flagship nutrition guidance, issued jointly by USDA and HHS every five years. It provides science-based recommendations on healthy eating across the lifespan and underpins federal nutrition programs (SNAP-Ed, WIC, school meals). Note: the host repeatedly closed bot connections during fetch but is a live, authoritative federal site.

Datapoints: Federal dietary recommendations by life stage; Foundation for SNAP, WIC, and school meal nutrition standards; Healthy eating patterns and nutrient targets; updated every 5 years; recommendations by life stage; MyPlate basis; foundation for federal nutrition programs; next edition: 2025-2030; Lifespan-based dietary pattern recommendations (infants through older adults); Underpins SNAP-Ed, WIC, NSLP, and MyPlate guidance; Updated on a 5-year cycle (current edition 2020–2025); Healthy eating pattern, added-sugar, sodium, and saturated-fat limits; Hosts the full 2020-2025 guidelines plus executive summary and chapter materials; Tracks the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report and public comment process for the next edition; Provides print-ready handouts, infographics, and consumer materials

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)USDA & federal food security data

The official, jointly issued federal nutrition guideline that sets evidence-based dietary recommendations for Americans across the lifespan. Updated every five years, it is the scientific foundation for federal nutrition programs including SNAP, WIC, school meals, and the Thrifty Food Plan.

Datapoints: Four overarching guidelines: follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage; customize nutrient-dense foods/beverages to preferences, culture, and budget; meet food-group needs within calorie limits; limit added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium; Limit added sugars to less than 10% of calories per day (none before age 2); Limit saturated fat to less than 10% of calories per day; Limit sodium to less than 2,300 mg per day; First edition to include guidance for infants and toddlers (birth to 24 months) and for pregnancy/lactation

USDA Economic Research Service — Household Food Security

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Federal statistical agency providing economic research, data tools, and reports on U.S. food, farming, natural resources, and rural America, including the authoritative annual household food security series.

Datapoints: official food-security/insecurity definitions; annual Household Food Security report; national food-insecurity prevalence; Household food security statistics (annual Current Population Survey supplement); Food access / food deserts (Food Access Research Atlas); Food prices and Cost of Food plans; State Fact Sheets, rural economy and poverty data

USDA ERS Food Access Research Atlas (documentation)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive mapping tool identifying low-income, low-access census tracts (food deserts) using distance-to-supermarket and vehicle-access measures, with downloadable tract-level data.

Datapoints: Low-income tract criteria (poverty >=20% or median family income <=80% area median); Distance thresholds: 0.5/1/10/20 miles urban/rural; Vehicle-access integrated low-access measure; Demographic subgroups: children, seniors, race/ethnicity, SNAP recipients; Tract poverty, population, housing units, median family income

USDA ERS Food Access Research Atlas (interactive tool)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Web map application for exploring food-desert classifications and low-income/low-access status for any U.S. census tract, with multiple distance and vehicle-access definitions.

Datapoints: Per-tract food desert flags under four low-access definitions; Vehicle availability near stores; Population and demographic counts at distance thresholds

USDA ERS Food Environment Atlas

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

County- and state-level mapping tool assembling more than 300 indicators of the food environment across food choices, health/well-being, and community characteristics (2012-2023).

Datapoints: 300+ food-environment indicators; Store availability (grocery, supercenters, convenience, SNAP/WIC retailers); Restaurant availability (fast-food, full-service); SNAP and WIC participation; State-level food insecurity; diabetes, obesity, physical activity; Socioeconomic/demographic characteristics

USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion)USDA & federal food security data

NESR is the USDA team of systematic-review methodologists that produces gold-standard, protocol-driven evidence syntheses on food and nutrition questions of public-health importance, most notably the evidence base supporting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Datapoints: systematic reviews on diet and health; evidence base for Dietary Guidelines for Americans; rapid reviews and evidence scans; launched 2008 as Nutrition Evidence Library, renamed NESR 2019; Conducts systematic reviews and evidence scans for each Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (2010, 2015, 2020, 2025 cycles); Supports the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months (P/B-24) Project; Publishes complete systematic reviews on its site plus peer-reviewed methods articles; Housed at USDA CNPP; evidence informs federal nutrition policy and programs

USDA Food and Nutrition Service - SNAP

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

The administering agency's hub for SNAP eligibility, benefits, state directory, program data, and access toolkits; the primary authority on the largest federal anti-hunger program.

Datapoints: eligibility rules and income limits; maximum benefit allotments (Thrifty Food Plan); state SNAP directory; program rules; national participation & benefit totals; Thrifty Food Plan max allotments; state SNAP office directory; ABAWD work requirements; SNAP Community Characteristics dashboard

USDA Food and Nutrition Service - WIC

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Federal nutrition program providing healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to low-income pregnant/postpartum women, infants, and children under 5 who are at nutritional risk.

Datapoints: WIC eligibility (income and categorical); food package contents; participation data; state agency directory; Eligibility: pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women; infants <12 months; children 1-4; Income limit: household income at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines; Adjunctive eligibility via Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF participation; Nutritional-risk assessment required by a health professional; Annual income eligibility guidelines published in the Federal Register

WebNEERS National Report (EFNEP / SNAP-Ed)

othernationalreportU.S. Department of Agriculture, NIFA (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program)USDA & federal food security data

Annual national outcomes report from the Web-based Nutrition Education Evaluation and Reporting System (WebNEERS) summarizing EFNEP results for low-income families on diet quality, food security, food-resource management, and physical activity, drawn from land-grant university programs.

Datapoints: FY2024: 54,665 adult program families and 220,181 youth across all 50 states/territories; Food security: ~50% improved food-security practices; Healthy Eating Index 2020 mean rose 48.6 (entry) to 53.2 (exit); 92% improved at least one food-resource-management practice; 38% improved physical activity

USDA Income and Property Eligibility Tool (Rural Development)

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural DevelopmentUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive eligibility lookup that checks household income against program limits and whether a property is in an eligible rural area across USDA Rural Development loan and grant programs.

Datapoints: Property address rural-eligibility determination (map-based); Household income eligibility by program and area income limits; Coverage: Single Family Housing (Direct/Guaranteed), Multi-Family, Community Facilities, Business, Water/Environmental

USDA Rural Housing Service FY2026 Budget / Congressional Justification (RHS)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

USDA Rural Housing Service FY2026 congressional budget justification detailing rural housing loan and grant program levels, funding, and performance data for single- and multi-family rural housing programs.

Datapoints: Program funding levels for Section 502/504 rural housing loans and grants; Multi-family rural rental housing (Section 515/521) budget; Mutual self-help and rural housing repair program levels; Performance and loan-volume metrics

HHS Poverty Guidelines

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (ASPE)USDA & federal food security data

The annually updated federal poverty guidelines used to determine eligibility for dozens of assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, etc.); the simplified administrative version of the Census poverty thresholds.

Datapoints: Poverty guideline by household size; Percent-of-poverty thresholds (e.g., 130%, 185%); Annual updates; Program eligibility basis; poverty guideline by household size; percent-of-FPL thresholds (130%, 185%, etc.); year-over-year guideline changes; 48 contiguous states vs. Alaska/Hawaii values; percentage-of-poverty multiples; CPI-U adjustment factor; 2026 FPL $15,960 individual / $33,000 family of four (48 states + DC); 2.63% CPI-U adjustment 2024->2025; separate Alaska/Hawaii tables; per-household-size income thresholds; percent-of-FPL multipliers (130%, 185%, etc.)

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesUSDA & federal food security data

Federal agency administering Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Marketplace, and the source of policy, enrollment, and spending data including Section 1115 demonstrations covering health-related social needs (housing, food).

Datapoints: Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and spending; Medicare enrollment and utilization; Section 1115 demonstration waivers (including HRSN/food/housing pilots); Marketplace coverage statistics

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Data

othernationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (archived via Data Rescue Project / Urban Institute Data Catalog)USDA & federal food security data

Archived bundle of all data, documentation, and files behind HUD's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing tool, supporting community analysis of segregation patterns and barriers to fair housing access.

Datapoints: Segregation and racial/ethnic dissimilarity indices; Disparities in access to opportunity (jobs, schools, environment) by neighborhood; Concentrated poverty and protected-class housing indicators; Fair housing / segregation indicators powering the HUD AFFH tool; Original HUD AFFH data, documentation, and file resources; Downloadable ZIP archive (preserved Dec 18, 2024)

Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (Federal Register, 2026)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (via Federal Register)USDA & federal food security data

Official Federal Register notice publishing the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines used to determine financial eligibility for federal programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, and others.

Datapoints: Official 2026 poverty guideline table (48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii); Effective date and program references; Per-additional-person increment

api.data.gov

primary-govnationalapiU.S. General Services Administration (GSA)USDA & federal food security data

Free API management and key-issuance service fronting 450+ federal APIs across 25+ agencies (USDA, Commerce/Census, Education, EPA, and others). A single api.data.gov API key authenticates many participating agency APIs used for housing, food, poverty, and social-determinants research.

Datapoints: One shared API key across participating federal agency APIs; Rate limiting and live API usage analytics; Developer manual and signup for programmatic data access

Healthy People 2030 - SDOH Literature Summaries

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), HHSUSDA & federal food security data

Concise, citation-backed research snapshots summarizing how each social determinant affects health outcomes and disparities, with downloadable infographics. Topics directly cover food insecurity, housing instability, poverty, employment, and access to healthy foods.

Datapoints: Food Insecurity summary; Housing Instability summary; Poverty summary; Employment summary; Access to Foods That Support Healthy Dietary Patterns; Quality of Housing

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: A Central Component of the Social Safety Net

othernationalreportUC Berkeley (eScholarship / California Digital Library) — author Hilary HoynesUSDA & federal food security data

UC Berkeley policy brief by economist Hilary Hoynes analyzing SNAP's role as a central anti-poverty and anti-hunger program in the U.S. social safety net. Open-access PDF in the eScholarship repository.

Datapoints: SNAP's countercyclical role in reducing food insecurity and poverty; Evidence on SNAP's effects on health and child outcomes; Program reach and importance within the social safety net (2016 brief)

Up for Growth

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUp for GrowthUSDA & federal food security data

National policy and research organization focused on housing supply, equity, and removing systemic barriers to homebuilding; hub for the Housing Underproduction report, housing dashboard, and a pro-housing policy brief library.

Datapoints: Housing Dashboard (interactive housing metrics); Policy Brief Library (evidence-based pro-housing policy analyses); Annual Housing Underproduction data

Urban Institute

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUrban InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

Nonpartisan research organization producing evidence and data tools across housing, poverty, the safety net, and economic mobility. Maintains numerous interactive trackers on affordability, basic needs, and program enrollment.

Datapoints: Denver SIB supportive-housing RCT (724 people, 2016-2020); supportive housing $18,678/person/yr vs $25,554 control; $6,876 less; 77% still stably housed at 3 years; ~38 fewer jail days; 65% reduction in detox use; Affordable-housing-shortage analysis; Vouchers and permanent supportive housing evidence; American Affordability Tracker (state/congressional district household finances); Safety Net Outcomes Tracker (program eligibility and enrollment); Housing affordability, supply, and homeownership analytics; Upward mobility metrics and local finance data

Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey (WBNS)

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUrban InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

Nationally representative annual survey (launched December 2017) of nonelderly adults ages 18-64 tracking material hardship, food security, housing, health, income, and safety-net program participation. Public-use files are archived at ICPSR via the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Datapoints: Material hardship incidence among nonelderly adults and families; Food security / food insecurity rates; Housing and neighborhood conditions; Health status, health insurance coverage, and health care access/affordability; Family income and financial security; Safety-net program participation (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.); ~7,500 adults per round from Ipsos KnowledgePanel

Catalog of National Small-Area Data

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUrban Institute (National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership)USDA & federal food security data

Curated catalog of public datasets and tools that provide indicators below the city level (census tract, ZIP code, point-level) for the whole nation, spanning housing, health, education, income, and environment. Built to help local users find and use federal/nonprofit neighborhood data.

Datapoints: Index of small-area datasets by topic (housing, education, health, environment, income); Geographic level and years covered per dataset; Direct links to source data files and documentation; Neighborhood indicators of community well-being

Urban Institute Mobility Metrics Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUrban Institute Data CatalogUSDA & federal food security data

County- and city-level data tables for 24 predictors associated with upward mobility, organized under a five-pillar framework, with disaggregation by race/ethnicity, income, disability, age, gender, and housing tenure. Powers the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard.

Datapoints: county-level mobility predictor values; city-level values (480+ cities); racial-equity breakdowns; machine-readable downloads; 24 mobility predictors across five pillars for every U.S. county and 480+ cities; Economic success indicators (poverty, employment, income); Housing-related metrics including housing tenure breakdowns; Dignity/belonging and power/autonomy indicators; Disaggregation by race/ethnicity, income, disability, age, gender, housing tenure; Multi-year overall county values

Benefits.gov / USAGov Benefit Finder

primary-govnationaltoolUSAGov (U.S. General Services Administration)USDA & federal food security data

Official federal eligibility-screening tool (Benefits.gov now redirects here) that walks users through questions and returns federal and state benefit programs they may qualify for, spanning food/nutrition, housing, healthcare, and income assistance. The authoritative front door for connecting low-income households to safety-net programs.

Datapoints: Eligibility screening across 12 benefit categories; Food assistance, housing and utilities, and health benefit listings; Life-event paths (disability/illness, retirement, death of loved one); 12+ benefit categories; food assistance; housing and utilities; health and disability; welfare and cash assistance; life-event paths (disability, retirement, death of a loved one); Eligibility screener across federal/state benefit programs; Food, housing & utilities, and cash-assistance categories; Life-event finders (disability, death, retirement); personalized list of potential benefit eligibility; benefit categories: Food, Housing and utilities, Welfare and cash assistance; links to federal program applications; Benefit categories include Food, Housing and utilities, Welfare and cash assistance, Health, Disabilities; Life-event paths (disability/illness, death of a loved one, retirement); Links into program application guidance across federal agencies; Confidential eligibility questionnaire across life situations; Program categories: food and nutrition (SNAP/WIC), housing assistance, healthcare, financial assistance; Links to apply for federal and state-administered benefits

USC Equity Research Institute (ERI) & Racial Equity Data Lab

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUSC Dornsife Equity Research InstituteUSDA & federal food security data

USC ERI's research hub and the National Equity Atlas partnership with PolicyLink, including the Racial Equity Data Lab where users build custom charts and dashboards from disaggregated datasets on housing burden, wages, poverty, educational attainment, car access, and the working poor.

Datapoints: Tableau-ready workbooks disaggregated by race, sex, nativity, ancestry; Custom equity dashboards and visualizations; Regional atlases (Bay Area Equity Atlas); Racial Equity Index across nine indicators; Housing burden, median wages, poverty, working poor, car access, educational attainment; Demographic breakdowns by race, nativity, gender, and ancestry

National Equity Atlas (USC ERI + PolicyLink)

othernationaldashboardUSC Equity Research Institute (ERI) & PolicyLinkUSDA & federal food security data

Detailed report card on racial and economic equity with interactive indicators and visualizations for the largest 100 cities, 430 large counties, 150 regions, all 50 states, and the U.S. Covers poverty, housing burden, wages, working poor, and more, disaggregated by race, sex, nativity, and ancestry.

Datapoints: Housing burden, median wages, poverty, working poor; Educational attainment, car access, employment; Racial Equity Index across nine indicators; Geographies: 100 cities, 430 counties, 150 regions, 50 states, US; Indicators: Housing Burden, Median Wages, Poverty, Educational Attainment, Car Access, Working Poor; Geographies: 100 largest cities, 430 large counties, 150 regions, 50 states, US; Breakdowns by race, sex, nativity, gender, ancestry; Housing Burden, Median Wages, Poverty, and Working Poor indicators by geography; Rent Debt dashboard: ~6M renter households (14%) behind on rent, owing ~$3,400 on average; Among households with rent debt: 78% low-income, 63% renters of color; Sources: 5-year ACS, Census Household Pulse Survey, USC understanding-coronavirus panel; housing burden by income and race; wages and working poor; poverty rate by demographic; GDP gains from closing racial gaps; indicators for 100+ regions; Indicators for 100 largest cities, 430 large counties, 150 regions, 50 states, and the US; Measures of well-being and racial gaps over multiple decades; Economic gains from racial equity; Data disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, nativity, income; Income and wage gaps by race/ethnicity; Poverty rates and working-poor measures; Housing burden / cost-burdened renters and owners; Demographic change and projections; Estimated GDP gains from closing racial equity gaps

Dietary Guidelines Resources & Materials

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA & HHSUSDA & federal food security data

Downloadable guideline materials, professional fact sheets, and the scientific report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that informs each edition. Supports food-security and nutrition-program practitioners.

Datapoints: Full guideline PDF and executive summary; Scientific Advisory Committee report; Professional and consumer fact sheets

USDA FoodData Central

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Agricultural Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Authoritative integrated food and nutrient database providing nutrient content for over 400,000 foods, supporting cost-effective and healthy eating analysis.

Datapoints: nutrient content for 400,000+ foods; food composition data; downloadable datasets and API

MyPlate on a Budget / Healthy Eating on a Budget

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

USDA resources for stretching food dollars, meal planning, smart shopping, and using SNAP benefits, aimed at low-income households facing food insecurity.

Datapoints: Weekly meal-planning and shopping-list templates; Cost-saving strategies linked to the Thrifty Food Plan; MyPlate Kitchen recipe finder filterable by cost

MyPlate Plan (personalized food plan tool)

primary-govnationaltoolUSDA Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive calculator that generates a personalized daily food-group plan and calorie target from a user's age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity. The core consumer planning tool of MyPlate.

Datapoints: Personalized daily calorie allowance; Target amounts per food group (cups/ounces); Outputs a printable plan

MyPlate.gov

primary-govnationaltoolUSDA Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

The federal government's consumer-facing nutrition education hub built on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, offering food-group guidance, budgeting tips, and interactive tools. Anchors USDA nutrition messaging for SNAP/WIC-eligible audiences.

Datapoints: MyPlate Plan: personalized food-group targets by age, sex, height, weight, activity; Healthy Eating on a Budget: plan, purchase, prepare guidance and tip sheets; SNAP integration: find stores accepting SNAP; SNAP-Ed recipe cookbook and 2-week menus; Five food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy) with daily recommended amounts; Guidance tailored by age, sex, height, weight, and activity level; Eat-healthy-on-a-budget resources tied to SNAP/Thrifty Food Plan; Available in English and Spanish

NESR 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Systematic Reviews

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)USDA & federal food security data

Collection of the systematic reviews and evidence scans the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee conducted with NESR support, the evidence basis for the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Datapoints: Includes an evidence scan on culturally tailored dietary interventions and diet-related psychosocial factors, dietary intake, diet quality, and health outcomes; Covers dietary patterns, food groups, and beverages across the lifespan; Protocol-driven, transparent methodology with published search and grading protocols

Thrifty Food Plan, 2021 (Report)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)USDA & federal food security data

The 2021 reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, the nutritious-diet market basket that sets the basis for maximum SNAP benefits. Built on 2013-16 consumption and 2015-16 price data with the Purchase to Plate price inputs.

Datapoints: Cost of a nutritious low-cost diet (reference family); Market basket categories by 15 food groups; Basis for maximum SNAP allotment; 21% real increase in benefit basis (2021); Methodology and nutrition/cost constraints; Reference-family market basket cost: $835.37 (June 2021 prices); 21.03% cost increase over prior plan; Average SNAP benefit increase of $36.24/person/month (FY2022); Basis for SNAP allotments effective Oct 1, 2021; Store-scanner purchasing data methodology

USDA Food Plans: Monthly Cost of Food Reports

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)USDA & federal food security data

Monthly reports estimating the cost of a healthy diet at four levels (Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, Liberal) by age-sex group, updated for inflation via the CPI. Widely used to benchmark a household food budget.

Datapoints: Monthly cost of food at home, four plan levels; Cost by age-sex group and household size; CPI-U inflation adjustment vs. June 2021 baseline; Weekly and monthly cost tables; U.S. average estimates

ERS Rural Economy & Population Topic Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

USDA ERS hub on economic and demographic conditions in nonmetropolitan America, including rural poverty and well-being, employment, and population trends.

Datapoints: Rural poverty rates and well-being indicators; Rural employment and education data; Population and migration trends; Rural-urban classification codes

Food Insecurity Among Households With Older Adults, 2001-2023 (Chart of Note)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

ERS Chart of Note tracking food insecurity among U.S. households with an adult aged 65 and older from 2001 to 2023, including the more severe very-low-food-security category and seniors living alone versus with others.

Datapoints: 9.3% of U.S. households with an adult 65+ were food insecure in 2023; Up from 7.1% in 2021 (statistically significant increase); Very low food security rate among senior households; Senior food insecurity by living arrangement (alone vs. with others), 2001-2023

Household Food Security in the United States in 2021 (ERR-309)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Annual ERS report on the prevalence and severity of food insecurity among U.S. households in 2021, with breakdowns by demographic characteristics, state, and federal nutrition-assistance participation.

Datapoints: national food-insecurity prevalence rate; very low food security prevalence; food insecurity by household composition and income; state-level food-insecurity rates (3-year averages); food expenditures by food-security status

Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337)

othernationalreportUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Prior-year USDA ERS food-security report (2023 data, September 2024) documenting the statistically significant 2022-to-2023 rise in food insecurity.

Datapoints: 13.5% of US households food insecure in 2023; Very low food security 5.1% in 2023; 2022 to 2023 was the statistically significant move upward; 13.5% of households food insecure (2023); Very low food security 5.1%; Statistically significant rise from 2022

Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Annual ERS report measuring food insecurity among U.S. households in 2023, with national and state estimates, demographic breakdowns, and links to federal nutrition assistance. The reference-class annual hunger statistic.

Datapoints: national food-insecurity prevalence (2023); very low food security prevalence; child food insecurity; state-level food-insecurity rates; food-insecurity prevalence by race/ethnicity and household type

Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 (ERR-358)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

USDA ERS annual report measuring U.S. household food security. The authoritative federal source for national food-insecurity rates, including very low food security and child food insecurity.

Datapoints: 13.7% of US households (18.3M households; 47.9M people, incl. 7.3M children) food insecure in 2024; Very low food security 5.4% (7.2M households) in 2024; 39.4% of below-poverty households food insecure; Child food insecurity 9.1% of households-with-children; 2024 not statistically different from 13.5% in 2023 but higher than 2016-2021; 13.7% of US households food insecure in 2024 (18.3M households; 47.9M people, incl. 7.3M children); Very low food security 5.4% (7.2M households) in 2024, up from 3.8% in 2021; Child food insecurity 9.1% of households-with-children in 2024; 13.7% of households food insecure (2024); Very low food security 5.4%; 7.3 million children in food-insecure households; 318,000 households with children skipping meals; Breakdown by poverty status, household type, rurality; National food insecurity and very low food security rates; Food insecurity among households with children; Demographic and regional breakdowns; Trend tables back to 1995

Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition (EIB-282)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Annual ERS bulletin summarizing demographic and economic conditions in rural (nonmetro) America, including population, employment, poverty, and aging trends.

Datapoints: Rural population and migration trends; Nonmetro poverty rate; Rural employment and labor force; Aging of rural populations

USDA Economic Research Service - Publications

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Searchable repository of USDA ERS research reports and outlooks covering food security and assistance, poverty, food prices and access, and the rural economy. The authoritative source for U.S. food-insecurity measurement and food-assistance economics.

Datapoints: Food security and assistance research (SNAP, WIC, child nutrition); Poverty and food-access analysis; Food prices, consumer expenditures, diet quality; Rural economy, employment, and population trends; Report series: Economic Research Reports, Economic Information Bulletins, Amber Waves; Food security and nutrition-assistance reports; Poverty and income-volatility research; Food access, prices, and expenditure analysis; Rural economy and employment briefs; Filterable by report type, topic, author

USDA ERS Food Security and Nutrition Assistance (Ag and Food Statistics)

primary-govnationaldashboardUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Chart-based summary of U.S. food security and federal nutrition-assistance statistics, covering food insecurity rates, vulnerable populations, state variation, federal spending, and SNAP participation.

Datapoints: Food-insecurity prevalence charts; Nutrition-assistance participation context; SNAP participation and spending series; Food-security indicators; SNAP participation and spending; Nutrition-assistance program reach; 2024: 13.7% food insecure; 5.4% very low food security; 39.4% of below-poverty households food insecure; 18.4% of households with children food insecure (2024); State range 9.0% (ND) to 19.4% (AR), 2022-2024 avg; $142.2B USDA nutrition program spending FY2024; SNAP: 41.7M people/month (12.3% of US)

USDA ERS Food Security Key Statistics & Graphics

primary-govnationaldashboardUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

The federal government's official food-security measurement program, with annual statistics for households containing an adult 65+ and the subset of 65+ adults living alone, drawn from the CPS Food Security Supplement.

Datapoints: National food-insecurity rate trend line; Very low food security share; Households with children breakdown; National food-insecurity prevalence time series; Standard food-security category definitions; Household food insecurity rate (13.7% / 18.3M households / 47.9M people, 2024); Very low food security rate (5.4% / 7.2M households, 2024); Child food insecurity (9.1% of households with children, 2024); Food insecurity among below-poverty households (39.4%); Annual trend line 2020-2024; Food insecurity rate for households with adult 65+ (9.3% in 2023); Food insecurity rate for 65+ living alone (11% in 2023); Very low food security rates; Year-over-year trend series; Note: excludes adults in assisted living; 13.7% (18.3M) of households food insecure in 2024; 5.4% (7.2M) very low food security; 47.9M people in food-insecure households; State range: 9.0% (North Dakota) to 19.4% (Arkansas); Households-with-children food insecurity 18.4%; Food secure/insecure/very-low rates 2024; Households with children breakdowns; State range 2022-2024 combined: low 9.0% (ND) to high 19.4% (AR); Very low food security by state: 3.4% (SD) to 9.0% (KY); Historical trend 2001-2024 (recession spike 14.6% in 2008)

USDA ERS Poverty Area Measures

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

USDA ERS dataset classifying all U.S. counties and census tracts by poverty-area status, including high, extreme, persistent, and enduring poverty, with standardized geography for comparison from 1960 through 2007-2023. Identifies long-term concentrated poverty relevant to food and housing insecurity.

Datapoints: county/tract poverty rates; high-poverty area classification; persistent poverty counties; concentrated poverty; high poverty areas (>=20%); extreme poverty areas (>=40%); persistent poverty (4 periods over ~30 yrs); enduring poverty; High poverty (20%+ in a single period); Extreme poverty (40%+ in a single period); Persistent poverty (20%+ across ~30 years / 4 periods); Enduring poverty (20%+ across ~40 years / 5+ periods); County- and tract-level classifications, decennial 1960-2000 plus 5-year periods 2007-2023

USDA ERS — Food Security in the United States (annual data product)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

The authoritative national source for household and child food insecurity, built on the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS). Provides annual reports, downloadable data, and interactive charts including food insecurity among households with children.

Datapoints: household food-insecurity rate; very low food security rate; food insecurity by household type and state; historical trend since 1995; Share of food-secure vs. food-insecure households (86.3% secure / 13.7% insecure in 2024); Very low food security rate; Food insecurity among households with children; State-level prevalence; food insecurity prevalence; very low food security; food security among households with children; trend data; National and state food-insecurity and very-low-food-security rates; Three-year averaged state prevalence tables; U.S. Food Security Survey Module instruments; Annual ERR report series (e.g. ERR-358, 2024); Household food insecurity and very low food security prevalence; Food insecurity in households with children and among children themselves; Food spending and spending needed to meet food needs; Participation in federal/community food and nutrition assistance; CPS-FSS microdata and standardized survey modules; national & state food insecurity rates; very low food security prevalence; rates by income, household type, race/ethnicity; food spending; program participation among food-insecure households; Share/number of food-insecure households; Very low food security prevalence; Households with children breakdowns; State-level prevalence (3-year averages); Historical series since 1995; National household food-insecurity prevalence (annual); Food insecurity among noncitizen Hispanic adults (24.4%) vs citizens (18.9%); Food insecurity for U.S.-citizen children of foreign-born mothers; CPS-FSS microdata and documentation; Household food-insecurity prevalence (national and by state, 3-yr averages); Very low food security rates; Food spending and federal/community food-assistance use; Children's food insecurity; CPS-FSS household-level public-use data files, annual 1995-present; Food secure vs. food insecure household counts and prevalence; Low food security and very low food security rates; Food security status by demographics, income, and program participation; December 2024 data released 2/18/2026

USDA ERS — Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 (ERR-358)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

The annual federal benchmark report on U.S. food insecurity, based on the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement. The 2024 edition (released December 2025) is the series' authoritative national prevalence estimate; USDA has announced it does not plan to publish it again.

Datapoints: 13.7% of US households food insecure in 2024 (18.3M households; 47.9M people); Very low food security 5.4% (7.2M households); 2024 not statistically different from 2023 (13.5%); 14.1M children in food-insecure households; 39.4% of below-poverty households food insecure; 5-year trend: 2020 10.5%, 2021 10.2% (record low), 2022 12.8%, 2023 13.5%, 2024 13.7%; Series discontinued after the Dec 2025 edition; 13.5% of US households food insecure in 2023; Very low food security 5.1% in 2023; 2022 to 2023 was the statistically significant increase; national food insecurity rate; very low food security rate; households with children; food insecurity by demographic and region; national food-insecurity prevalence (% of households); very low food security rates; child food insecurity; food insecurity by state, race, household type; annual trends back to 1995; nonmetro population change and net migration; rural employment and labor force; prominent rural industry sectors; cost of living and household debt; rural poverty rates; 86.3% (115.7M) households food secure in 2024; 13.7% (18.3M) households food insecure; 8.3% low food security; 5.4% very low food security; 47.9 million people in food-insecure households; 18.4% of households with children food insecure; 7.3M children affected; 13.7% of U.S. households (18.3 million households, 47.9 million people) food insecure in 2024; 5.4% (7.2 million households) had very low food security; 14.1 million children lived in food-insecure households; 2024 rate not statistically different from 13.5% in 2023; 2021 low was 10.2%

Consumer Food Data System (CFDS)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

ERS research program and data infrastructure on food choices, diet quality, food prices, and food access, the umbrella for FoodAPS, Purchase to Plate, and related food-economics data products.

Datapoints: FoodAPS National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey; Diet quality and Healthy Eating Index research; Food price and acquisition data linkages; Food access and food assistance economics

ERS Poverty Area Measures (Descriptions and Maps)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

County- and census-tract-level classifications of poverty intensity over time, including high-, extreme-, persistent-, and enduring-poverty areas. Provides downloadable data and maps identifying long-term concentrated poverty.

Datapoints: High poverty areas (poverty rate >=20%); Extreme poverty areas (>=40%); Persistent poverty (>=20% for 4 periods over ~30 years): 346 counties, 8,299 tracts (2015-19); Enduring poverty (>=20% for 5+ periods over ~40 years); 585 high poverty counties; 11 extreme poverty counties; 304 counties continuously high-poverty 1960-2019

Food Access Research Atlas

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Census-tract-level interactive map and downloadable dataset identifying low-income, low-food-access areas (formerly food deserts), measuring distance to supermarkets and vehicle availability.

Datapoints: Distance to nearest supermarket (0.5/1 mile urban; 10/20 mile rural); Vehicle availability by census tract; Low-income and low-access tract flags; 2019 and 2015 estimate vintages for change comparison

Food Environment Atlas

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Web mapping tool and downloadable dataset assembling 300+ county- and state-level indicators of the food environment, spanning food access, store/restaurant availability, assistance participation, prices/taxes, local foods, and health outcomes.

Datapoints: Grocery store and SNAP retailer density; Food assistance participation rates; Local food sales; County obesity/diabetes correlates; store/restaurant access by county; SNAP/WIC participation; food prices and taxes; diet-related health outcomes; local food production; 300+ food-environment indicators by county; SNAP/WIC participation and policy; Store and restaurant access; Food prices and taxes; local foods; Health and socioeconomic correlates; Store access and proximity (grocery, supercenter, dollar stores); Restaurant availability and fast-food expenditure; Food and nutrition assistance participation; Food prices, taxes, and local-food availability; Food insecurity, diabetes, obesity, physical activity rates; County/state level, 2012-2023

Food Security in the U.S.: Documentation

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Documentation hub for U.S. food security data: details the CPS Food Security Supplement and catalogs the food-security survey modules embedded in 11 other major national surveys (Household Pulse, NHIS, MEPS, PSID, SIPP, ECLS, etc.), with methodology and data-access links.

Datapoints: CPS-FSS (~50,000 households monthly CPS, December supplement); Food security module in 11 national surveys; Methodology, sample sizes, and access links per survey; Data from 2010 onward

Food Security in the U.S.: Measurement

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Explains how household food security is measured in the U.S., including the four-category continuum, the 10/18-item survey module, and the annual CPS Food Security Supplement methodology.

Datapoints: Four categories: high, marginal, low, very low food security; 10-item (no children) / 18-item (with children) module; 3+ affirmed conditions = food insecure; ~40,000 households surveyed each December via CPS-FSS

Food Security in the United States (data.gov catalog)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Catalog record pointing to publicly available national surveys that include the U.S. Food Security Survey Module, with documentation and access directions for the underlying microdata files.

Datapoints: Household food security / food insecurity status; Survey instruments: Current Population Survey (CPS), Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS/ECLS-K); Coverage 2001-2013; Food assistance and nutrition program participation

Food Security in the United States - Interactive Charts and Highlights

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive charts and downloadable data on U.S. food security trends overall, among households with children, by demographic/employment/disability status, and by state. Highlights the latest national food insecurity rates.

Datapoints: Prevalence of food insecurity over time (interactive); State-level prevalence maps (3-year averages); Downloadable Excel/CSV behind each chart; Breakdowns by household composition and demographics; 2024: 13.7% (18.3M) households food insecure; 2024: 86.3% (115.7M) food secure; Low food security 8.3% (11.1M); Very low food security 5.4% (7.2M); State-by-state comparisons; Excel/CSV downloads

Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 (ERR-358)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

The annual flagship USDA report on U.S. household food security, reporting national food security and very-low-food-security prevalence for 2024 (Report No. ERR-358, published Dec 2025).

Datapoints: 86.3% food secure in 2024; 13.7% food insecure at some point in 2024; 5.4% very low food security; Authors: Rabbitt, Reed-Jones, Hales, Suttles, Burke

Low-Income and Low-Foodstore-Access Census Tracts, 2015–19 (EIB-236)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

ERS Economic Information Bulletin updating estimates of low-income, low-foodstore-access (food desert) census tracts using 2019 foodstore directory data and 2014–18 ACS economic data; feeds the Food Access Research Atlas.

Datapoints: count and share of low-income low-access census tracts; food desert geographic distribution; distance-to-supermarket thresholds; income and vehicle-access measures by tract

Purchase to Plate Suite (Crosswalk and Price Tool)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Data products linking retail grocery scanner data with USDA nutrition databases to estimate national food prices and the healthfulness of food purchases. Provided the price inputs for the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan reevaluation.

Datapoints: National average prices for NHANES-reported foods (Price Tool); Crosswalk of scanner data to FNDDS for Healthy Eating Index; Retail food purchase healthfulness measures; 2013 grocery sales price linkage; Inputs to SNAP benefit basis (TFP)

USDA Economic Research Service — Food Security in the U.S.

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

USDA's authoritative annual measurement of U.S. household food insecurity for the nation and states, published with about a one-year lag. (USDA has announced it does not plan to publish the report again after the 2024 edition.)

Datapoints: National household food-insecurity prevalence; Very-low-food-security rates; Standard food-security definitions and measurement methodology; Annual Household Food Security report series; food insecurity rate (% of households); very low food security rate; child food insecurity; food insecurity by state and demographic; trends since 1995; national food insecurity prevalence; food insecurity among children/households with children; trend series; state-level three-year averages; U.S. household food insecurity: 10.5% (2020), 10.2% record low (2021), 12.8% (2022), 13.5% (2023), 13.7% (2024); 2024: 9.1% of households with children had child food insecurity; 18.4% of households with children food insecure overall; 14.1 million children in food-insecure households; Documents adults reducing their own intake before children's

USDA ERS Food Security Survey Tools and Modules

primary-govnationaltoolUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

The standardized survey instruments used to measure household food insecurity in the U.S., including the 18-item Household module, 10-item Adult module, 6-item short form, and Youth module, plus scoring guidance.

Datapoints: U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (18-item); U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module (10-item); Six-Item Short Form; Youth Food Security Survey Module (ages 12+); Spanish and Chinese translations; Food security scale scores and status classification

SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework (Interactive Toolkit)

othernationalguidelineUSDA FNS, ASNNA & NCCORUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive national framework of 51 standardized, evidence-informed outcome indicators (across individual, environmental, sector, and population levels) for evaluating SNAP-Ed obesity-prevention and food-security programming in low-income populations.

Datapoints: 51 outcome indicators across four social-ecological levels; Validated measures and evaluation tools per indicator; Population results for food security and healthy eating

Characteristics of SNAP Households: Fiscal Year 2023

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Annual demographic and economic profile of SNAP households, detailing who participates, household income, composition, and benefit amounts.

Datapoints: SNAP household income distribution; Household composition (children, elderly, disabled); Average benefit and gross/net income; Share of households with earnings; Demographic breakdowns of participants

Child Nutrition Programs Data Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive dashboard visualizing participation and meals served across USDA child nutrition programs (National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer, CACFP). Useful for tracking school-meal and summer-feeding reach over time and by state.

Datapoints: National School Lunch Program meals served and participation; School Breakfast Program participation; Summer food service program meals; Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) data; Time-series and state-level breakdowns

SNAP Quality Control (Payment Error Rates)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

The SNAP Quality Control system produces official payment error rates and a household-level microdata database derived from state QC reviews validated by USDA. Authoritative source for SNAP program integrity and error-rate trends.

Datapoints: Official payment error rate (11.68% FY2023); Overpayment rate (10.03% FY2023) and underpayment rate (1.64% FY2023); Error tolerance threshold ($54 FY2023, $56 FY2024); State-level QC error rates; QC household economic/demographic microdata

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Official program hub for SNAP, the largest federal anti-hunger program, providing eligibility rules, benefit information, state directories, and participation data.

Datapoints: SNAP eligibility thresholds and benefit levels; national and state participation counts; Thrifty Food Plan benefit basis; program access toolkit and state directory

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Official program page for TEFAP, which provides USDA Foods commodities to states for distribution through food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens. Reference for how federal commodity food reaches the emergency food network.

Datapoints: USDA Foods commodity allocations by state; Administrative funding distribution formula; Eligible recipient agency / distribution network structure

Thrifty Food Plan, 2021 (TFP2021)

othernationalreportUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

USDA's 2021 re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, the cost basis for maximum SNAP benefits, which modernized the market basket and led to a roughly 21% increase in SNAP benefits effective October 2021.

Datapoints: Reevaluated cost of a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet; ~21% increase in SNAP maximum benefit (first non-inflation update since 1975); Four cost categories driving the new basket; Methodology: current food prices, consumption patterns, dietary guidance, nutrients

USDA FNS SNAP National Participation Rates

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Estimates of the share of SNAP-eligible people who actually receive benefits (program reach / take-up), with breakdowns by subgroup, published since 1994.

Datapoints: SNAP participation rate among eligibles; rates by household type and subgroup; benefit-receipt rate; state participation-rate index

USDA SNAP data and statistics

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceUSDA & federal food security data

Official program data on SNAP participation, benefits, and eligibility by state and over time, the authoritative source for the size and reach of the largest U.S. anti-hunger program.

Datapoints: ~41.7M people/month on SNAP (~1 in 8 Americans), FY2024; national/state SNAP participation; average monthly benefit per person; total program cost; participation trends

Cost of Food at Home: Thrifty Food Plan (Monthly Reports)

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion)USDA & federal food security data

Monthly reports estimating the cost of a nutritious diet at four levels (Thrifty, Low-cost, Moderate, Liberal) for reference families and individuals by age and sex. The Thrifty Food Plan is the basis for maximum SNAP benefit levels.

Datapoints: Weekly and monthly cost of food at home by age and sex; Costs by family/household composition (individual, couple, family of four); Thrifty Food Plan reference market basket (basis for SNAP max allotment); Weekly/monthly food cost at three spending tiers (low/moderate/liberal); Costs by age, sex, and household composition; Reference budgets for living-wage and self-sufficiency calculations; Thrifty Food Plan monthly cost (basis for SNAP maximum allotment); Low-cost, Moderate, and Liberal food plan costs; Costs by age/sex reference groups and family size; National weekly and monthly cost-of-food estimates

Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Annual federal income eligibility thresholds (by household size) used to determine free and reduced-price eligibility across the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, CACFP, Summer Food Service, and Special Milk programs.

Datapoints: Free meals threshold: at or below 130% of federal poverty guideline; Reduced-price threshold: 130%-185% of federal poverty guideline; Income tables by household size (annual/monthly/twice-monthly/biweekly/weekly); Updated annually with the federal poverty guidelines

Child Nutrition Programs: State Agencies Directory

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Directory and hub for the state agencies that administer USDA Child Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service, CACFP), with contacts and links to state-level program administration.

Datapoints: State agency contacts administering NSLP/SBP/SFSP/CACFP; Links to state child-nutrition program offices; Program administration and policy guidance entry points

Estimates of State SNAP Participation Rates (Reaching Those in Need)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Annual report series estimating the share of SNAP-eligible people who participate, nationally and by state, used to measure program reach and access gaps.

Datapoints: National SNAP participation rate (88% in FY2022); State-by-state participation rates with significance vs. national rate; Program Access Index (PAI): participants relative to people below 125% of poverty; Participation rate series back to 1994

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Program hub for FDPIR, which provides USDA Foods to income-eligible households on Indian reservations and to Native American families as an alternative to SNAP, with eligibility rules and participation resources.

Datapoints: FDPIR income eligibility criteria; USDA Foods package contents; Participating Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies; Participation data

SNAP Community Characteristics Congressional District Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive dashboard visualizing SNAP participation and community characteristics at the congressional-district level, supporting geographic analysis of food-assistance reach and the demographics of households served.

Datapoints: SNAP participation by congressional district; Community demographic characteristics of SNAP households; Geographic comparison of food-assistance reach

SNAP Program Data (national & state participation)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Authoritative monthly and annual SNAP participation and benefit data tables, covering all 50 states plus DC, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The primary source for how many Americans receive food stamps.

Datapoints: SNAP participants by state and month; Total and average monthly benefits; Program costs; Households served; persons participating in SNAP; households participating; total benefits issued; average benefit per person; state-level participation (including NC); Persons and households participating, monthly national level; Total benefits issued and average monthly benefit per person/household; Annual state-level participation and benefits; ~42.4 million people receiving SNAP as of April 2026; Historical series FY1969-present; SNAP reached about 41.7 million people per month in fiscal year 2024; SNAP is entirely federal money; states and counties are barred from fronting payments

SNAP-Ed National & Regional Reports

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Collection of national and regional SNAP-Ed program reports documenting reach, activities, and outcomes of federally funded nutrition education for low-income populations.

Datapoints: SNAP-Ed reach and participation; Program activities by region; Policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change outcomes

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Federal program hub for SUN Bucks / Summer EBT, providing eligible school-age children grocery benefits during summer months to reduce child food insecurity when school meals are unavailable.

Datapoints: $120 per eligible child per summer (benefit amount); Eligibility tied to free/reduced-price meal eligibility; State and tribal participation status; Benefits delivered via EBT card

WIC Eligibility Requirements

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

Official statement of eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): categorical, residential, income (at/below 185% of poverty), and nutritional-risk criteria, including adjunctive eligibility through SNAP/Medicaid/TANF.

Datapoints: Income test: gross income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; Categorical eligibility: pregnant/postpartum/breastfeeding women, infants, children up to age 5; Adjunctive eligibility via SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF; Nutritional-risk determination by a health professional; State residency requirement

WIC Works Resource System

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)USDA & federal food security data

USDA's resource hub for WIC staff and partners, aggregating program guidance, training, special-project grants, and links to official WIC participation data. A gateway to authoritative federal nutrition-assistance materials.

Datapoints: WIC program participation resources; WIC special project grants; nutrition education and training materials; WIC nutrition education and food package resources; income eligibility guidance; breastfeeding support resources

Child Nutrition Programs - Income Eligibility Guidelines (Federal Register)

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) / Federal RegisterUSDA & federal food security data

Annual federal notice setting the income-eligibility thresholds for free and reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and other child nutrition programs (130% and 185% of the federal poverty guidelines).

Datapoints: free-meal eligibility at 130% of federal poverty guidelines; reduced-price eligibility at 185% of poverty guidelines; household-size income thresholds (annual/monthly/weekly); effective July 1 - June 30 program year

WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines 2026-2027 (Federal Register Notice)

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) / Federal RegisterUSDA & federal food security data

Annual Federal Register notice setting the WIC income-eligibility thresholds (185% of the federal poverty guidelines) by household size for the 2026-2027 period.

Datapoints: WIC income limits at 185% of poverty by household size; Annual/monthly/weekly income thresholds; Effective dates for the 2026-2027 program year

SNAP-Ed Connection

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) / National Agricultural LibraryUSDA & federal food security data

Federal hub for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed): nutrition-education materials, evidence-based interventions, recipes, and program-administration resources for low-income audiences.

Datapoints: Evidence-based SNAP-Ed interventions catalog; Nutrition-education materials and recipes; Seasonal produce / budget eating guides; State SNAP-Ed program directory

SNAP Program Access Index (PAI)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS/FNA)USDA & federal food security data

Proxy measure of SNAP program access computed as the ratio of SNAP participants to people in poverty in a state, used to compare relative program access across states.

Datapoints: Ratio of SNAP participants to people in poverty, by state; State-level program access rankings; Annual PAI series; High-performance bonus measure inputs

SNAP State Participation Rates

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS/FNA)USDA & federal food security data

Estimates of the share of eligible people and households who actually participate in SNAP, reported by state, used to measure program reach and gaps in take-up.

Datapoints: Percentage of eligible individuals participating in SNAP, by state; Participation rates among the eligible working poor; National participation rate estimates; Annual series (2022 edition)

USDA FNS Child Nutrition Programs

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS/FNA)USDA & federal food security data

Federal hub for the child nutrition programs that feed children, including the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service, and Special Milk programs, with participation and meals-served data.

Datapoints: 9.3 billion meals served across child nutrition programs in FY2024; Participation, meals served, and program cost tables (state and national); National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP); Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option

USDA FNS Food Distribution Programs (TEFAP and commodity programs)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS/FNA)USDA & federal food security data

Hub for USDA commodity food distribution programs, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) that supplies USDA Foods to food banks, pantries, and shelters serving low-income households.

Datapoints: TEFAP FY2024: $461.5M for USDA Foods + $80M administration; Additional $943M to TEFAP via Commodity Credit Corporation in FY2024; 130+ USDA Foods catalog products (produce, protein, grains, dairy); State-administered distribution to emergency feeding organizations

SNAP Research (USDA FNS)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (now Food and Nutrition Administration)USDA & federal food security data

USDA's hub for SNAP research, including the annual Characteristics of SNAP Households reports, participation/cost studies, and program access and integrity research. Anchors the official evidence base on who SNAP serves and program performance.

Datapoints: Average monthly SNAP participation (41.7M in FY2024); Federal SNAP spending ($99.8B in FY2024); Average monthly benefit per participant ($187.20 FY2024); Demographic characteristics of SNAP households by year; Program access/participation rate studies

USDA FNS/FNA Program Data Overview (SNAP, WIC, child nutrition)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (now Food and Nutrition Administration)USDA & federal food security data

Master hub for federal nutrition-assistance program statistics. Links to data tables for every FNS program with four table types: historical summaries, annual state-level data, monthly national-level data, and latest-month state-level participation.

Datapoints: SNAP persons/households participating; average monthly benefit per person; total program cost; WIC and school meal participation; historical series back to 1969; SNAP participation (~41.7M people/month, FY2024); SNAP federal cost (~$99.8B FY2024); WIC participation (~6.7M/month, FY2024); Monthly national and annual state-level series; School meal and summer meal counts; SNAP, WIC, NSLP, School Breakfast, CACFP, SFSP, Special Milk, Food Distribution tables; Persons, households, benefits, average monthly benefit per person/household; Coverage FY1969 through FY2026; PDF and Excel formats; monthly and annual; SNAP participation and benefits (~41M people); WIC participation (~6.7M women, infants, children); School breakfast/lunch participation (20M+ children); Monthly and annual state-level program data; Historical program summaries

Cost of Food: Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans (monthly report)

othernationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service / Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

Companion monthly USDA report giving the cost of the Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans by age and sex, used as benchmarks for household food budgets above the Thrifty (SNAP) baseline.

Datapoints: Weekly/monthly cost of Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans by age/sex; Reference family-of-four cost for each plan tier; Per-person costs for household-size adjustment

Cost of Food: Thrifty Food Plan (monthly report)

othernationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service / Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

Monthly USDA report giving the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, the lowest-cost nutritionally adequate market basket that sets the maximum SNAP benefit, broken down by age and sex for individuals and households.

Datapoints: Weekly and monthly Thrifty Food Plan cost by age/sex group; Reference family-of-four cost (SNAP maximum-allotment basis); Per-person costs used for household-size adjustments

USDA Food Plans (Thrifty / Low / Moderate / Liberal Cost of Food)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service / Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

USDA's market-basket cost-of-food estimates at four levels; the Thrifty Food Plan sets the basis for maximum SNAP benefit amounts, and all four provide reference food budgets by age and sex.

Datapoints: Thrifty Food Plan cost (SNAP maximum benefit basis); Low, Moderate, and Liberal cost-of-food estimates; Weekly and monthly food costs by age and sex group; Reference family-of-four food budget

Child Nutrition Tables (NSLP, School Breakfast, CACFP, SFSP)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service / Food and Nutrition AdministrationUSDA & federal food security data

Participation, meals served, and cost data for the federal child nutrition programs: National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service, and Special Milk programs.

Datapoints: NSLP participation and lunches served (free/reduced/paid); School Breakfast Program participation and meals; CACFP and Summer Food Service participation and meals; Federal reimbursement/cost by program; National and state-level series

FNS Program Participation Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardUSDA Food and Nutrition Service / Food and Nutrition AdministrationUSDA & federal food security data

Interactive visualization tool for FNS nutrition-program participation and meals served at national, state, and territory levels across SNAP, WIC, and the child nutrition programs.

Datapoints: Participation by program, state, and territory; Meals served (child nutrition programs); Time-series filtering and download; National/state/territory geographic levels

WIC Data Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service / Food and Nutrition AdministrationUSDA & federal food security data

Authoritative national and state-level administrative data tables for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), reporting monthly participation, food costs, and benefit issuance, a core anti-hunger program for low-income mothers and young children.

Datapoints: Total WIC participation by category (women, infants, children); National and state-level participation; Food costs and total program costs; Average monthly benefit per participant; Annual and monthly series; national and state WIC participation counts; monthly and annual time series; total program costs and food costs; downloadable data tables; monthly WIC participation by women, infants, and children; total program and food costs; average monthly benefit per participant; participation by state

USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) / USDA Food Plans

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service, Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

CNPP develops the USDA Food Plans (Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, Liberal), the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the Healthy Eating Index. The Thrifty Food Plan cost sets maximum SNAP benefit allotments, and monthly cost-of-food reports track food-budget inflation.

Datapoints: Thrifty Food Plan monthly cost (basis for SNAP maximum allotments); Four food plans at successively higher cost levels; Monthly cost-of-food reports updated with CPI-U food inflation; Healthy Eating Index (HEI) diet-quality measure; Dietary Guidelines for Americans

USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Monthly Reports

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Food and Nutrition Service, Center for Nutrition Policy and PromotionUSDA & federal food security data

Monthly estimates of the cost of a nutritious diet at four spending levels (Thrifty, Low-cost, Moderate, Liberal), by age and sex. The Thrifty Food Plan is the statutory basis for SNAP benefit amounts.

Datapoints: Monthly market-basket cost by age-sex group and family size; Thrifty Food Plan cost (SNAP maximum-benefit basis); Low-cost, Moderate, and Liberal plan costs; Time series for tracking food-cost / food-affordability trends

Food Security and Access (Nutrition.gov)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA National Agricultural Library / Nutrition.govUSDA & federal food security data

Federal hub aggregating government resources on food insecurity, food access, and nutrition assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, school meals), with links to data and budget-friendly eating guidance.

Datapoints: food insecurity resources; nutrition assistance program links; food access topics

USDA Census of Agriculture

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)USDA & federal food security data

Once-every-five-years complete count of U.S. farms and ranches, the only uniform, county-level source of agricultural data covering land use, production, operator demographics, income, and expenditures.

Datapoints: Number of farms and ranches (county/state/national); Land use and ownership; Operator demographics; Production practices, income, and expenditures; 2022 census released February 13, 2024; via Quick Stats

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)USDA & federal food security data

The nation's first federal nutrition-education program for low-income families and youth, reaching roughly a half-million low-income adults and families each year through land-grant university Cooperative Extension. Documents diet, food-resource-management, food-safety, and physical-activity outcomes.

Datapoints: ~500,000 low-income adults/families reached per year; 80%+ of families at or below 100% of poverty; Diet quality and food-dollar-stretching outcomes; WebNEERS data collection/reporting system

National EFNEP Reports (Impacts & Reporting)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)USDA & federal food security data

Annual national EFNEP data and impact reports summarizing participants reached, diet-quality improvement, food-security and food-resource-management behaviors, and demographics of low-income participants. Data hosted on the WebNEERS national-report portal.

Datapoints: Annual participants reached; Diet-improvement metrics; Food-resource-management / food-security behaviors; Participant poverty and demographic breakdowns

Food Environment Atlas / Food Access data on Data.gov

primary-govnationalapiUSDA via Data.gov federal catalogUSDA & federal food security data

Machine-readable federal-catalog listings for USDA food-environment and food-access datasets, providing programmatic/API access and bulk downloads of the underlying CSV resources.

Datapoints: Food Environment Atlas dataset resources (CSV); Food Access Research Atlas data file resource; FIPS-coded county/tract records; Metadata and download endpoints; Programmatic catalog access

CalMatters — California Housing Costs Explainer

otherstate-NCarticleCalMattersUSDA & federal food security data

Nonpartisan explainer on why California housing costs are so high, covering supply, zoning, and demand drivers.

Datapoints: California rent and home-price levels; Housing supply and permitting data; Cost-burden statistics

HousingWorks RI — Housing Fact Book

otherstate-NCreportHousingWorks RI at Roger Williams UniversityUSDA & federal food security data

Rhode Island statewide housing organization combining Myths vs Facts explainers with an annual Housing Fact Book covering 39 municipalities. Strongest myth-vs-fact plus local-data format match found; advocacy-oriented.

Datapoints: annual Housing Fact Book (39 municipalities); myth-vs-fact housing explainers; municipal housing data

NCDHHS State Action Plan for Nutrition Security

primary-govstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)USDA & federal food security data

North Carolina's official state plan for addressing nutrition security, integrating SNAP, WIC, CACFP, Medicaid, and NCCARE360 data with strategies and indicators specific to the state.

Datapoints: NC nutrition-security strategy and goals; SNAP/WIC/CACFP/Medicaid program coordination; NCCARE360 referral integration; Barriers to healthy-food access in NC; State indicators and targets

America's Health Rankings - Food Insecurity (North Carolina)

otherstate-NCdashboardUnited Health FoundationUSDA & federal food security data

State health-rankings dashboard tracking the household food-insecurity measure for North Carolina with national comparison and demographic breakdowns, sourced from USDA/Census food-security data.

Datapoints: NC household food-insecurity percentage; National rank for NC; Demographic disparities (race, income, education); Year-over-year trend; Comparison to U.S. value

Food Expenditure Series (FES)

primary-govstate-NCdatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Comprehensive measure of the value of food acquired in the U.S. by product type, outlet, and purchaser, including a state-level series of food-at-home and food-away-from-home spending from 1997 forward.

Datapoints: Food at home (FAH) and food away from home (FAFH) spending; National monthly and annual series; State-level annual estimates 1997-present (incl. NC); Sales taxes, tips, donated and home-produced food value; Nominal and constant-dollar series

SNAP Policy Data Sets

primary-govstate-NCdatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

State-by-month database of SNAP policy choices (eligibility, certification, outreach, EBT, online application) from 1996 forward, enabling state-level analysis including North Carolina.

Datapoints: Broad-based categorical eligibility by state; Certification periods and reporting requirements; Vehicle exemption and asset rules; Outreach spending and online services; Monthly state-level policy indicators 1996-present

Vermont Foodbank

otherstate-NCorg-hubVermont FoodbankUSDA & federal food security data

Statewide food bank serving as a model of integrated hunger relief: a distribution network of 200+ partner sites plus a Food Security Innovation Lab producing research and advocacy on food insecurity. (Scope is Vermont; included as a comparative state model.)

Datapoints: Vermont food insecurity rate (cited 2 in 5 Vermonters); 200+ food shelves, meal sites, and partner organizations; program reach (3SquaresVT/SNAP, BackPack, VeggieVanGo mobile produce, CSFP); gleaning and community kitchen outputs

Food Access Research Atlas - Download the Data

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Downloadable census-tract-level food-access data file, allowing extraction of low-access/low-income flags and distance measures for any U.S. tract, including Buncombe County and Western North Carolina tracts.

Datapoints: Tract-level LILA flags (multiple definitions); Population counts beyond distance thresholds; Low-income population by tract; Households without vehicle and far from store; Children, seniors, and SNAP populations by access

Food Environment Atlas - Data Access and Documentation Downloads

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)USDA & federal food security data

Full Food Environment Atlas dataset download (Excel and CSV) with FIPS-coded county/state records for all 300+ indicators, plus a variable lookup file and version documentation. Enables county-level extraction for Buncombe and WNC.

Datapoints: 300+ indicators by county FIPS; Excel (8.68 MB) and zipped CSV (6.2 MB) downloads; Variable lookup connecting field codes to indicator names; Eight archived versions (2011-2020) for trend analysis; Deep-poverty and dollar-store indicators (current version)

CKAN API Documentation

otherglobalapiCKAN / Open Knowledge FoundationUSDA & federal food security data

Reference documentation for CKAN, the open-source data-portal platform that powers many government open-data catalogs; the Action API exposes programmatic search and retrieval of datasets and resources. Useful for harvesting open housing, food, and poverty datasets hosted on CKAN-based portals.

Datapoints: Action API (package_search, datastore_search); programmatic access to open-data catalogs; JSON responses for datasets and resources

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025

otherglobalreportFAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHOUSDA & federal food security data

The UN's annual flagship report on global hunger, food security, and nutrition, jointly produced by five UN agencies. SOFI 2025 provides updated estimates of undernourishment, food insecurity, and the cost and affordability of a healthy diet worldwide.

Datapoints: Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) globally and by region; Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES); Number of people unable to afford a healthy diet; Child stunting, wasting, and overweight; adult obesity; anemia in women; Exclusive breastfeeding and low birthweight rates; 638-720 million people (7.8-8.8% of world population) faced hunger in 2024; prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) 8.2% in 2024, down from 8.5% in 2023; Africa PoU surpassing 20%, Western Asia 12.7% in 2024; projection of 512 million chronically undernourished by 2030; FIES-based moderate/severe food insecurity estimates; 673 million people (range 638-720M) faced hunger in 2024; global hunger rate 8.2%; Decrease of 15M from 2023 and 22M from 2022; Prevalence of undernourishment in Africa exceeded 20%; Western Asia 12.7%; Projection of 512M chronically undernourished by 2030 (~60% in Africa); Cost and affordability of a healthy diet

State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025)

primary-intlglobalreportFAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO (UN agencies)USDA & federal food security data

Annual UN flagship report tracking global hunger and malnutrition, with headline estimates of the number of undernourished people, food insecurity, and the cost/affordability of healthy diets.

Datapoints: 673 million people (8.2%) experienced hunger in 2024 (range 638-720M); 2.3 billion people (28.0%) moderately or severely food insecure in 2024; 2.6 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet (2024); Africa: 307M+ (>20%); 512M projected chronically undernourished by 2030; child stunting 23.2%, wasting 6.6%, exclusive breastfeeding 47.8%; Number of undernourished people worldwide; Prevalence of undernourishment by region; Food insecurity measured via the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES); Child stunting and wasting rates; Cost and affordability of a healthy diet

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025

primary-intlglobalreportFAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO (UNICEF DATA mirror)USDA & federal food security data

Annual UN flagship report tracking global hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, jointly produced by the five Rome-based and UN food/health agencies. The 2025 edition focuses on the effect of high food price inflation on access to healthy diets.

Datapoints: Prevalence of undernourishment (638-720 million people hungry in 2024; 7.8-8.8% of world population); Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES); Child stunting (23.2% in 2024), wasting (6.6%), and overweight (5.5%); Cost and affordability of a healthy diet; Link between food price inflation and child wasting

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

primary-intlglobalorg-hubFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsUSDA & federal food security data

UN specialized agency and the global authority on food security and nutrition statistics, publisher of FAOSTAT and the annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.

Datapoints: Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU); Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) / SDG indicator 2.1.2; FAOSTAT food and agriculture statistics by country; Global hunger and food-price trends

FAO Food Security and Nutrition Statistics (Statistics Division)

primary-intlglobaldatasetFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)USDA & federal food security data

FAO Statistics Division domain providing the official food security and nutrition data series, including the prevalence of undernourishment and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, that underlie the global SOFI report.

Datapoints: Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) by country and year; Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES); Number of people undernourished; Cost and affordability of a healthy diet; Food balance sheet / dietary energy supply

FAO Hunger and Food Insecurity Hub (incl. FIES)

primary-intlglobaldashboardFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)USDA & federal food security data

FAO's central hub on global hunger, including the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) methodology and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) tracking data.

Datapoints: prevalence of undernourishment (SDG 2.1.1); moderate or severe food insecurity (SDG 2.1.2 / FIES); regional and country hunger estimates

FAO SDG Indicators Data Portal

primary-intlglobaldashboardFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)USDA & federal food security data

FAO's official portal for the 22 food- and agriculture-related SDG indicators for which it is custodian UN agency, with bulk data downloads, interactive stories, and country monitoring assessments.

Datapoints: SDG 2.1.1 prevalence of undernourishment (PoU); SDG 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES); SDG 12.3.1.a Food Loss Index; SDG 2.4.1 productive and sustainable agriculture; SDG 6.4.1 water-use efficiency and 6.4.2 water stress; Dietary diversity indicators (newly adopted)

FAO - The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)

primary-intlglobalreportFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHOUSDA & federal food security data

The annual UN flagship report on global hunger and food insecurity, the authoritative source for SDG 2 progress, tracking prevalence of undernourishment and moderate/severe food insecurity by region.

Datapoints: global prevalence of undernourishment; number of hungry people; moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES); cost and affordability of a healthy diet; regional breakdowns; Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) - SDG 2.1.1; Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES) - SDG 2.1.2; Number of people facing hunger globally (~2.33 billion moderately/severely food insecure); Cost and affordability of a healthy diet; Child stunting, wasting, overweight; anaemia; breastfeeding

Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC)

otherglobalreportFood Security Information Network (FSIN) / Global Network Against Food Crises (16-partner consortium incl. WFP, FAO, EU)USDA & federal food security data

The annual reference document for global, regional, and country-level acute food insecurity, using consensus IPC/CH analysis. Quantifies populations in food crisis and the drivers (conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes, displacement).

Datapoints: 295+ million people in acute hunger across 53 countries/territories (2024); Year-over-year change (+13.7 million vs 2023); IPC/CH acute food insecurity phase classifications by country; Primary drivers: conflict, economic shocks, climate, forced displacement

Food Security Information Network (FSIN)

otherglobalorg-hubFSIN (founded by FAO, WFP, IFPRI)USDA & federal food security data

Global initiative producing consensus-based acute food-insecurity assessments, most notably the annual Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) and its mid-year/September updates.

Datapoints: Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) annual editions; Acute food insecurity (IPC/CH phases) by country and region; Malnutrition estimates in food-crisis countries; GRFC mid-year and September updates

Global Report on Food Crises 2025 (GRFC)

otherglobalreportGlobal Network Against Food Crises / Food Security Information Network (FSIN)USDA & federal food security data

Annual flagship report on acute food insecurity worldwide, produced by a consortium of UN agencies, the EU, USAID, and NGOs, quantifying populations in crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3+) across the most affected countries.

Datapoints: Number of people in acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 3+); Country/territory rankings by severity; Drivers of food crises (conflict, weather extremes, economic shocks); Populations in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5); Acute malnutrition figures

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 123 Section 35 — Civil Commitment of Alcoholics/Substance Abusers

primary-govglobalguidelineMassachusetts General Court (state legislature)USDA & federal food security data

Primary statutory text of Massachusetts Section 35, the most-studied U.S. involuntary-commitment-for-substance-use law, used as a model/cautionary case in the coerced-treatment debate. (State-level statute; broadly cited as a national reference case.)

Datapoints: Authorizes court-ordered commitment after a hearing finding SUD + likelihood of serious harm; Warrant/summons procedure for non-appearing respondents; Court may commit a person for up to 90 days; Qualified petitioners: police, physician, spouse, relative, guardian, court official

NY Office of the State Comptroller — New Yorkers Need: A Housing-Insecurity Crisis

primary-govglobalreportNew York State Office of the State ComptrollerUSDA & federal food security data

Statewide government data report on housing insecurity in New York. Government data, not an explainer library or directory.

Datapoints: New York statewide housing-insecurity measures; Rent-burden and eviction-risk data; Affordability gap estimates

California SB 27 — Strengthening the CARE Act (Governor's announcement)

primary-govglobalguidelineOffice of Governor Gavin Newsom (State of California)USDA & federal food security data

California announcement of SB 27 (signed Oct 10, 2025) expanding CARE Court eligibility to mood disorders with psychotic features, a leading state example of expanded civil-commitment/court-ordered treatment. (State law; cited nationally.)

Datapoints: Signed Oct 10, 2025; Expands CARE Act eligibility to mood disorders with psychotic features

Prevalence of Undernourishment (Our World in Data)

established-research-orgglobalinteractive-mapOur World in Data (University of Oxford / Global Change Data Lab)USDA & federal food security data

Interactive chart and downloadable dataset of the share of population that is undernourished by country, 2000-2024, built on FAO SDG data with CSV and API access.

Datapoints: Share of population undernourished (%) by country, 2000-2024; Values below 2.5% reported as '<2.5%'; Time-series and map views; CSV download and API access

Somers et al. 2013 — Vancouver Housing First RCT (Justice Outcomes)

primary-govglobalreportPMCUSDA & federal food security data

Vancouver Housing First randomized controlled trial documenting significantly fewer criminal sentences among the justice-involved subgroup.

Datapoints: fewer criminal sentences (Adjusted IRR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.72); Reduced criminal sentences: Adjusted IRR 0.29 (95% CI 0.12-0.72)

Burns et al. 2013 — OCTET Community Treatment Orders RCT (Lancet)

primary-govglobalreportThe LancetUSDA & federal food security data

Randomized controlled trial (336 psychosis patients) of community treatment orders versus Section 17 leave, finding identical readmission rates despite far longer compulsory supervision. Strongest RCT evidence that legal coercion adds no benefit over equivalent voluntary care.

Datapoints: readmission 36% (CTO) vs 36% (control), adjusted RR 1.0 (95% CI 0.75-1.33); CTO median ~183 days under compulsion vs ~8 days control; Lancet 2013, PMID 23537605; Readmission 36% vs 36% (RR 1.0, CI 0.75-1.33); CTO median 183 days vs 8 days supervision, no benefit; N=333; 36% readmission in both arms; RR 1.0 (0.75-1.33); Median 183 vs 8 days compulsory supervision

Burns et al. 2013 — OCTET Community Treatment Orders RCT (The Lancet)

primary-academicglobalreportThe Lancet (Elsevier)USDA & federal food security data

Randomized controlled trial (336 psychosis patients) of community treatment orders (CTOs) vs Section 17 leave, finding identical 12-month readmission (36% vs 36%, RR 1.0) despite far longer compulsory supervision, concluding coercion is not justified by readmission benefit.

Datapoints: RCT, 336 patients; readmission 36% CTO vs 36% control, RR 1.0 (0.75-1.33); CTO group: median 183 days compulsion vs 8 days; PMID 23537605; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60107-5

World Bank Open Data

primary-intlglobaldatasetThe World BankUSDA & federal food security data

Free and open access to global development data, including the World Development Indicators (WDI). Covers poverty, inequality, hunger, health, and economic indicators by country and over time, with bulk download and query tools.

Datapoints: World Development Indicators (WDI): poverty headcount, GDP, life expectancy, undernourishment; Country and time-series data; DataBank query/visualization; Thematic profiles: People, Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure, Digital

World Bank Microdata Library

primary-intlglobaldatasetThe World Bank (Development Data Group)USDA & federal food security data

Searchable catalog of nearly 7,000 household and survey microdata studies, anchored by the Living Standards Measurement Study, providing household-level data on consumption, poverty, and food security for research and replication.

Datapoints: Living Standards Measurement Study (165 datasets, household consumption/living standards); FAO Food and Agriculture Microdata Catalog (1,033 datasets, food security monitoring); Global Findex financial inclusion (717 datasets); UNICEF MICS household welfare (229 datasets)

Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX)

otherglobalorg-hubUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Centre for Humanitarian DataUSDA & federal food security data

Open data platform hosting thousands of humanitarian and development datasets (food security, poverty, displacement, social capital) from agencies, NGOs, and partners such as Data for Good at Meta. Built on CKAN with a public API.

Datapoints: Food insecurity / IPC and famine-risk datasets; Displacement and refugee datasets; Poverty and socioeconomic indicators; Social media / social-capital datasets from Data for Good at Meta; CKAN-based API access

SDG Indicator 2.1.2 Metadata - Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

primary-intlglobalguidelineUN Statistics Division / FAO (custodian agency)USDA & federal food security data

Official UN metadata defining how the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity is measured via the eight-question Food Insecurity Experience Scale, including methodology and national survey sources.

Datapoints: Eight FIES survey questions (worried, healthy food, few kinds, skipped, ate less, ran out, hungry, whole day without eating); Severity thresholds: mild / moderate / severe food insecurity; Computation method and global reference scale; National survey sources (e.g. USDA HFSSM, IBGE Brazil, CONEVAL Mexico)

UN SDG Global Indicator Framework (Indicators List)

primary-intlglobalguidelineUnited Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)USDA & federal food security data

Authoritative master list of all SDG targets and their official indicators, including the poverty, hunger, food security, and housing indicators and their custodian agencies.

Datapoints: Full enumeration of 17 goals, 169 targets, and ~231 unique indicators; Indicator 1.1.1 / 1.2.1 poverty headcount ratios; Indicator 2.1.1 PoU and 2.1.2 food insecurity; Indicator 11.1.1 adequate housing access; Custodian and partner agencies per indicator

Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) Database

primary-intlglobaldatasetWorld Bank Data360 (data from Food Security Information Network / Global Network Against Food Crises)USDA & federal food security data

Database underlying the annual Global Report on Food Crises, the reference document for acute food insecurity worldwide, classified by IPC/CH phases at country and territory level.

Datapoints: People in acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 3+) by country/year; 295M+ people in acute hunger across 53 countries (2024); Phase classifications (Crisis, Emergency, Catastrophe/Famine); Drivers of food crises (conflict, weather, economic shocks)

WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health - Closing the Gap in a Generation

primary-intlglobalreportWorld Health Organization (WHO)USDA & federal food security data

Landmark 2008 report establishing the global evidence base for how social and economic conditions (including housing and food security) shape health outcomes and inequities.

Datapoints: health gradient by social position; structural drivers of health inequity; policy recommendations on daily living conditions; housing and food as health determinants

AAP Food Insecurity - Professional Tools and Resources

othernationaltoolAmerican Academy of PediatricsHunger & food-assistance organizations

Clinician-facing hub with the Hunger Vital Sign screening tool, the AAP/FRAC pediatrician toolkit, EHR/coding guidance, and intervention resources to identify and address childhood food insecurity in practice.

Datapoints: Hunger Vital Sign two-question validated screener; AAP/FRAC 'Screen and Intervene' toolkit; referral pathways to nutrition assistance; EHR documentation and coding guidance

Bread for the World - Hunger by the Numbers / Facts About U.S. Hunger

othernationalarticleBread for the WorldHunger & food-assistance organizations

Bread for the World's curated facts and fact sheets on domestic and global hunger, treating USDA's Household Food Security report as the most authoritative domestic source.

Datapoints: 13.7% of U.S. households food insecure (18.3M); 18.4% of households with children; Global hunger figures; Federal nutrition-program context

Facts About Senior Hunger in America

established-research-orgnationalarticleFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Feeding America overview of senior food insecurity, its drivers, and the network's response, with national statistics and projections.

Datapoints: ~7 million seniors experienced food insecurity in 2022; Projected 9+ million seniors facing hunger by 2050; 1+ million seniors served by Feeding America programs in 2022

Feeding America - Charitable Food Assistance Participation

established-research-orgnationaldatasetFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Feeding America's estimates of how many people use charitable food assistance (food banks, pantries, meal programs) and how that demand has shifted over time.

Datapoints: People served by the charitable food network; Pantry/meal program usage trends; Demand shifts year over year

Feeding America Populations Research Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Research hub collecting Feeding America's reports on food insecurity among specific populations (seniors, children, veterans, racial/ethnic groups, rural communities).

Datapoints: State of Senior Hunger / State of Child Hunger report series; Population-specific food insecurity prevalence; Map the Meal Gap linkage

Feeding America Research Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Central hub for Feeding America's research output, including Map the Meal Gap, the Hunger in America study, charitable food participation data, and Hunger and Health resources.

Datapoints: National hunger statistics and facts; Links to Map the Meal Gap, Hunger in America, interactive data; Charitable food assistance participation estimates

Feeding America — Map the Meal Gap

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Interactive map and dataset of county- and congressional-district-level food insecurity estimates (modeled). The standing source for local and national food-insecurity figures; county estimates run ~2 years behind (MMG 2025 = 2023 data; MMG 2026 due late July 2026).

Datapoints: Buncombe County food-insecurity rate ~11.9% / ~31,670 people (2021 vintage; treat as floor); 21M / 44% of food-insecure individuals likely income-ineligible for SNAP (more than 2 in 5, never 'majority'); ~86% / nearly 9 in 10 of highest-food-insecurity counties are rural; ~$32B/yr national food budget shortfall (~$22.37 per food-insecure person per week); WNC ~18% child food insecurity (MMG 2023 via MAHEC); county food-insecurity rate; child food-insecurity rate; meal cost / budget shortfall; SNAP-eligibility thresholds by area; County- and district-level food insecurity rates; Child food insecurity rates; Cost per meal; Food budget shortfall / 'meal gap'; Program eligibility thresholds; county food insecurity rate; child food insecurity rate; cost per meal; food budget shortfall; program eligibility thresholds by area; county-level food insecurity rate; Buncombe County / NC estimates; senior/older-adult food insecurity; weekly budget shortfall; food insecurity by race/ethnicity and income band; Overall food-insecurity rate and number of food-insecure people by county; Child food-insecurity rate and count; Food-insecurity by income band and race/ethnicity; Cost per meal and annual food budget shortfall; Buncombe County and WNC regional estimates; food insecurity rate by county/district/state; cost per meal (e.g., $2.60-$6.09 range); budget shortfall; by income/race/ethnicity; national rate 14.3% (2023); Overall and child food insecurity rate by county; Senior/older-adult food insecurity; Food insecurity by income band and race/ethnicity; County-level food insecurity rate (overall and child); Number of food-insecure people per county/state; Average cost of a meal (local); Annual food budget shortfall ($) per county; Food insecurity by income band, race/ethnicity, and age; Congressional-district estimates; County/state/district food-insecurity rates and child food-insecurity rates; Cost per meal and food budget shortfall by geography; Disparities by race/ethnicity (Black/Latino up to ~60% in some counties); 47 million food-insecure people nationally (2023); County food-insecurity rate and population (Buncombe ~14.3% households); Child food-insecurity rate by county; Average cost per meal (Buncombe ~$4.26); Annual food budget shortfall by county; food insecurity rate (14.3% national, 2023); number of food-insecure people; child food insecurity rate (~20% nationally, up to 50% in some rural counties); food budget shortfall ($32B national; $22.37/week per person); % likely income-eligible for federal nutrition programs; Food insecurity rate by county and congressional district; Child food insecurity by county; Estimates for seniors, by income band, and by race/ethnicity; Program eligibility threshold context; About 86% of high-food-insecurity counties are rural (Map the Meal Gap 2025); About 21 million food-insecure people are income-ineligible for federal nutrition programs; Roughly 9 SNAP-provided meals for every 1 meal from the charitable food network; County-level food-insecurity rate; Estimated meal cost and annual food budget shortfall

Map the Meal Gap

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Feeding America's annual study and interactive map estimating food insecurity at the county and congressional-district level across the United States, including child food insecurity rates and the local cost of a meal. The standard citable, locatable food-insecurity data artifact.

Datapoints: county-level food insecurity rates; child food insecurity rates; average cost of a meal by county; food budget shortfall estimates; county-level food-insecurity rates; congressional-district food-insecurity estimates; annual refresh cycle; County-level food-insecurity rates and meal-gap estimates; Child food-insecurity estimates by county; County-level food-insecurity rates; Congressional-district food-insecurity estimates; Child food-insecurity rates; Cost-per-meal and meal-gap (budget shortfall) figures; county food-insecurity rate; child food-insecurity rate by county; share of high-insecurity counties that are rural (86%); cost per meal and food budget shortfall; congressional-district estimates

Map the Meal Gap - County Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Annual study estimating food insecurity for every U.S. county and congressional district, including overall, child, and senior rates plus local meal cost.

Datapoints: overall food insecurity rate by county; child food insecurity estimates by county; senior/older adult food insecurity; food insecurity by income level and by race/ethnicity; average cost per meal (local food cost)

Map the Meal Gap 2025 (full report)

established-research-orgnationalreportFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

The full annual report behind Map the Meal Gap, detailing national and local food-insecurity estimates, meal cost, and budget shortfall. Notes a 2023 methodology change limiting year-over-year comparability of cost/gap estimates.

Datapoints: 86% (281 of 328) of highest-food-insecurity counties are rural; Nearly 20% / ~14M children food insecure in 2023 (individual-child model); Est. 21M people (44% of food insecure) may be income-ineligible for SNAP; Closing the national gap would have taken $32.2B in 2023, $22.37 per person/week; 2024 county data not released until late July 2026; 86% (281 of 328) of highest-food-insecurity counties (>=20%) are rural; ~44% (21M) of food-insecure Americans may be income-ineligible for SNAP; Cost to close the food-insecurity gap was $32.2B in 2023 ($22.37/person/week); County-level food-insecurity rates (modeled); Child food insecurity (~20% / ~14M children nationally, individual-child model); 286 of 328 highest-FI counties are rural (86%); 44% / 21M food-insecure may be income-ineligible for SNAP; Cost to close the gap: $32.2B (2023), $22.37 per person per week; National food insecurity rate and counts; Child food insecurity rate; Average meal cost (national and local); Food budget shortfall totals; State and county estimate tables

Map the Meal Gap 2025 press release

established-research-orgnationalarticleFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Feeding America's annual study providing local-level (county and congressional district) estimates of food insecurity and food costs, including child and senior food insecurity and the budget shortfall needed to meet food needs.

Datapoints: Headline national food-insecurity figures; Rural concentration of highest-need counties; National food-insecurity headline figures; Rural concentration of food insecurity; SNAP eligibility gap; 47 million people food insecure in 2023, incl. 14 million children; 7.4 million food-insecure seniors (60+); $32 billion annual national food budget shortfall; Average meal cost $3.58; county range $2.60-$6.09; County and congressional-district food insecurity rates; Disparities by race and rurality

Map the Meal Gap Methodology

established-research-orgnationalguidelineFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Technical documentation explaining how Map the Meal Gap models food insecurity from the Current Population Survey, American Community Survey, BLS, and NielsenIQ price data anchored to USDA's Thrifty Food Plan.

Datapoints: Data sources (CPS, ACS, BLS, NIQ); State-level modeling of food insecurity vs. poverty/unemployment/disability; Meal cost estimation method (Thrifty Food Plan + grocery sales tax); Note on 2023 methodology change

The State of Senior Hunger in America in 2019 (Executive Summary)

established-research-orgnationalreportFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Annual research report estimating the prevalence and demographics of food insecurity among Americans aged 60 and older, with state-level estimates.

Datapoints: Prevalence of food insecurity among adults 60+; State-by-state senior food insecurity estimates; Demographic disparities (race, income, living arrangement)

The Health Consequences of Senior Hunger (Gundersen & Ziliak)

primary-govnationalreportFeeding America / National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (Ziliak & Gundersen)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

Longitudinal analysis quantifying the health and nutrient-intake consequences of food insecurity among older adults, a key Ziliak/Gundersen output on the health-cost burden of hunger.

Datapoints: lower nutrient intakes among food-insecure seniors (8-24%); associations with chronic disease; health-care cost implications; Senior food-insecurity prevalence trends 1999-2016; Association with depression, ADL limitations, and chronic conditions; Comparison of food-insecure vs food-secure senior health; Nutrient-intake deficits among food-insecure seniors

FRAC Mapping Tools

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

FRAC's interactive mapping tools visualizing federal nutrition-program participation and gaps across states and localities.

Datapoints: Program participation by geography; School/summer meal coverage gaps; State comparison maps

FRAC USDA Food Security Report news/analysis (47.9M Americans)

established-research-orgnationalarticleFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

FRAC's analysis of the latest USDA food-security release, contextualizing the 47.9M food-insecure figure and 14.1M children, and tracking USDA's decision to end the 30-year survey.

Datapoints: 47.9M people in food-insecure households (2024); 14.1M children in food-insecure households; Policy implications and survey-termination context

FoodPrint - The Limits of Emergency Food

othernationalarticleFoodPrint (GRACE Communications Foundation)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

FoodPrint explainer on why the emergency-food (food-bank/pantry) system is a backstop rather than a structural solution to hunger.

Datapoints: Emergency food is necessary but insufficient; Structural drivers of hunger lie in income and benefits

Hunger Free America - Annual Hunger Survey Report

othernationalreportHunger Free AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Hunger Free America's original annual survey of households and of food-charity programs across all 50 states, measuring affordability pressure and emergency-food demand.

Datapoints: Share of low-income families facing higher living costs; Share finding it harder to afford food; % of food charities reporting rising demand (90%); % struggling to meet demand (80%); Survey of 659 food charities nationwide

Hunger Free America Annual Hunger Survey Reports

othernationalreportHunger Free AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

Hunger Free America's annual hunger survey reports, surveying food-assistance programs and lower-income families on demand, cost-of-living pressures, and federal food-aid changes, with state-level breakdowns.

Datapoints: Share of food programs reporting rising demand (90% in 2025); Share of families facing higher cost of living, by state; Difficulty affording adequate food; Clients facing federal food-aid reductions

Move For Hunger - Food Recovery Program

othernationalorg-hubMove For HungerHunger & food-assistance organizations

National non-profit that mobilizes moving/transportation networks to rescue surplus food and deliver it free of charge to food banks. The page documents the food-recovery program model and cumulative impact statistics.

Datapoints: Over 60 million pounds of food delivered to food banks since 2009 (>50 million meals); Over 15 million pounds diverted from landfills via the Food Recovery Program; 38% of U.S. food produced annually is wasted; 47+ million Americans face hunger; 1 in 5 children; Minimum donation thresholds (500 lbs non-perishable / 8,000 lbs fresh); ~35% of U.S. food produced goes unsold or uneaten; Rescuing 15% of wasted food could feed 25 million Americans/year; 9+ million lbs of food recovered in three years (7.5 million meals); Food-waste environmental footprint

Move For Hunger - Food Waste & Hunger Facts

othernationalarticleMove For HungerHunger & food-assistance organizations

Move For Hunger's data pages connecting food waste to hunger, anchoring its food-rescue logistics model across all 50 states and Canada.

Datapoints: ~38% of U.S. food wasted annually; Rescuing 15% of waste could feed ~25M Americans; 47M+ Americans food insecure; 1 in 5 children; 1,200+ moving companies and 2,900+ apartment communities in network

Move For Hunger - Hunger Facts

othernationalarticleMove For HungerHunger & food-assistance organizations

Compiled hunger statistics page from food-rescue nonprofit Move For Hunger, summarizing U.S. food insecurity figures sourced from federal and Feeding America data.

Datapoints: 47+ million people face hunger in the U.S.; 1 in 7 households food insecure; 13.8 million children food insecure; Links between hunger and homelessness

Development and Validity of a 2-Item Screen to Identify Families at Risk for Food Insecurity (Hunger Vital Sign)

othernationalarticlePediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics); Children's HealthWatchHunger & food-assistance organizations

Landmark 2010 study (Hager et al., Pediatrics 126(1):e26-e32) validating the 2-item Hunger Vital Sign screen now widely used in clinical settings to identify food-insecure families. Foundational citation for food-insecurity screening.

Datapoints: 2-item Hunger Vital Sign screening tool (sensitivity/specificity validated against the USDA 18-item module); 23% of the multi-site sample were food insecure; Cross-site Children's HealthWatch sample

No Kid Hungry - Child Hunger Statistics & Facts

othernationalarticleShare Our Strength / No Kid HungryHunger & food-assistance organizations

No Kid Hungry's headline statistics page on U.S. childhood hunger, drawing on USDA food-security data and the campaign's own surveys and program counts.

Datapoints: ~1 in 5 children in food-insecure households; ~14 million children facing hunger; Meals served by partners (374M+ in a school year); State-level survey food-insecurity rates

No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices - Research

othernationalorg-hubShare Our Strength / No Kid HungryHunger & food-assistance organizations

Practitioner-facing research library on child nutrition programs, including rural food insecurity, school breakfast, and summer/afterschool meals best practices.

Datapoints: Rural food-insecurity research brief; School breakfast and summer meal participation studies; Program design and outreach best practices

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesHunger & food-assistance organizations

Official hub of the federal health and human-services agency, the authoritative source for the annual HHS Poverty Guidelines and for the safety-net and nutrition programs (Head Start, LIHEAP, TANF, ACF hunger/nutrition initiatives) that use those guidelines for eligibility. Routes to ASPE and ACF for the underlying policy data.

Datapoints: Annual HHS Poverty Guidelines (federal poverty level); List of programs that use the poverty guidelines for eligibility; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash-assistance program; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Head Start eligibility (incl. SNAP categorical eligibility); ACF Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Initiative

SNAP Key Statistics and Research (ERS)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research ServiceHunger & food-assistance organizations

ERS's analytical hub for SNAP, the nation's largest food-assistance program, with participation, cost, and benefit-adequacy research and the SNAP/WIC administrative-data collaborative.

Datapoints: SNAP enrollment and cost trends; Benefit levels and Thrifty Food Plan linkage; Program error/participation rate research

FNS Program Participation Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceHunger & food-assistance organizations

Interactive FNS dashboards visualizing nutrition-program participation and meals served at national, state, and territory levels, including a SNAP-in-Action view.

Datapoints: SNAP/WIC/school-meal participation over time; Meals served by program; State and territory comparisons

FRAC State of the States: Profiles of Hunger, Poverty, and Federal Nutrition Programs

established-research-orgstate-NCreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

FRAC's per-state profiles measuring how well each state delivers federal nutrition programs (SNAP, school breakfast/lunch, summer, WIC) relative to need; includes a North Carolina profile.

Datapoints: State SNAP participation and reach; School breakfast/lunch participation ratios; Summer nutrition program reach; WIC coverage; State poverty and food-insecurity context

Carolina Hunger Initiative (UNC)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubUNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease PreventionHunger & food-assistance organizations

UNC-Chapel Hill program (formerly hosted at hungerinitiative.web.unc.edu) using data and programs to fight child and college-student food insecurity across North Carolina, including child-nutrition data profiles and summer/school meal program work. Notable for an expanding Western NC child-hunger research project and an Asheville-hosted statewide conference.

Datapoints: NC child nutrition program participation by district; School meals profiles by district; Summer meals profiles by county; Economic-benefit estimates of nutrition programs; Child Nutrition Data Profiles by NC county/region; School Meals for All NC campaign (free breakfast and lunch for all public-school children); SUN Meals-to-Go / SummerMeals4NCKids summer nutrition program; NCCollegeFoodBenefits.org SNAP awareness tool for NC college students (launched 2025); Western NC Child Hunger Research Project; NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference (2026 in Asheville); child hunger research (Western NC, Dogwood Health Trust funded); college student food insecurity and SNAP eligibility (NCCollegeFoodBenefits.org); school meal access and summer nutrition programs; NC food assistance program enrollment outreach

Food Environment Index (County Health Rankings)

established-research-orgstate-NCdatasetUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationHunger & food-assistance organizations

A 0-10 composite county indicator combining food insecurity (from Map the Meal Gap) and limited healthy-food access, reported for every U.S. county including all of North Carolina.

Datapoints: Food Environment Index score (0=worst, 10=best) per county; % population food insecure; % low-income with limited grocery access; County rankings within each state

Hunger & Poverty in Buncombe County, NC (Map the Meal Gap)

established-research-orglocal-AVLinteractive-mapFeeding AmericaHunger & food-assistance organizations

County-level food-insecurity profile for Buncombe County (Asheville), with overall and child food-insecurity rates, cost-per-meal, and budget-shortfall estimates for the local Asheville/WNC area.

Datapoints: Buncombe County food insecurity rate; Number of food-insecure people in Buncombe; Annual food budget shortfall ($); Child food insecurity (separate child view); Buncombe County food insecurity rate (~14.3% recent); Child food insecurity rate for Buncombe; Estimated cost per meal (local); Annual food budget shortfall (local dollars); Comparison to NC (17.7%) and national rates

MANNA FoodBank - Hunger in WNC: A Closer Look

local-authoritylocal-AVLdashboardMANNA FoodBankHunger & food-assistance organizations

MANNA's data page detailing food insecurity across Western North Carolina, including county-level need and at-risk population estimates.

Datapoints: 120,000+ people food insecure in WNC (incl. ~25,000 children); ~20% of adults with limited/uncertain food access; County-level breakdowns across 16 WNC counties

Western North Carolina Vitality Index - Food Security

otherlocal-AVLdashboardWNC Healthy Impact / WNC Health NetworkHunger & food-assistance organizations

Regional data dashboard tracking food security indicators across Western North Carolina counties, drawing on USDA, Map the Meal Gap, and County Health Rankings sources.

Datapoints: County food-insecurity rates across WNC; Child food-insecurity estimates; Food environment / access measures; Trend tracking by county; WNC county food-insecurity rates; child food insecurity by county; food-desert/access indicators; SNAP participation; regional trends over time

Our World in Data (OWID) - GitHub data repositories

otherglobaldatasetOur World in Data (Global Change Data Lab / University of Oxford)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

Open-source repositories backing Our World in Data's research on global problems including poverty, hunger, and inequality, plus the owid-grapher visualization platform and the ETL data pipeline. Data and charts are published under Creative Commons BY.

Datapoints: Global poverty and hunger time-series datasets; Health, energy, and CO2/greenhouse-gas data; 53+ open repositories; CC BY licensed; Global poverty and inequality series; Hunger and food-related indicators; CO2 / energy datasets; owid-grapher open-source charting tool; ETL data transformation system

World Bank DataBank

primary-intlglobaldatasetThe World BankHunger & food-assistance organizations

Analysis and visualization tool hosting World Bank time-series databases, including the flagship World Development Indicators, used to benchmark poverty, hunger, and economic development across countries.

Datapoints: World Development Indicators (poverty headcount, GNI per capita, social metrics); Health Nutrition and Population Statistics; Gender Statistics (labor, education, health); Education Statistics (~2,500 indicators)

UN SDG Statistics - Global SDG Indicators Database

primary-intlglobaldashboardUnited Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)Hunger & food-assistance organizations

Official UN platform for monitoring the 2030 Agenda, providing the Global SDG Indicators Database, UN Data Commons for the SDGs, country profiles, and disaggregated SDG analytics across poverty, hunger, and housing goals.

Datapoints: Goal 1 (poverty) and Goal 2 (hunger/food security) indicator series; SDG 11.1.1 population in slums/informal/inadequate housing; Country profiles and disaggregated data; Annual SDG progress reports

LTSS State Scorecard (2023 edition)

established-research-orgnationaldashboardAARP Public Policy Institute (with The SCAN Foundation and The Commonwealth Fund)North Carolina state data

Comparative state-by-state scorecard ranking how well each state's long-term services and supports system performs for older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers. Includes downloadable state profiles (including North Carolina) across five dimensions and dozens of indicators.

Datapoints: Rankings for all 50 states plus DC across five LTSS dimensions; Indicators for affordability/access, choice of setting, quality of life, support for family caregivers, and effective transitions; Finding: nursing-home care is unaffordable for middle-income Americans in every state; Most-improved states 2020-2023 (e.g., Delaware, Colorado); State LTSS affordability and access rankings; Choice of setting and provider indicators; Quality of life and care quality measures; Family caregiver support indicators; State performance tiers across five dimensions: Affordability and Access; Choice of Settings and Providers; Safety and Quality; Support for Family Caregivers; Community Integration; Per-state profiles with indicator values and national rank; Direct care workforce, home and community-based services (HCBS), Medicaid LTSS spending balance

KIDS COUNT Data Book (annual)

established-research-orgnationalreportAnnie E. Casey FoundationNorth Carolina state data

Annual flagship report ranking all 50 states on overall child well-being across four domains using 16 key indicators. Provides national trends and a 50-state ranking, with downloadable state profiles including North Carolina.

Datapoints: Composite state rankings on child well-being; Economic Well-Being domain: children in poverty, parents lacking secure employment, high housing cost burden, teens not in school/working; Health domain: low birthweight, uninsured children, child/teen deaths; Education and Family & Community domains; Per-state profiles (including NC) with trend data; State rankings on child well-being (NC = 34th in 2025); Child poverty trend reversal in NC (increase in 2023 data); Nearly one-third of NC children in households spending >30% of income on housing

KIDS COUNT initiative hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubAnnie E. Casey FoundationNorth Carolina state data

Landing page for the national KIDS COUNT project and its network of state-level grantee organizations (in NC, the NC Child organization), linking the Data Book, Data Center, and state partner data.

Datapoints: Links to the Data Book and Data Center; Directory of state KIDS COUNT grantees (North Carolina partner); Topic briefs on poverty, housing, food, and child welfare

KIDS COUNT - Child Food Insecurity indicator

established-research-orgnationaldatasetAnnie E. Casey Foundation (data from Feeding America Map the Meal Gap)North Carolina state data

Stand-alone interactive indicator table for child food insecurity, filterable by state and year, with North Carolina and other states comparable side by side. Sourced from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap estimates.

Datapoints: estimated number and percent of children who are food insecure; state and national trend lines; comparison across all U.S. states

The Self-Sufficiency Standard (Center for Women's Welfare)

primary-academicnationaltoolCenter for Women's Welfare, University of WashingtonNorth Carolina state data

A county-level family-budget standard measuring the minimum income required to meet basic needs without public or private assistance, computed for 37 states (including North Carolina) across 70 family types.

Datapoints: County-by-county self-sufficiency wage by family composition (70 family types); Itemized basic-needs budgets (housing, child care, food, transport, health, taxes); 'Above and Below' demographic studies of households below the Standard; Online calculators for work-support and budgeting

State Fact Sheet Links (Housing Fact Sheets Map)

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)North Carolina state data

Interactive U.S. map linking to each state's CBPP federal rental assistance and housing fact sheet, providing a quick state-level entry point into rental-assistance and low-income-renter data including North Carolina.

Datapoints: Per-state links to federal rental assistance fact sheets (all 50 states + DC); State-level counts of federally assisted households; State-level low-income renter and need figures

Child Care Aware of America — Data Stories & GIS Mapping

othernationalinteractive-mapChild Care Aware of AmericaNorth Carolina state data

Interactive state snapshots and GIS mapping of child care price, supply, and access, supporting analysis of child care deserts and affordability across states including North Carolina. Note: the former learning.childcareaware.org LMS subdomain has been retired and is not a data source.

Datapoints: State-level child care price and supply snapshots; GIS mapping of child care availability (deserts); Family income share spent on care by state; Data request tools for custom extracts

National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction (NICCC)

primary-govnationaltoolCouncil of State Governments Justice Center / U.S. DOJ Bureau of Justice AssistanceNorth Carolina state data

Searchable national database of statutory and regulatory restrictions that follow a criminal conviction, including bars to housing, employment, occupational licensing, and public benefits such as SNAP and TANF. Filterable by state, including North Carolina.

Datapoints: Collateral consequences affecting housing access; Restrictions on SNAP/TANF and other public benefits; Employment and occupational-licensing bars; State-by-state filtering (incl. NC statutes); Mandatory vs. discretionary consequence flags

EPI Minimum Wage Tracker

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)North Carolina state data

Interactive series tracking real and nominal minimum wage rates over time at the federal level, a key cost-of-living and low-wage-worker indicator. (EPI also maintains a companion state-by-state Minimum Wage Tracker covering North Carolina.)

Datapoints: state minimum wage rates; local/city minimum wage ordinances; scheduled future increases; inflation-indexing status; tipped/subminimum wage; Federal minimum wage $7.25/hr (unchanged since 2009); Real (inflation-adjusted) value of the minimum wage over time; North Carolina follows the federal $7.25 minimum (no higher state floor)

LSC Civil Court Data Initiative (CCDI) - Eviction Tracker

primary-govnationaldashboardLegal Services CorporationNorth Carolina state data

LSC initiative aggregating real-time civil court records to track eviction case trends across 1,250 counties and municipalities in 30 states and territories (with a North Carolina view), and expanding into debt-collection cases. Built from 30M+ court records filed since 2016.

Datapoints: Multi-year eviction filing trends across 1,250 counties/municipalities in 30 states/territories; 30M+ civil court records collected since 2016; North Carolina eviction data view; Debt-collection case data in development; Focus areas including Virginia, Cleveland, Oklahoma County, Tulsa County

State of Homelessness: State Fact Sheets

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Alliance to End HomelessnessNorth Carolina state data

Per-state downloadable fact sheets summarizing homelessness counts, demographic disparities, and housing/shelter capacity, drawn from HUD's annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. Includes a North Carolina sheet usable for state context.

Datapoints: Point-in-Time homelessness counts by state; Demographic disparities in who experiences homelessness; Housing and shelter capacity narratives; Coverage for all 50 states plus D.C.; Total people experiencing homelessness per state (2024 PIT); Sheltered vs. unsheltered counts; Family, youth, and chronic homelessness figures; Racial/ethnic, gender, and age disparities; Emergency shelter and permanent housing capacity

The Nation's Report Card (NAEP Data Explorer & profiles)

primary-govnationaldashboardNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationNorth Carolina state data

National Assessment of Educational Progress, the authoritative national measure of student achievement since 1969. The NAEP Data Explorer generates custom tables, maps, and trends in reading, math, science, and other subjects at national, state (including North Carolina), and large-urban-district (TUDA) levels, with breakdowns by income proxy (eligibility for the National School Lunch Program), race, and other groups relevant to poverty and educational equity.

Datapoints: achievement by NSLP eligibility (free/reduced-price lunch poverty indicator); breakdowns by race/ethnicity, disability, English-learner status, parental education; state profiles and district (TUDA) profiles; assessments since 1969 across math, reading, writing, science; Reading/math/science scale scores and achievement levels (grades 4, 8, 12); State-level results including North Carolina; TUDA urban-district results; Subgroup gaps by NSLP eligibility (low-income proxy), race/ethnicity, ELL, disability; Long-term trend assessments (ages 9, 13); Data Explorer, State/District Profiles, and NAEP Data Service API

Rural Food Insecurity Research Brief and Report

othernationalreportShare Our Strength / No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices (with Feeding America and NC State-led university research team)North Carolina state data

Qualitative research brief and report on child hunger in rural America, based on 150+ interviews with families across six states, documenting why rural food insecurity exceeds urban rates.

Datapoints: Food insecurity affects 1 in 7 U.S. children; Rural food insecurity 16% vs. urban 13% (2017); Rural persistent poverty and slower Great Recession recovery; Qualitative findings from 150+ family interviews

OEWS State Cross-Industry Occupational Wage Estimates

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsNorth Carolina state data

State-level cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates from the OEWS program, used to compare occupational wages against living-wage and housing-wage thresholds for each state including North Carolina.

Datapoints: State occupational employment levels; Mean/median wages by occupation per state; Wage distribution percentiles by occupation and state

Census State Data Center (SDC) Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauNorth Carolina state data

The Census Bureau's longest-running partnership network of state lead agencies that make demographic, economic, and population data available locally. North Carolina's lead agency is the NC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM).

Datapoints: Census population and housing statistics; American Community Survey (ACS) data access points; State population estimates and trends; Local Employment Dynamics (LEHD/LEHD) employer-employee data; OnTheMap employment data

HHS: 10 New States into CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program (2026 cohort)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) / SAMHSANorth Carolina state data

HHS press release (dated May 28, 2026) naming the 10 states added to the CCBHC Medicaid Section 223 Demonstration: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Washington, West Virginia. North Carolina was excluded.

Datapoints: 10 new states added to CCBHC Medicaid demonstration in 2026; North Carolina not selected in 2026 cohort

DOL Wage and Hour Division - Minimum Wage

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour DivisionNorth Carolina state data

Authoritative federal page on the minimum wage, covering the $7.25 federal minimum wage, tipped-wage rules, and links to state-by-state minimum wage law tables (including North Carolina, which follows the federal $7.25 floor).

Datapoints: federal minimum wage $7.25/hr; tipped minimum cash wage $2.13/hr; NC minimum wage $7.25 (federal floor, no higher state rate); Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour (effective July 24, 2009); Links to state minimum-wage tables (some states above the federal floor; NC follows the $7.25 federal rate); Covers tipped-employee minimum cash wage and tip-credit rules; Maintained by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

USDA ERS Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapUSDA Economic Research ServiceNorth Carolina state data

An interactive county-level mapping tool presenting socioeconomic data for rural and small-town America, including poverty, income, employment, and demographic indicators. Useful for situating Western NC / Appalachian counties against persistent-poverty and economic-dependence typologies.

Datapoints: county income and poverty; employment and job change; population characteristics; rural-urban classification; Median household income and per capita income; Poverty rate and child poverty rate; Employment, unemployment, and industrial composition; Demographics: age, race/ethnicity, migration, education, household composition; Veterans characteristics; Rural-urban continuum codes, economic dependence types, persistent-poverty and population-loss classifications

USDA NASS Quick Stats API

primary-govnationalapiUSDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)North Carolina state data

Programmatic REST API (and daily-updated JSON/compressed data files) delivering the same agricultural statistics as the Quick Stats web tool for crops, livestock, prices, and Census of Agriculture data; supports automated pulls of NC state and county records.

Datapoints: JSON files for Agricultural Prices, Crop Production, and Livestock at report release; Daily-updated compressed (*.gz) full-data downloads; Filterable by commodity, state/county, and year via API key

USDA NASS Quick Stats database & API

primary-govnationalapiUSDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)North Carolina state data

The most comprehensive tool for accessing agricultural data published by NASS, with a What/Where/When query interface spanning commodities, geographies (national, state, county, ag district, ZIP), and years (1860-present). Supports food production, farm economics, prices, and operator demographics at the North Carolina county level.

Datapoints: geography to national, state, county, ag district, watershed, and zip levels; time series 1870-present; crops, livestock, prices, expenses, demographics, and irrigation; REST API with downloadable CSV/JSON output (API key via api.data.gov); Census of Agriculture and survey statistics for 500+ commodities; Crop production, livestock, dairy, prices, and economic indicators; Geographic levels down to county and ZIP code (incl. NC counties); Operator demographics, land assets, and irrigation data

ACLU of NC — HB 781: Unauthorized Public Camping/Sleeping

otherstate-NCorg-hubAmerican Civil Liberties Union of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

ACLU of North Carolina's legislative-tracking page on HB 781, which would prohibit public camping/sleeping outside locally designated areas; the ACLU opposes the bill as criminalization of homelessness. Authoritative civil-rights advocacy source on the bill's status.

Datapoints: ACLU-NC position: oppose HB 781; Bill prohibits public camping/sleeping outside locally designated areas; Linked to ACLU-NC Criminal Law Reform issue area; Status: Passed House (as of May 12, 2025 update); Bill categorized under Criminal Law Reform issue area; ACLU-NC position: opposed

Carolina Hunger Initiative - NC School Meals Profiles

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardCarolina Hunger Initiative (UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention)North Carolina state data

County- and district-level profiles of school meal participation across all 115+ NC school districts, summarizing how many children received meals, economic benefits, and nutrition-access gaps versus the statewide average.

Datapoints: School meal participation counts by district/county (2023-24 school year, Oct 2023); Economic-benefit snapshots of school meal programs; Comparative analysis vs. statewide nutrition-access efforts; Identified gaps in hunger-relief coverage; School breakfast and lunch participation by NC district; Meal claims data (October 2023 for 2023-24 profiles); Economic benefit of school meals; District vs. statewide comparison

Carolina Hunger Initiative - Nutrition Program Profiles

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardCarolina Hunger Initiative (UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention)North Carolina state data

Landing hub for the Carolina Hunger Initiative's local child-nutrition profiles (school meals by district and summer meals by county) based on NC Department of Public Instruction meal-claims data.

Datapoints: Child-nutrition program participation by NC district/county; Economic-benefit snapshots; Statewide comparison metrics; Children receiving school and summer meals in NC; Participation by district and county; Economic benefits and nutrition access challenges; Statewide fact sheet

Carolina Hunger Initiative - Summer Nutrition Profiles

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardCarolina Hunger Initiative (UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention)North Carolina state data

Profiles of summer-meal (Summer Food Service Program) participation by NC county/district, highlighting reach and gaps in summer child-hunger relief versus the school year.

Datapoints: Summer meal program participation counts by NC district/county; Summer vs. school-year participation gap; Economic-benefit snapshots; Summer meals participation by NC county; Children receiving summer meals; Economic benefits and access challenges; Statewide summer-meals comparison

Carolina Public Press - NC SNAP disruption analysis

local-authoritystate-NCarticleCarolina Public PressNorth Carolina state data

Nonprofit-newsroom analysis of how severe a SNAP disruption would be for North Carolina families, with statewide enrollment and impact figures.

Datapoints: NC SNAP enrollment and household impact; Scale of benefit disruption for NC families

Carolina Public Press — Faces of Hunger

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubCarolina Public PressNorth Carolina state data

Yearlong CPP journalism and community-dialogue project on hunger and food insecurity in rural North Carolina, citing Feeding America and USDA estimates of ~1.5 million food-insecure North Carolinians.

Datapoints: rural-NC and WNC hunger reporting; community-dialogue journalism; ~1.5 million food-insecure North Carolinians; Rural food-insecurity disparities; SNAP federal-cut impacts on NC families; Racial disparities in food insecurity (Black 28% / Latino 23% / White 11%)

Sheps Center - Healthy Opportunities Pilot Data & Evaluation

primary-academicstate-NCdatasetCecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, UNC-Chapel HillNorth Carolina state data

Independent state-commissioned evaluation of the Healthy Opportunities Pilots, publishing data and findings on Medicaid spending and health-related social needs (food, housing, transportation) in NC.

Datapoints: Medicaid spending tied to social needs; service utilization by domain; cost and utilization outcomes; enrollee social-need reductions; evaluation period data (Mar 2021-Nov 2023)

Medicaid Spending and Health-Related Social Needs in NC Healthy Opportunities Pilots

otherstate-NCreportCenter for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) / JAMANorth Carolina state data

Summary and evaluation of North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots (1115 Medicaid waiver) showing the effect of funding food, housing, transportation, and interpersonal-safety services on Medicaid spending and utilization.

Datapoints: 198,000+ pilot services delivered to 13,000+ individuals by Nov 2023; Food assistance = 86% of services; housing reached 68% of those needing it; ED visits reduced by 6 per 1,000 participants monthly (22 for 12+ month enrollees); 2 fewer hospital admissions per 1,000 participant-months (non-pregnant adults); Health care costs dropped ~$85 per participant per month

CHCS Applied Research & Reports Archive

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubCenter for Housing and Community Studies, UNC GreensboroNorth Carolina state data

University-based applied research center producing affordable-housing plans, legal-needs assessments, fair-housing audits, and community needs studies across NC. A strong NC/Appalachian source for housing-insecurity, eviction-mediation, and food-access research.

Datapoints: Housing Our Greensboro: remote visual assessment of 75,000+ properties; 13% a standard deviation below average condition; 35.8% with lot-maintenance issues; Fair-housing audit: 20% of properties did not respond to male-male inquiries, 20.6% to female-female inquiries; Greensboro area: 24 food deserts; 19% food-insecurity rate (Kitchen Connects GSO); Runs an Eviction Mediation Program and Tenant Leadership Academy; Affordable housing vacancies by property; Guilford County housing resource directory

CHCS Applied Research & Studies Archive

primary-academicstate-NCreportCenter for Housing and Community Studies, UNC GreensboroNorth Carolina state data

Collection of CHCS applied-research reports and consulting studies on affordable housing, evictions, homelessness, and community development across North Carolina communities.

Datapoints: Local housing-needs assessments; Eviction and displacement studies; Community development and health-housing reports

NC Legal Needs Assessment (CHCS)

primary-academicstate-NCreportCenter for Housing and Community Studies, UNC GreensboroNorth Carolina state data

First comprehensive statewide civil legal needs assessment in nearly two decades, quantifying the justice gap for low-income North Carolinians and the prevalence of eviction, debt, and family-law problems. Includes an executive summary, full report, and an interactive storymap.

Datapoints: Statewide scope across NC; Focus on civil legal problems of low-to-moderate-income residents; First such assessment in ~20 years; Over 2 million North Carolinians at or below 125% of the federal poverty level were eligible for legal aid (2018); 71% of low-income families face at least one civil legal issue per year; ~86% of those needs go unmet; One legal aid attorney per ~8,000 eligible residents vs. one private lawyer per ~367 residents; Top urgent civil needs: eviction, foreclosure, debt collection, domestic violence, custody, guardianship; Built on five years of NC Administrative Office of the Courts civil case data plus eight legal-service providers

Self-Sufficiency Standard for North Carolina (Guilford County 2020)

otherstate-NCreportCenter for Women's Welfare, University of Washington (with NC partners)North Carolina state data

County-level measure of the income a working family must earn to meet basic needs without public or private assistance, calculated by family composition. The NC edition provides standards for all counties including Guilford.

Datapoints: Self-sufficiency wage by family type (single adult, single parent + children, two-adult families); Monthly/annual budget components: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, miscellaneous, taxes/credits; County-level cost-of-living thresholds for North Carolina

North Carolina Restoration of Rights, Pardon, Expungement & Sealing Profile

otherstate-NCguidelineCollateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC)North Carolina state data

Detailed profile of North Carolina law on restoring civil and firearms rights, expungement, pardons, and use of criminal records in employment, licensing, and housing, with statutory citations.

Datapoints: Single nonviolent felony expungement: 10-year wait; misdemeanor: 5-year wait; Two-three nonviolent felonies: 20-year wait (amended 2021); filing fee $175; Civil rights auto-restored on unconditional discharge of sentence; 2023 NC Supreme Court ruling on court-debt payment; Firearms restoration petition 20 years after civil rights restored (1-year NC residency)

North Carolina Opioid Settlement (CORE-NC / statewide MOA)

otherstate-NCorg-hubCommunity Opioid Resources Engine for North Carolina (CORE-NC) / NC DOJNorth Carolina state data

Statewide hub for North Carolina's ~$1.5-1.6 billion opioid settlement, the Memorandum of Agreement, and the approved Option A/B evidence-based strategies (including recovery housing support and recovery support services).

Datapoints: NC share ~$1.5-1.6 billion over ~18 years; Distribution: 15% state / 80% local / 5% county incentive; MOA Option A strategies include recovery housing support, recovery support services, employment services

State Reentry Council Blueprint (North Carolina)

established-research-orgstate-NCreportCSG Justice CenterNorth Carolina state data

January 2026 brief documenting North Carolina's Joint Reentry Council (Executive Order 303) as a replicable blueprint for whole-of-government reentry coordination, covering housing, health, education, and employment.

Datapoints: 95% of NC incarcerated people eventually reenter society; Seven operational subcommittees (incl. Housing, Behavioral/Physical Health); $750,000 in grants to local reentry councils; $274,000 NCDOT employment-training contract; Interactive dashboard: 26 objectives, 133 strategies

Reentry 2030 - North Carolina

otherstate-NCreportCSG Justice Center / Bureau of Justice Assistance (US DOJ)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's Reentry 2030 commitments and targets for reducing recidivism and post-incarceration homelessness while expanding education, employment, healthcare, and housing access for people leaving incarceration. State-specific reentry goals.

Datapoints: Reduce post-incarceration homelessness by 50%; 100% Medicaid eligibility upon release for eligible people; 75% increase in diplomas/credentials earned during incarceration; 50% increase in apprenticeships/work release; Local reentry councils in all 100 counties; $99M for community mental health/substance-use services

Duke Law Civil Justice Clinic

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubDuke University School of Law (in partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina)North Carolina state data

Law-school clinic where students represent low-income North Carolina clients in housing disputes, evictions, and foreclosures alongside Legal Aid of NC attorneys. A source of NC eviction/housing legal practice context and advocacy.

Datapoints: Direct representation of low-income tenants in eviction, foreclosure, and housing cases; NC state superior/district/small-claims court practice; Consumer protection and healthcare-registry matters

Feeding America - Map the Meal Gap (North Carolina)

established-research-orgstate-NCinteractive-mapFeeding AmericaNorth Carolina state data

Interactive county- and congressional-district-level map of food insecurity and meal costs for every NC county; the only study providing local-level food-insecurity estimates nationwide.

Datapoints: overall food-insecurity rate by county; child food-insecurity rate by county; number of food-insecure people; average cost per meal; annual food budget shortfall; share of food-insecure above/below SNAP eligibility threshold

Feeding America — Hunger in North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCdashboardFeeding AmericaNorth Carolina state data

State-level hunger profile for North Carolina drawing on Map the Meal Gap, summarizing how many North Carolinians (overall and children) face food insecurity and the statewide rate.

Datapoints: North Carolina overall food-insecurity rate; North Carolina child food-insecurity rate; Number of food-insecure people statewide; Cost-per-meal in NC; NC overall food insecurity rate and count; NC child food insecurity rate; Statewide meal cost and budget shortfall; Member food banks serving NC; NC food-insecure population and rate; Child food insecurity in NC; Meal gap and food budget shortfall; people facing hunger statewide; children facing hunger; state food-insecurity rate; meals provided by the network; food banks serving NC; North Carolina overall food insecurity rate (~1 in 7); Child food insecurity in NC (~1 in 5); Number of food-insecure North Carolinians; Cost per meal in NC; County-level links within the state

Feeding the Carolinas - Map the Meal Gap

otherstate-NCreportFeeding the Carolinas (Feeding America statewide association)North Carolina state data

Carolinas summary of Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study, with county-level food-insecurity, cost-per-meal, and budget-shortfall data across all 146 NC and SC counties.

Datapoints: child food insecurity (1 in 5 in the Carolinas); county food-insecurity range (11.1% Union NC to 21.9% Robeson NC); child food-insecurity range (9.8% Orange NC to 37% Halifax NC); senior (60+) food insecurity (7.8%); racial disparities (White 10.5%, Black 27%, Latino 21.5%); regional food budget shortfall ($785,395,000); average cost per meal ($3.45); share above SNAP threshold (45.5%)

NCCARE360 Statewide Resource & Referral Platform

otherstate-NCtoolFoundation for Health Leadership & Innovation / NCDHHS (with United Way of NC, NC 211, Unite Us)North Carolina state data

First statewide closed-loop health and human-services referral network spanning all 100 NC counties, connecting providers to community resources for food, housing, and other social needs and tracking referral outcomes.

Datapoints: resource directory of community-based organizations; closed-loop referral counts and outcomes; social-need screening (food, housing, transportation, safety); statewide coverage (100 counties)

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle - Map the Meal Gap (NC)

otherstate-NCarticleInter-Faith Food ShuttleNorth Carolina state data

Triangle-region food-relief nonprofit's summary of Map the Meal Gap food-insecurity findings for North Carolina, used for local advocacy and program targeting.

Datapoints: NC statewide food-insecurity rate; child food-insecurity rate; regional meal gap and shortfall

Medicaid Spending and Health-Related Social Needs in the NC Healthy Opportunities Pilots Program

primary-academicstate-NCarticleJAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)North Carolina state data

Peer-reviewed evaluation (published Feb 2025) of North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots, a first-in-nation Medicaid program funding nonmedical services for food, housing, and transportation, and its effect on healthcare spending and utilization.

Datapoints: 13,227 HOP enrollees vs 73,469 comparison-group members with identified social needs; Spending equivalent to counterfactual by month 8, lower thereafter; Significant decreasing spending trend of $85 per beneficiary per month vs expected; 89% of enrollees received services; 85% of services were food assistance; Lower ED-visit trend (-6 per 1,000 person-months)

Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina

otherstate-NCorg-hubLegal Aid of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's only statewide full-service fair-housing organization, providing legal representation, fair-housing testing, education, and published research/trend reports on housing discrimination affecting protected classes.

Datapoints: Fair-housing discrimination trend reports; Protected-class enforcement (race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability); Fair-housing testing of landlords, lenders, agents, and insurers; Tenant and provider education materials

Legal Aid of North Carolina - Eviction Guide

local-authoritystate-NCguidelineLegal Aid of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

Self-help guide for North Carolina tenants explaining the summary-ejectment (eviction) process, valid defenses, court procedures, and the appeal timeline.

Datapoints: NC summary-ejectment process steps (complaint through appeal); Recognized defenses (retaliation, discrimination, habitability); 10-day appeal period and padlocking procedures

Legal Aid of North Carolina - Housing

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubLegal Aid of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

Statewide hub of free housing-law resources for low-income North Carolinians, covering evictions, fair housing, foreclosures, and tenant rights, with downloadable guides, a video library, and helplines.

Datapoints: Fair Housing Helpline: 1-855-797-FAIR (3247); Legal Aid NC Helpline: 1-866-219-LANC (5262); Practice areas: evictions, fair housing, foreclosures, housing discrimination, maintenance disputes; Free tenant-rights clinics and eviction-defense/appeals guides; Eviction Defense Manual and Eviction Appeals guide; Guide to Small Claims Court; Fair Housing Helpline 1-855-797-FAIR; Legal Aid NC Helpline 1-866-219-LANC; 40+ instructional tenant-rights videos; Spanish-language eviction resources

Legal Aid of North Carolina 2023 Impact Report

local-authoritystate-NCreportLegal Aid of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

Annual report documenting Legal Aid of NC's civil legal services delivery across the state, including housing, domestic violence, expunction, and immigration casework volumes and outcomes.

Datapoints: 65,000+ North Carolinians impacted; 6,000+ domestic violence cases; 1,000+ expunction/license cases; 484 immigration cases closed; 945 pro bono cases closed affecting 2,200+ individuals; $450,000 Wells Fargo housing grant; LANCMobile rural legal office; Over 65,000 North Carolinians impacted in 2023; Housing justice and eviction-defense expansion (Wells Fargo grant); Durham Eviction Diversion Program outcomes; Heir Property Pro Bono Project

Durham Eviction Diversion Program

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubLegal Aid of North Carolina (with Duke Law Civil Justice Clinic & Durham DSS)North Carolina state data

Collaborative eviction-prevention program providing free courthouse legal advice, tenant education, and rental assistance to low-income renters in Durham County, NC. Model program for right-to-counsel and eviction diversion in NC.

Datapoints: Free courthouse clinic: Mon-Fri 9 AM-12 PM, Durham Courthouse Room 3200; Free attorney consultations for qualifying Durham residents facing eviction; Contact: 984-212-4404; Includes the Durham Evictions Mapping Project (housing insecurity during COVID-19); Free courthouse clinic Mon-Fri 9 AM-12 PM; Tenant education and legal advocacy; Rental assistance programs; Bilingual (English/Spanish) materials

LIHEAP Clearinghouse - North Carolina State Profile

primary-govstate-NCdatasetLIHEAP Clearinghouse / HHS Administration for Children and FamiliesNorth Carolina state data

State profile of North Carolina's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP/LIHEAP), summarizing program structure, eligibility, application periods, and households served for heating and crisis assistance.

Datapoints: Households served by heating program (132,375 in FY2024); Households served by crisis program (96,619 in FY2024); Heating program dates (Dec 1 - Mar 31); Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) year-round; Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and HARRP

Meals on Wheels North Carolina (statewide network)

otherstate-NCorg-hubMeals on Wheels North Carolina (in partnership with Meals on Wheels America)North Carolina state data

Statewide nonprofit network of senior nutrition providers focused on ending senior hunger in North Carolina through advocacy, training, funding, networking, and collaborative support. Serves as the connective hub for local NC Meals on Wheels programs rather than a primary data publisher.

Datapoints: Statewide network supporting NC senior nutrition providers; Mission: advocacy, training, funding, networking for senior hunger relief; Partner of Meals on Wheels America; Member directory connects to local programs (e.g., Asheville-Buncombe)

NLIHC Housing Needs by State: North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCdashboardNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)North Carolina state data

NLIHC state landing page aggregating North Carolina housing-need indicators, member organizations, and links to Out of Reach and Gap data for the state.

Datapoints: renter household counts by income; affordable-unit shortage; cost-burdened renter share; state housing wage; NC Housing Wage; NC shortage of affordable/available homes for ELI renters; NC renter cost burden; minimum-wage hours needed for rent; links to NC local jurisdiction data

The Gap Report: North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCreportNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)North Carolina state data

NC chapter of NLIHC's annual Gap report measuring the shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households.

Datapoints: shortage of affordable/available units for extremely low-income renters; renters by AMI band; cost burden among lowest-income renters; supply gap per 100 ELI households

NC Budget & Tax Center Economic County Snapshots

local-authoritystate-NCreportNC Budget & Tax Center (NC Justice Center)North Carolina state data

Flagship annual snapshots providing key economic and social indicators for all 100 NC counties with state comparison, drawn from Census ACS, BLS, DPI, and DHHS.

Datapoints: employment; poverty and income (state poverty rate 12.4%); affordable housing / renter cost burden (nearly half of renters >30%, 1 in 5 >50% of income); health; education; county vs state comparisons

2026 State of the State on North Carolina's Economy

local-authoritystate-NCreportNC Budget & Tax Center (North Carolina Justice Center)North Carolina state data

Annual briefing on economic conditions for North Carolina families, covering poverty, wages, job-growth disparities, cost of living, and tax policy. Provides statewide context on wage stagnation and rising essential costs relevant to housing and food insecurity.

Datapoints: 12.4% of NC population lives on poverty incomes; Minimum wage unchanged at $7.25 for 16+ years; Job growth concentrated in metro areas; rural/small-town lag; Housing, child care, and health care costs rising faster than wages; Wealthiest 1% receive $4.9B/yr in combined state+federal tax cuts; NC poverty rate (12.4%); State minimum wage ($7.25, unchanged 16+ years); Distribution of tax-cut benefits across income groups; State revenue impacts of tax cuts over the past decade

NC Living Income Standard - Methodology (2025)

local-authoritystate-NCguidelineNC Budget & Tax Center (North Carolina Justice Center)North Carolina state data

Methodology for the biennial NC Living Income Standard, a conservative measure of the income working families need to afford basic expenses in all 100 NC counties (excluding public benefits). Defines eight budget categories and the wage/hours-at-minimum-wage figures derived from them.

Datapoints: Eight budget categories: housing (40th-percentile rent), food, child care, health care, transportation, other necessities, taxes, savings (new 2025); Family types: single adult plus 1-3 children (ages 3, 7, 11); Full-time work assumption (2,080 hours/yr) and $7.25 minimum wage comparison; Monthly/annual income and hourly wage needed by county; Inflation-adjusted to October 2024 dollars; Monthly/annual income needs and required hourly wages by family type; Eight budget components: housing, food, child care, health care, transportation, other necessities, taxes, savings; All 100 NC counties plus statewide averages; Hours needed at minimum wage to meet the standard

2025 NC Child Health Report Card Data Sources

local-authoritystate-NCreportNC ChildNorth Carolina state data

The data-source appendix for the 2025 NC Child Health Report Card, listing the underlying sources for each child/family well-being indicator including poverty and food insecurity. A roadmap to authoritative NC child-welfare datasets.

Datapoints: Source citations for poverty, food insecurity, infant mortality, and health-access indicators; NC DHHS SCHS vital statistics; USDA poverty/food-assistance sources; Annie E. Casey Foundation child-poverty statistics; NC DPI education data

NC Child (Data Center & KIDS COUNT)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNC ChildNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina child-advocacy organization that publishes research and a Data Center on child poverty, health, food insecurity, and family economic security across all 100 NC counties, including KIDS COUNT data for the state.

Datapoints: NC KIDS COUNT Data Book county-level child wellbeing rankings (NC ranked 32nd in 2026); Child health and well-being indicators; Family economic security / poverty indicators by county; Data Center with NC county-level child statistics; NC ranking in the KIDS COUNT Data Book (32nd in 2026); county-level child well-being data (Data Center); family economic security indicators; child health and early-education metrics; publications and policy briefs

NC Child Data Center

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardNC ChildNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina child well-being data hub with state and county-level metrics across health, education, family economic security, poverty, and youth risk factors, plus interactive county data dashboards and the Child Health Report Card.

Datapoints: 35+ child well-being metrics by county; Child poverty and family economic security indicators; Health insurance access and child health metrics; Education and youth risk factor data; Mental Health Mapping Dashboard; 35+ child well-being indicators by county and legislative district; Family economic security metrics (poverty, food, housing); Child health and education indicators; Statewide and county comparison snapshots

2025 North Carolina Child Health Report Card

local-authoritystate-NCreportNC Child & North Carolina Institute of MedicineNorth Carolina state data

Biennial report card (April 2025) grading North Carolina on key indicators of child health and well-being across four domains, with a special focus on school-based mental health.

Datapoints: Domain 1: Healthy Births (teen births, infant mortality); Domain 2: Access to Care; Domain 3: Secure Homes & Neighborhoods (poverty, housing); Domain 4: Health Risk Factors (child deaths); 2025 special focus: school-based mental health

2025 NC Child Health Report Card (Press Release / Summary)

local-authoritystate-NCarticleNC Child & North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM)North Carolina state data

Summary release of the 2025 NC Child Health Report Card highlighting failing grades in housing/economic security, birth outcomes, mental health, and child abuse/neglect, plus a school-based mental-health focus area.

Datapoints: Grades A (Insurance Coverage) through F (Birth Outcomes, Mental Health, Child Abuse/Neglect, Housing/Economic Security); School psychologist-to-student ratio 1,928:1 vs. 500:1 recommended; 14 tracked indicators

NCDA&CS Food Distribution Division (TEFAP)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS)North Carolina state data

State agency that receives and distributes USDA TEFAP commodities to NC food banks and emergency feeding organizations via warehouses in Butner and Salisbury; quarterly allocations based on county SNAP participation.

Datapoints: TEFAP commodity volumes distributed; lead agency per county; quarterly allocations keyed to county SNAP counts; EFO network (food banks, pantries, soup kitchens); TEFAP state plan and advisory board

NCCARE360

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC Department of Health and Human Services & Foundation for Health Leadership and InnovationNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's statewide coordinated-care network that electronically connects people with identified social needs (food, housing, employment) to community resources via a closed-loop referral platform. Operates in all 100 NC counties.

Datapoints: Statewide resource directory with call center, navigators, and text/chat (via United Way of NC / NC 211); Secure electronic closed-loop referral platform (Unite Us); Referral outcome and resolution tracking across health and human-service providers; Coverage of non-medical drivers of health: nutritious food, affordable housing, employment

NC ePASS - Online Benefits Application & Screening Portal

primary-govstate-NCtoolNC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's online self-service portal to screen eligibility for and apply to public assistance programs, including Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP), Medicaid, and energy assistance. The primary intake path for NC residents seeking food and benefit support.

Datapoints: Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) application; Medicaid application; benefit eligibility screening; case status checking

NC Low-Income Energy Assistance / Crisis Intervention (LIEAP via ePASS)

primary-govstate-NCtoolNC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)North Carolina state data

ePASS pathway to apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded one-time annual payment helping eligible NC households pay heating bills, part of the state's energy-burden safety net.

Datapoints: heating-cost assistance for low-income households; eligibility tied to income and household size; annual application window

NC SCHS - Interactive Data Tools

primary-govstate-NCinteractive-mapNC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public HealthNorth Carolina state data

Interactive query tools for North Carolina health statistics, letting users build custom tables of mortality, leading causes of death, and other indicators by county, age, race, and sex.

Datapoints: custom mortality query by county/demographic; leading causes of death (LCD) interactive query; rate and count tables by year

NC SCHS - Leading Causes of Death Query

primary-govstate-NCinteractive-mapNC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public HealthNorth Carolina state data

Interactive query tool returning leading causes of death for North Carolina by county, race/ethnicity, sex, and age group, with counts and age-adjusted rates.

Datapoints: leading causes of death ranked by county; age-adjusted death rates by cause; breakdowns by race/ethnicity, sex, age

NC SCHS - Vital Statistics

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public HealthNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina vital statistics series covering births, deaths, marriages, divorces, fetal and infant deaths, by county and year. Source for county-level mortality and natality used in health-equity research.

Datapoints: annual births and fertility rates by county; deaths and age-adjusted mortality rates; infant and fetal mortality; marriages and divorces

NC State Center for Health Statistics - Data Hub

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS)North Carolina state data

Central catalog of North Carolina's official health-statistics products: vital statistics, BRFSS, the County Health Data Book, the NC Health Data Query System, PRAMS, CHAMP, cancer registry, and minority-health data. The authoritative source for county-level population health indicators in NC.

Datapoints: births and deaths (vital statistics); county-level mortality and morbidity; leading causes of death; life expectancy; infant mortality; Births, deaths, mortality rates by county; BRFSS chronic-disease and health-behavior prevalence; County Health Data Book indicators; Minority health and disparity statistics; Pregnancy and infant-health (PRAMS) data; births, deaths and mortality rates by county; infant mortality and pregnancy outcomes; health behaviors and chronic disease prevalence; births, deaths, infant mortality, life expectancy by NC county; county health data books / profiles; BRFSS-based health behavior indicators for NC

NC State Center for Health Statistics - Local Data and Statistical Analysis (LDAS)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC Department of Health and Human Services, State Center for Health StatisticsNorth Carolina state data

NC SCHS unit producing county-level and state health indicators, including social determinant and community health assessment data used across North Carolina.

Datapoints: county-level health indicators; NC State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) indicators; limited access to healthy foods indicator; community health assessment support data

SummerMeals4NCKids (NC Summer Nutrition / SUN Programs)

otherstate-NCorg-hubNC Department of Public Instruction & Carolina Hunger Initiative (UNC-Chapel Hill)North Carolina state data

Official North Carolina locator for free summer meals for children and teens (18 and under), mapping 2,300+ SUN Meals, SUN Meals To-Go, and SUN Bucks sites, updated weekly during the summer season.

Datapoints: Over 2,300 free summer meal locations in North Carolina; SUN Bucks benefit amount ($120 per eligible school-aged child); SUN Meals To-Go non-congregate rural meal availability; Site Finder map of meal sites by location; 2,300+ NC summer meal site locations (searchable map); SUN Meals (congregate onsite); SUN Meals To-Go (non-congregate, rural); SUN Bucks ($120 grocery benefit per eligible child); eligibility ages 18 and under, no application

NC Fair Chance Driver License Restoration Eligibility Lookup

otherstate-NCtoolNC Fair Chance (NC Justice Center)North Carolina state data

Statewide self-help tool to check eligibility for relief from court-related debt and driver's-license suspensions tied to unpaid fines, a barrier that keeps low-income North Carolinians from working and driving.

Datapoints: Eligibility for court-debt relief; Driver's-license restoration after suspension for unpaid fines/minor charges; Employment/transportation barriers from criminal records

NC Fair Chance - Court Debt and License Restoration Tools

otherstate-NCtoolNC Fair Chance (nonprofit, partnering with NC legal-services agencies and district attorneys)North Carolina state data

Self-help legal tools that help low-income North Carolinians remove minor charges and unpaid court fines to restore driver's licenses, addressing a fines-and-fees poverty barrier to employment. Includes a court-debt relief eligibility checker.

Datapoints: driver's license restoration eligibility; court debt / unpaid fines relief; county-level legal-aid partner coverage; Spanish-language self-help resources

NC Investment Map - Housing Data Platform

otherstate-NCtoolNC Investment Map / North Carolina housing partnersNorth Carolina state data

Initiative to build a statewide housing data platform (leveraging NC Housing Search) matching affordable-housing supply with demand and giving counties real-time local housing-market data.

Datapoints: housing unit availability across regions; LIHTC compliance/affordability expiration dates; vacancy rates at <=120% AMI rents; increased locations of housing development

Bill to ban camping and sleeping on public property advances in NC House

primary-govstate-NCarticleNC Newsline (States Newsroom)North Carolina state data

Nonprofit newsroom reporting on the advance of North Carolina HB 781, the public-camping/sleeping ban, through the NC House. NC Newsline (part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network) is an established source for NC government and policy reporting.

Datapoints: Coverage of HB 781 advancing through the NC House (April 2025); Reporting on homelessness-criminalization framing and stakeholder reaction

NC County Population Estimates (LINC)

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

Annual official estimates of total population for North Carolina counties, with downloadable data and API access spanning the 1970-2024 period.

Datapoints: annual county total population estimates (July 1); most recent July 1, 2024 vintage estimates; intercensal estimates 1970-2019; API and download access

NC OSBM Demography Data Portal

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's official demographic data portal with interactive population datasets, maps, and charts including age, Hispanic-population, and county summaries.

Datapoints: county and state population datasets; age-group breakdowns (Older North Carolinians); Hispanic population summary; interactive maps and charts

NC OSBM Facts & Figures (State Demographer & Economy)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

OSBM hub for official NC population estimates/projections (State Demographer), economic data, geographic tools, and the State Data Center consortium.

Datapoints: certified county/municipal population estimates; population projections by age/sex/race; NC economic indicators; geographic analysis tools; Census Bureau-derived data

NC OSBM LINC (Log Into North Carolina) Open Data Portal

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) - State Data CenterNorth Carolina state data

OSBM's primary open-data platform organizing hundreds of state and federal statistics into topic modules with visualization, mapping, download, and API access; the best first stop for NC statistical data.

Datapoints: population estimates and projections; vital statistics; social and human services (incl. food/nutrition assistance counts); employment and income; housing characteristics (social, economic & housing module); county & municipality profiles; migration and commuting data; education, agriculture, transportation

NC BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) results

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC SCHS / CDCNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's state arm of the CDC telephone health survey, reporting adult prevalence of chronic conditions, health behaviors, health-care access, and social/economic risk factors. Useful for state-level food insecurity, health-access, and disability context.

Datapoints: Adult chronic-disease prevalence (diabetes, obesity, hypertension); Health-care access and insurance coverage; Health behaviors (smoking, physical activity); Self-reported general health status; Selected social-determinant and disability measures

NC Second Chance Alliance: Expungement Resources

otherstate-NCtoolNC Second Chance AllianceNorth Carolina state data

Statewide NC guide and toolkit for clearing criminal records through expungement, addressing the collateral consequences that block access to housing, employment, and public assistance for North Carolinians with records.

Datapoints: Five categories of NC expungement eligibility; NC Courts petition forms (CR-287/288/293/281/266) and indigent fee waivers (G-106, CV-226); Second Chance Act (SB 562, 2020) and automatic expungement of dismissed cases; expungement eligibility and process; five expungement-form types; indigent fee-waiver forms; county-level reentry legal services; Second Chance Act (SB 562, 2020)

NC Health Data Query System (SCHS Interactive)

primary-govstate-NCtoolNC State Center for Health Statistics (NCDHHS Division of Public Health)North Carolina state data

Interactive query tools letting users build custom tables of North Carolina health data, including leading causes of death and other vital-statistics and health indicators at the state and county level.

Datapoints: Detailed mortality statistics by demographic and county; Leading causes of death queries; Customizable reports by age / race / county; Trend data over time; custom queries of birth and death records; county- and state-level vital statistics; demographic and time-series breakdowns of health indicators; Custom queries of leading causes of death by county/year/age; Vital statistics and population health indicators; County-level filtering and table generation

NC SCHS Health Service Area (HSA) Data

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC State Center for Health Statistics (NCDHHS, Division of Public Health)North Carolina state data

An interactive county-level mapping atlas from the NC State Center for Health Statistics depicting health and health-related indicators across all 100 North Carolina counties. Produced by the SCHS Health Services Analysis Team to inform population health management, program cost-effectiveness, and community health assessments.

Datapoints: Population and health indicators by Health Service Area; Regional mortality and morbidity statistics; Multi-county aggregations for health planning; County-level health indicator maps for all 100 NC counties; Health service area / resource distribution mapping; Population health and health-related socioeconomic measures by county; Geographic comparisons of health outcomes across NC

NC County Health Data Book

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS)North Carolina state data

Annual compilation of health and demographic data for each of North Carolina's 100 counties, produced to support community health assessments. Provides ready county comparisons across mortality, births, population, and behavioral-risk measures.

Datapoints: county-level age-adjusted death rates; leading causes of death by county; birth outcomes; population demographics; comparisons across 100 NC counties including Buncombe; Per-county leading causes of death and mortality rates; Birth rates and infant outcomes by county; Population estimates and demographics; BRFSS-derived behavioral-risk indicators; Buncombe County tables for local use; county death rates; leading causes of death; demographics; socioeconomic indicators; health resource availability; age-adjusted death rates by county and cause; births and birth characteristics by county; population estimates by county; Buncombe County (Asheville) health indicators; County-level mortality and morbidity rates; Births and infant health indicators; Population and demographic data by county; Socioeconomic / community health assessment indicators; 2025 edition available for download; population and demographics by county; pregnancy/live births and infant outcomes; mortality and morbidity statistics; health resources/programs; education and community health indicators; Ten leading causes of death by county and age group: ranking, number, unadjusted rate (2019-2023); County-level mortality and population health indicators; Statewide leading causes (heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, cerebrovascular disease)

NC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS) / CDC BRFSSNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's arm of the CDC's national health-survey system, providing annual state and regional estimates of adult health behaviors, chronic conditions, and access-to-care measures. Authoritative source for social-determinant-linked health indicators in NC.

Datapoints: self-reported health status; chronic disease prevalence (diabetes, obesity, hypertension); health insurance / access to care; food and economic security screening items; regional/county estimates; health behaviors; food insecurity screening items; chronic disease self-report; access to care; preventive health practices; self-reported general health status; food sufficiency / unable to afford food (where module fielded); health insurance coverage and cost barriers to care; obesity, diabetes, smoking, and mental-health days; Annual prevalence estimates for chronic disease, health behaviors, and preventive practices; State and multi-county sub-state region tables (no county-level estimates); Annual questionnaires and technical notes (2015-2024+); Weighted estimates adjusted to NC adult demographic distribution; self-reported health status and chronic disease prevalence; health-risk behaviors (smoking, diet, physical activity); food insecurity / social-determinant survey modules; state and regional NC estimates; Adult health behavior prevalence (smoking, obesity, exercise); Chronic disease prevalence; Health care access / insurance status; Some food/economic security related modules

NC SCHS Cancer Statistics

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS) / NC Central Cancer RegistryNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina cancer incidence and mortality statistics from the Central Cancer Registry, reported at the state and county level, supporting cancer surveillance and community health assessment.

Datapoints: cancer incidence rates by county; cancer mortality rates; disparities by race/ethnicity; site-specific cancer data; cancer incidence rates by county and site; cancer mortality rates by county and demographic group; age-adjusted rates and trends over time; Cancer incidence rates by site and county; Cancer mortality rates by site and county; Central Cancer Registry data tables

NC State Extension — Farm to Food Bank Resource Guide

primary-academicstate-NCguidelineNC State ExtensionNorth Carolina state data

Practical resource guide connecting North Carolina growers, gleaning networks, and Extension agents to food banks and pantries, documenting channels to move surplus produce to food-insecure residents statewide.

Datapoints: Food bank, pantry, and donation program directory for NC; Gleaning and surplus-produce recovery channels; Food Pantry Produce Markets model; Direct-to-food-bank donation guidance

North Carolina EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program)

otherstate-NCorg-hubNC State Extension & NC A&T State University (USDA NIFA)North Carolina state data

Statewide federally funded nutrition-education program for limited-resource families in North Carolina, providing program information, impact reporting, budget-friendly recipes, and healthy-eating guidance.

Datapoints: Nutrition education for limited-resource NC families; Healthy eating on a budget / food-resource management; Food safety and physical activity behavior change

EFNEP Program Impact (NC State Extension)

primary-academicstate-NCreportNC State Extension (NC State University)North Carolina state data

Annual outcomes reporting for North Carolina's EFNEP, summarizing reach and measured behavior change among limited-resource families in nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and food-resource management.

Datapoints: Diet-quality improvement among adult graduates; Food-resource-management gains (stretching food dollars, planning meals); Youth reached through schools and community sites

Farm to Food Bank Resource Guide for NC Cooperative Extension

primary-academicstate-NCguidelineNC State Extension (NC State University)North Carolina state data

Practitioner guide for connecting NC agricultural surplus and gleaning efforts to food banks and food-insecure populations, supporting local food recovery and emergency food supply.

Datapoints: Gleaning and surplus-donation pathways; Extension agent role in farm-to-foodbank logistics; Statewide food-bank network linkages

NC State Extension Publications & Factsheets Catalog

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubNC State Extension (NC State University)North Carolina state data

Searchable database of NC State Extension's research-based publications spanning local food systems, family resource management, nutrition, gardening, and community food security, with statewide and county-level applicability including western NC.

Datapoints: Farm to Early Care and Education resource guide; Community food gardening handbook (Collard Greens and Common Ground); Family/household resource-management factsheets

Steps to Health — NC SNAP-Ed (NC State Extension)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubNC State Extension (NC State University) / USDA SNAP-EdNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's SNAP-Education program through NC Cooperative Extension, delivering nutrition education and policy/systems/environment work to SNAP-eligible audiences statewide. (Site intermittently unreachable; canonical SNAP-Ed delivery channel for NC.)

Datapoints: Targets SNAP-eligible (low-income) North Carolinians; Direct education plus PSE (policy, systems, environment) interventions; Delivered through county Cooperative Extension network

NC State Extension — Steps to Health (SNAP-Ed)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubNC State Extension / N.C. A&T State University (NC Cooperative Extension)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's land-grant Cooperative Extension, operating in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, delivering SNAP-Ed (Steps to Health) nutrition education, EFNEP, local-food and food-bank programs, and family/consumer resources tied to food security and economic stability.

Datapoints: SNAP-Ed / Steps to Health nutrition education for SNAP-eligible residents; EFNEP for limited-resource families and youth; Local-food, gleaning, and food-bank donation programs; 100-county and EBCI reach with 1,000+ university experts

EFNEP — Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (NC State Extension)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubNC State Extension / NC Cooperative Extension (NC State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)North Carolina state data

USDA-funded nutrition education program delivering evidence-based food, nutrition, and food-resource-management instruction to limited-resource adults and youth in all 100 NC counties. A core federal food-security intervention reaching low-income families.

Datapoints: Operates in all 100 NC counties via local Cooperative Extension offices; Serves limited-resource adults and youth (SNAP-eligible populations); Annual program-impact reporting on diet quality, food-resource management, and food-security behavior change

NC College Food Benefits (SNAP/FNS eligibility for students)

otherstate-NCtoolNorth Carolina (USDA-funded SNAP outreach collaboration)North Carolina state data

Consumer-facing eligibility-screening tool and resource hub helping North Carolina college students determine SNAP/FNS eligibility and find local food assistance.

Datapoints: 2-minute SNAP/FNS eligibility self-assessment; Note that ~two-thirds of potentially eligible college students do not participate; Local food-assistance locator; Outreach materials for campus staff/partners

North Carolina Judicial Branch (NC Courts)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the CourtsNorth Carolina state data

Official portal of the North Carolina court system, including landlord-tenant and summary-ejectment (eviction) help topics, court forms, and the NC Courts open-data caseload portal used to analyze eviction filings statewide.

Datapoints: Summary ejectment (eviction) procedures and forms; Landlord-tenant help topics; Caseload and disposition open data (via data.nccourts.gov); County-level court contact and filing information

North Carolina Judicial Branch - Housing Help Topics

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the CourtsNorth Carolina state data

Official NC courts self-help hub on housing and landlord-tenant law, explaining the summary ejectment (eviction) process, grounds for eviction, and that self-help evictions are illegal.

Datapoints: Summary ejectment complaint process and required grounds; 10-day demand period for nonpayment of rent; Self-help evictions (lockouts, utility shutoff) are illegal; Small claims/magistrate process and appeal to District Court

NC Courts Caseload Disposition API

primary-govstate-NCapiNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC)North Carolina state data

Programmatic (Opendatasoft) API endpoint for the NC court caseload-disposition dataset, enabling automated queries of disposed-case statistics by fiscal year, case type, and county for time-series and local analysis.

Datapoints: JSON/CSV export of disposition records; Filter by fiscal year, county, and case type; Eviction (summary ejectment) disposition counts; Supports aggregation and record-level queries

NC Courts Open Data Portal - Caseload datasets

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC)North Carolina state data

Open-data portal publishing statewide court caseload statistics by fiscal year, including filings, pending, and dispositions by case type and county. Civil case categories include summary ejectment (eviction) and debt-collection actions, with a downloadable API.

Datapoints: Cases filed, pending, and disposed by fiscal year; Caseload by case type including summary ejectment (eviction); Dispositions by case disposition category; County-level breakdowns including Buncombe; Machine-readable API access (Opendatasoft/CKAN-style)

NC OneMap

primary-govstate-NCinteractive-mapNorth Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NC CGIA)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's statewide geospatial data portal serving authoritative GIS layers (parcels, boundaries, imagery, elevation/LiDAR, demographics) for download and web services. Hosts the post-Helene high-resolution aerial and LiDAR datasets for the 13 hardest-hit western NC counties.

Datapoints: parcel and boundary layers; high-resolution aerial imagery; LiDAR elevation data; Hurricane Helene damage/recovery layers; floodplain and landslide-risk data; downloadable GIS datasets and web map services

2025 NC Balance of State CoC PIT Summary by Region

local-authoritystate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)North Carolina state data

NCCEH's 2025 Point-in-Time count summary for the NC Balance of State Continuum of Care, broken down by region (downloadable spreadsheet), covering the rural/non-metro counties outside the larger NC CoCs.

Datapoints: 2025 PIT counts by NC BoS region; Sheltered vs. unsheltered homelessness; Regional homelessness breakdowns across NC Balance of State

NC Balance of State Continuum of Care (NC BoS CoC)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)North Carolina state data

The HUD-recognized Continuum of Care serving 79 of NC's 100 (predominantly rural) counties, administered by NCCEH. Coordinates funding, coordinated entry, HMIS, and the PIT/HIC counts across the Balance of State region.

Datapoints: Regional Point-in-Time homelessness counts; Housing Inventory Count (beds by program type); HUD CoC funding allocations; Permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing capacity

NCCEH 2026 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) Inventory Summary

local-authoritystate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)North Carolina state data

Downloadable summary of the 2026 Housing Inventory Count for the NC Balance of State CoC, enumerating shelter and housing bed capacity across the state's homelessness response system.

Datapoints: Emergency shelter beds; Transitional housing beds; Rapid rehousing units; Permanent supportive housing units; Inventory by region/county

NC Adult Correction - Rehabilitation & Reentry Community Programs

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NC DAC)North Carolina state data

State agency hub describing NC's community-based reentry programs, including Recidivism Reduction Services (cognitive behavioral intervention) and transitional housing placements for people under supervision or recently released.

Datapoints: Recidivism Reduction Services (RRS) / cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI); Transitional housing placements (pre- and post-release); Four geographic divisions with Community Development Specialists; Substance abuse treatment and support services

North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS)North Carolina state data

State agency hub for North Carolina agriculture, food safety, and consumer protection, including agricultural statistics and farmers-market/farm-to-school directories relevant to local food access.

Datapoints: NC agricultural statistics (commodity production); Farmers market and agricultural center directories; Farm-to-school program information; Food and drug protection / food safety programs

North Carolina Department of Commerce

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of CommerceNorth Carolina state data

NC state economic-development agency whose Data, Tools & Reports section and Labor & Economic Analysis Division publish labor-market statistics, employment data, and economic dashboards for North Carolina, useful for wage and cost-of-living context.

Datapoints: Labor Market Data & Tools (employment, unemployment, workforce analytics); Economic data dashboards (analytics.nccommerce.com); Economic development reports (First in Talent Strategic Plan); Reference guides for researchers; reports for policymakers; Monthly employment data releases

NCWorks (NC Labor Market Information & Job Services)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Commerce / Division of Workforce SolutionsNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's statewide online workforce platform combining job search/placement with labor market information including occupational wages, employment statistics, and career center locations.

Datapoints: Occupational wage rates (10th, 50th, 75th percentiles); Top advertised occupations online; State and regional employment statistics; Unemployment data; Career center locations

NCcareers.org

otherstate-NCtoolNorth Carolina Department of Commerce / NCWorksNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's official career-exploration and labor-market planning platform, with occupation-level wage, growth, and openings data plus a 'Reality Check' cost-of-living/salary-needs calculator. Useful for grounding NC wage-versus-cost-of-living comparisons.

Datapoints: Median annual wages by occupation in NC; Annual job openings and growth-rate categories by occupation; Education/training requirements by occupation; Median annual wages by occupation (NC); Employment growth rates and annual job openings by occupation; Required education/training level by occupation; Reality Check salary-needs (cost-of-living) assessment; Median/annual salary by occupation (e.g. Registered Nurses ~$81,860); Projected employment growth rate by occupation group (800 occupation groups); Annual job openings by occupation; Education/training requirements and career pathways; Reality Check salary-needs (cost-of-living) estimator

AccessNC — North Carolina Economic & Demographic Data

otherstate-NCtoolNorth Carolina Department of Commerce, Labor & Economic Analysis DivisionNorth Carolina state data

State economic-development information system that builds county- and community-level economic profiles for all 100 NC counties, combining demographics, labor force, wages, income, industry, and cost factors into downloadable reports. Authoritative source for county economic snapshots used in housing and economic-security analysis.

Datapoints: County and municipal economic profiles (population, labor force, unemployment); Average wages by industry and major employers; Per-capita and median household income; Demographics and educational attainment; Custom radius/community profile reports; County economic and demographic profile reports; NC county development tier designations (distress rankings); Labor force, wage, and industry data by county

NC Commerce LEAD Analytics (Labor & Economic Analysis Division)

otherstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Department of Commerce, Labor & Economic Analysis DivisionNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's official interactive labor-market and economic-data portal, visualizing wages, employment, unemployment, and projections by county, industry, and occupation.

Datapoints: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) by county; Industry employment, establishments, and wages (QCEW); Occupational employment and wages (OEWS); employment projections to 2034; County economic vitality measures and commuting patterns; Unemployment rate (LAUS) and jobs estimates (CES) by county; Industry jobs, establishments, and wages (QCEW); Occupational employment and wages (OEWS) by job title; Industry and occupation projections through 2034; Commuting patterns, worker migration, county economic vitality index

NC Commerce Labor Market Data Tools

primary-govstate-NCtoolNorth Carolina Department of Commerce, Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD)North Carolina state data

Suite of state and regional labor market tools including a labor data search tool, employment projections, Star Jobs occupation rankings, education/workforce program outcomes, WARN layoff reports, and downloadable maps.

Datapoints: Unemployment rates, jobs numbers, industry and occupational data (statewide/regional); Long-term employment projections by occupation and industry; Star Jobs ratings (wages, growth, openings); Common Follow-up System workforce outcomes; WARN Act layoff summaries

NC DHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesNorth Carolina state data

State division administering community-based services for North Carolina's older adults and persons with disabilities, including congregate and home-delivered meals, in-home aide, caregiver support, and aging profiles/reports.

Datapoints: Congregate and home-delivered meals programs (Home and Community Care Block Grant); In-home aide, adult day, caregiver support, respite services; Long-term care ombudsman and legal assistance for seniors; Aging profiles, reports, and county resource guides

NC DHHS Online Policies (Divisional Policy Manuals)

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesNorth Carolina state data

Authoritative repository of North Carolina DHHS divisional policy manuals, including Social Services policy governing Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP), Work First/TANF, energy/crisis assistance (LIEAP/CIP), refugee assistance, and child welfare. (Host blocks automated fetch; browsable directly.)

Datapoints: Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) policy manual; Work First/TANF policy; Low Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP) and Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) policy; Refugee Assistance policy; child welfare and adult services policy

NC DHHS — SNAP / Food and Nutrition Services

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesNorth Carolina state data

North Carolina's official portal for Food and Nutrition Services (the state's SNAP program), covering eligibility, application, benefit amounts, and county-level administration. Primary state reference for NC food assistance.

Datapoints: 1.42M North Carolinians on SNAP (2025); 2025 SNAP pause: Nov 1 pause; ~190,000 NC households received $16 or less after SCOTUS stay; 43-day shutdown (longest in US history); NC FNS (SNAP) eligibility and income limits; Application and recertification process; County DSS administration contacts; Benefit issuance (EBT) information

NCDHHS Food and Nutrition Services (NC SNAP)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesNorth Carolina state data

State administrator of SNAP (Food and Nutrition Services) in North Carolina; program landing with eligibility, application (ePASS), benefit access, and the FNS fact sheet of participation data.

Datapoints: NC SNAP eligibility and benefits; county DSS contacts; SNAP outreach partners; state program enrollment; 1.4M+ North Carolinians on SNAP; County-level SNAP/FNS administration; Food Access Maps (grocery access by area); SNAP outreach partner network; SNAP/FNS participation counts (fact sheet); eligibility and benefit rules; Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP for elderly/disabled); quality control accuracy rates; county DSS administration

NC Healthy Opportunities Pilots

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's nationally notable Section 1115 Medicaid pilot testing reimbursement for evidence-based non-medical interventions (housing, food, transportation, interpersonal safety) for high-needs Medicaid enrollees.

Datapoints: Four intervention domains: housing, food, transportation, interpersonal safety; High-needs Medicaid enrollee eligibility; Fee schedule of approved non-medical services

NCDHHS — Five Community Behavioral Health Clinics Awarded Funds (ARPA MHBG)

primary-govstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)North Carolina state data

NCDHHS press release announcing a $20 million award (May 31, 2022) from the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services to five community behavioral health clinics, including MAHEC, to expand CCBHC services.

Datapoints: $20 million total split among five NC CCBHCs (2022); MAHEC received a portion (not the full $20M); $20 million award made May 31, 2022 by NC DMH/DD/SAS; Five clinics: Asheville (MAHEC), Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Raleigh; States (not SAMHSA) certify CCBHCs

North Carolina Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), NC MedicaidNorth Carolina state data

NCDHHS hub for North Carolina's federally approved Section 1115 Medicaid waiver (renewed Dec 2024–Dec 2029), including the Healthy Opportunities Pilots that fund food, housing, and transportation as non-medical drivers of health.

Datapoints: waiver period Dec 2024–Dec 2029; Healthy Opportunities Pilots (food, transportation, housing); managed care transition; SUD treatment expansion; justice-involved support; annual monitoring reports and fact sheets

Healthy Opportunities Pilots Overview (Fact Sheet)

primary-govstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services / CMS Section 1115 DemonstrationNorth Carolina state data

Official overview of North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP), the nation's first comprehensive Medicaid program to pay for non-medical interventions addressing housing instability, food insecurity, transportation, and interpersonal safety. Defines eligibility, covered services, and the social-determinant domains funded under the waiver.

Datapoints: Covered HOP service domains: housing, food, transportation, interpersonal safety/toxic stress; Medicaid eligibility criteria for HOP enrollment; Federally approved fee schedule of non-medical services

NC DPH - State Center for Health Statistics program page

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public HealthNorth Carolina state data

NC DHHS landing page describing the State Center for Health Statistics and linking to its data programs, registries, and vital records. Front door to NC's authoritative public-health data.

Datapoints: links to SCHS statistics and interactive data; Central Cancer Registry; Birth Defects Monitoring Program; Vital Records access

NCDHHS Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) Policy Manuals

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social ServicesNorth Carolina state data

Authoritative North Carolina policy manuals governing the Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) program and other social-services benefits, including eligibility rules, income and resource limits, work requirements, the Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP/elderly-disabled), and the refugee assistance program. The source of truth for how NC county DSS offices administer food assistance.

Datapoints: FNS/SNAP eligibility, income, and resource requirements; Work requirements and ABAWD time-limit policy; Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) for elderly/disabled households; Refugee Assistance Program policy

NC Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Agreement — Exhibit A (Option A strategies)

otherstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Department of Justice / NC Opioid SettlementNorth Carolina state data

The authoritative Exhibit A to the NC opioid settlement Memorandum of Agreement, enumerating the 'Option A' list of eligible spending strategies counties may fund with settlement dollars, including recovery housing support and employment-related services.

Datapoints: Strategy 4 (Recovery Housing Support): funds rent, move-in deposit, and utility assistance, plus recovery housing programs serving people on MAT; Housing-cost assistance is eligible and not conditioned on treatment integration; Strategy 5 (Employment-related services): separate eligible category

North Carolina Minimum Wage (NC Dept. of Labor)

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL)North Carolina state data

Authoritative state page stating North Carolina's minimum wage and the rules around it, including tipped-wage and exemption provisions. The official reference for NC wage floors used in cost-of-living and wage-gap analysis.

Datapoints: NC minimum wage $7.25/hr; tipped cash minimum $2.13/hr; tip pooling rules (85% retention); NC minimum wage: $7.25/hour (tied to the federal floor); Tipped minimum cash wage: $2.13/hour if tips bring total to $7.25; Exceptions for some agricultural and domestic workers (follow federal minimum)

NC DPI Office of School Nutrition

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI)North Carolina state data

State agency hub administering federal/state school meal programs in NC (NSLP, SBP, afterschool snack/meal, Fresh Fruit & Vegetable, Special Milk), with guidance on eligibility verification, financial management, and compliance.

Datapoints: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) administration; School Breakfast Program (SBP) administration; Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP); At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program (ARAMP); Eligibility verification and meal-program guidance

NC Home-Delivered Meals Provider Directory

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services (NC DHHS)North Carolina state data

Statewide directory of local agencies that deliver home-delivered meals to homebound North Carolinians age 60+, organized by county with provider contact information.

Datapoints: County-by-county list of home-delivered meal providers across NC; Provider contact phone numbers; Eligibility: adults 60+ who are frail, homebound, or isolated

North Carolina Civil Legal Needs Assessment (NC Equal Justice Alliance)

otherstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Equal Justice AllianceNorth Carolina state data

First comprehensive statewide assessment in nearly two decades of unmet civil legal needs among low-income North Carolinians, produced with UNC Greensboro's Center for Housing and Community Studies, with county-level interactive data.

Datapoints: Share of NC population unable to afford a private attorney; Unmet civil legal needs affecting access to food, housing, safety, and health care; County-level legal-need data (interactive ArcGIS map); Self-representation rates in foreclosure and custody matters

NC General Assembly — House Bill 781 (Unauthorized Public Camping & Sleeping)

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina General AssemblyNorth Carolina state data

Primary legislative record for NC House Bill 781 (2025-2026 session), which would bar local governments from allowing public camping/sleeping on public property, with a sobriety-conditioned designated-site exception requiring county health-department behavioral-health coordination. Passed the NC House (69-42, May 7, 2025); referred to Senate Rules May 8, 2025; stalled (not enacted as of mid-2026).

Datapoints: passed House 69-42, May 7, 2025; referred to Senate Rules May 8, 2025; not enacted as of mid-2026; bars local governments from allowing regular public camping/sleeping on public property; narrow DHHS-certified designated-site exception requiring behavioral-health coordination; Adds GS 160D-917 prohibiting local governments from allowing regular overnight public camping; Narrow DHHS-certified exception requiring sanitation, security, and behavioral-health coordination; Filed April 3, 2025; passed NC House 69-42 (May 7, 2025); referred to Senate Rules; Proposed effective date October 1, 2025; tied to ~$4.4B HUD grant eligibility; Passed NC House; pending Senate; not yet law (as of June 2026); Would bar localities from allowing public camping/sleeping; Designated sites by majority vote; must coordinate BH services and prohibit substance/alcohol use; Effective Oct 1 if enacted; Passed NC House 69-42 on May 7, 2025; referred to Senate Rules May 8, 2025; Designated camping sites require DHHS certification and prohibit illegal substances and alcohol; Bill text proposes Oct 1, 2025 effective date; not enacted; Sponsors: Reps. Biggs, N. Jackson, Balkcom, Schietzelt; Passed NC House May 7, 2025 (69-42); stalled in Senate; Would bar local governments from allowing public camping/sleeping (amends GS 160D); Local designation of camping property by majority vote (up to one year); Restrictions on public camping/sleeping; Bill status and text

NC Housing Coalition Housing Data Hub

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Housing CoalitionNorth Carolina state data

Curated hub of housing data resources covering NC county profiles, property tax tools, and barriers analyses, plus links to the major national housing-data sources the Coalition relies on.

Datapoints: links to county housing fact sheets; fair market rent; wage needed to afford housing; cost-burdened households; property tax resources

NC Housing Finance Agency 2025 Investment and Impact Report

otherstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Housing Finance AgencyNorth Carolina state data

Annual investment-and-impact report documenting the NC Housing Finance Agency's affordable-housing financing activity and its economic impact statewide, with cumulative program totals.

Datapoints: $3 billion in real estate activity (2025); 12,500 homes/apartments financed; 30,100 jobs supported; $130.7M tax revenue generated; 530 communities reached; Cumulative: ~333,400 affordable homes financed, $37.4 billion; Economic impacts modeled with BEA RIMS II

NC Home Advantage (NCHFA Homebuyer Assistance)

otherstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)North Carolina state data

State homebuyer-assistance program hub from NCHFA offering down payment assistance and affordable mortgage products to North Carolina first-time and low-to-moderate-income buyers, with affordability calculators and educational guides.

Datapoints: NC Home Advantage Mortgage (up to 3% down payment assistance); NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment (up to $15,000); Mortgage and affordability calculators; Eligibility criteria (income, first-time buyer, veterans); Cumulative homebuyers assisted (150,000+)

NC Housing Snapshot

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)North Carolina state data

Interactive online tool consolidating housing data for North Carolina statewide and across all 100 counties, with trends over time to support affordable-housing practitioners and advocates. Best on desktop; includes a Sources and Methodology button.

Datapoints: housing costs; rental vacancy rates; demographic trends; housing production / new units; housing supply and demand; affordability indicators; county-level breakdowns (all 100 counties)

NCHFA 10 Must-Know Housing Affordability Resources for North Carolina

local-authoritystate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)North Carolina state data

Curated NCHFA roundup of the most useful NC and national housing-affordability data resources, serving as a vetted snowball list of authoritative housing data sources.

Datapoints: links to ACS, HUD, NLIHC, Harvard JCHS resources; NC-specific data tool pointers

NCHFA Housing Research

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)North Carolina state data

NCHFA research hub compiling reports on housing affordability and access in North Carolina, including the 764,000-unit housing gap analysis and cost-burden research.

Datapoints: statewide housing gap (764,000 units); rental gap by AMI band (89,479 homes for <=30% AMI); cost-burdened households (>1 million low-income); renter vs owner cost burden (46% renters vs 20% owners); LIHTC vacancy (1.4%) and subsidized-housing vacancy (0.3%)

New Research Shows North Carolina Has a 764,000 Unit Housing Gap

local-authoritystate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (Policy Matters Blog)North Carolina state data

NCHFA research quantifying North Carolina's statewide housing shortfall by income band and tenure, including the deficit of affordable/available rentals for extremely low-income households. Source for the state affordable-housing gap.

Datapoints: 764,000-unit statewide housing gap (2024-2029 projection); 322,000 rental-unit shortfall; 442,000 for-sale-unit shortfall; County-level housing shortfalls statewide; ~764,000-unit statewide housing gap over five years (rental + for-sale); 89,479-home rental gap for households at <=30% AMI; 348,518 extremely low-income renter households vs 133,436 affordable/available rentals (~215,082 deficit); ~28% of NC households cost-burdened (>30% of income on housing)

Who is Experiencing Housing Cost Burden in North Carolina?

local-authoritystate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (Policy Matters Blog)North Carolina state data

Analysis of 2021 ACS PUMS data on housing cost burden in North Carolina, breaking out cost-burdened renters versus owners and linking severe cost burden to reduced spending on food, health care, and transportation.

Datapoints: 46% of NC renter households are cost-burdened (30%+ of income) vs. 20% of owners; Definitions of cost-burdened (30%+) and severely cost-burdened (50%+); Severely cost-burdened low-income families spend 52% less on food/health care/transportation (Harvard JCHS 2020)

NC Housing Search

local-authoritystate-NCtoolNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (with NC DHHS and the State of NC)North Carolina state data

Free statewide rental-housing locator listing market-rate, affordable, accessible, senior, and veteran units across North Carolina, with search filters and email alerts; also used for disaster-recovery housing.

Datapoints: Searchable rental listings by location, price, and unit type; Affordable and accessible unit filters; Senior and veteran housing listings; Real-time availability updates from property owners

North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM)

otherstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Institute of MedicineNorth Carolina state data

Independent organization producing evidence-based health-policy analysis, task-force reports, and the North Carolina Medical Journal, and co-publisher of the NC Child Health Report Card.

Datapoints: Task Force reports (e.g., Veterans' Health, addressing ~619,000 NC veterans); North Carolina Medical Journal (peer-reviewed); NC Health Data and Resources section; Archive of NC Child and Women's Health Report Cards (1997-2021)

North Carolina Child Health Report Card

otherstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) & NC ChildNorth Carolina state data

A biennial statewide report card grading North Carolina on key child-health and well-being indicators, including housing/economic security and birth outcomes. Archive of editions spanning 1997-2025 enables longitudinal trend analysis.

Datapoints: Letter grades across ~14 indicators (insurance coverage, birth outcomes, mental health, housing/economic security, child abuse/neglect); Housing and Economic Security graded F (2025); School psychologist-to-student ratio 1,928:1 vs. recommended 500:1 (2025); Longitudinal report archive 1997-2025

NC Judicial Branch Case Statistics Dashboard

primary-govstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina state data

Public dashboard from the NC court system publishing case filing and disposition statistics by case type and county, a primary source for civil case volumes including summary ejectment (eviction) filings.

Datapoints: Case filings and dispositions by case type; County-level court statistics; Civil/landlord-tenant (summary ejectment) caseload data

North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Judicial Branch (NC Courts) / NC Supreme CourtNorth Carolina state data

State commission (the host ncaccesstojustice.org redirects here) coordinating access to civil legal aid in North Carolina, including eviction and housing-stability programs and a statewide civil legal needs assessment. Civil legal aid is a key upstream intervention against eviction and housing insecurity for low-income tenants.

Datapoints: Coordinates civil legal aid for low-income residents statewide; Focus on eviction, housing, and public-benefits legal needs; Reports on the civil justice gap in NC; In 2018 more than 2 million North Carolinians were income-eligible (at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level) for legal aid; 71% of low-income families experience at least one civil legal problem in a given year; 86% of those civil legal needs go unmet due to limited civil legal aid resources; Operated the Housing Stability Project providing income-based eviction assistance to vulnerable tenants; 13-member commission spanning judicial, legislative, executive branches, the State Bar, legal aid, law schools; Established by order of the Supreme Court of North Carolina in November 2005; Sponsors the first comprehensive NC civil legal needs assessment in nearly two decades; Statewide legal needs assessment of low-income residents; Pro Bono Resource Center coordinating volunteer attorney services; Self-help materials and court-navigation resources for unrepresented litigants; Coordination of civil-legal-aid funding strategy; Coordinates civil legal-aid access and pro bono efforts statewide; Resources on the civil justice gap for low-income residents; Civil legal aid coordination for low-income residents; Pro bono and self-help resource development; Access-to-justice policy in NC courts

NC Justice Center Publications (poverty, income, housing, health)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Justice CenterNorth Carolina state data

Research and advocacy organization publishing analyses of new Census poverty/income/housing/health data and the effect of anti-poverty programs and tax credits in NC.

Datapoints: state poverty rate and trends; household income; housing cost burden; health coverage; effect of anti-poverty programs / family tax credits on poverty

Implementation of NCCARE360 (NC Medical Journal study)

otherstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Medical JournalNorth Carolina state data

Peer-reviewed study evaluating the NCCARE360 closed-loop referral platform and the NC COVID-19 Support Services Program, comparing referral resolution rates with and without flexible social-needs funding in Durham County.

Datapoints: With COVID-SSP funding (Sep 2020-Feb 2021): 3,220 referrals, 88% resolution; Without funding (2021-2022): 860 referrals, 30% resolution; ~50 cited references on SNAP, Medicaid value-based payment, Healthy Opportunities Pilots

Implementation of NCCARE360: Evidence from the NC COVID-19 Support Services Program

primary-govstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Medical Journal (N C Med J), via PubMed/NCBINorth Carolina state data

Peer-reviewed study (Duke, UNC, Temple) evaluating NC's statewide closed-loop social-care referral platform, showing how dedicated funding drives referral resolution for food assistance and case management.

Datapoints: With CSSP funding: 3,220 referrals placed, 88% resolution rate; Without funding: 860 referrals, 30% resolution rate; Finding: reimbursement/funding mechanisms critically affect social-care coordination effectiveness

Cross-Sector Intervention Strategies to Target Childhood Food Insecurity in North Carolina

primary-govstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Medical Journal (via PubMed Central)North Carolina state data

Qualitative study (34 stakeholder interviews) on barriers and cross-sector solutions to childhood food insecurity in North Carolina, spanning healthcare, schools, community organizations, and government programs.

Datapoints: transportation barriers in rural NC food access; ~1/3 of informants cited stigma as a deterrent; 38% reported lack of culturally appropriate/nutritious options; enrollment complexity for WIC and SNAP; pandemic-era delivery and telehealth-enrollment innovations

Reflecting on Nearly Two Years of North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots

otherstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Medical Journal (Vol. 85, Issue 2, 2024)North Carolina state data

Commentary by Amanda Van Vleet (NC Medicaid) reviewing the design, early outcomes, and lessons of NC's Healthy Opportunities Pilots, the first comprehensive Medicaid program to reimburse non-medical services addressing social drivers of health.

Datapoints: $650 million Medicaid funds authorized for HOP; 265,000+ services to 20,000+ enrollees by Jan 2024; $47 million+ paid to community-based organizations; Food services = 90% of delivered services; 95% authorization approval rate; >75% of services started within two weeks

LINC - Log Into North Carolina (NC OSBM)

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

Interactive data retrieval service with over 900 historical data items for North Carolina across state, all 100 counties, municipalities, census tracts, and townships. Includes population, labor force, education, vital statistics, revenue, and more, with visualization, mapping, and bulk download.

Datapoints: Population and labor force series; Education, transportation, revenue, agriculture, vital statistics, energy/utilities; Historical time series across 900+ indicators; Geography: state, 100 counties, municipalities, tracts, townships; Data visualization, mapping, and bulk download tools

LINC NC Poverty (Log Into North Carolina)

primary-govstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

State data portal section presenting North Carolina poverty statistics by county and statewide, drawn from Census/ACS and SAIPE sources for trend analysis.

Datapoints: County and statewide poverty rates; Poverty by age and demographic group; Time-series poverty trends; ACS / SAIPE-based estimates

NC OSBM Open Data Portal

otherstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

Official open-data portal of the NC Office of State Budget and Management providing datasets, maps, charts, and an API covering state demographics, population, and budget/economic indicators.

Datapoints: Population estimates and projections; County-level demographic and economic data series; Programmatic API access; map and chart visualizations

NC OSBM State Demographer Data

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's official population estimates and projections from the State Demographer, the Census Bureau's NC State Data Center lead, providing county-level demographic data for planning.

Datapoints: County population estimates and projections; Age, sex, and race/ethnicity breakdowns; Historical and projected population by NC county; LINC (Log Into North Carolina) data system access

NC State Demographer

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

The State Demographer's Office produces North Carolina's official state, county, and municipal population estimates and projections, broken down by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex. These are the authoritative denominators for NC poverty, housing, and service-need analysis.

Datapoints: State, county, and municipal population estimates; State and county population projections by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex; Annexation, building-activity, and institutional-population data (NC Demographic Survey); Census data via the State Demographer data platform

North Carolina Census Data (NC OSBM)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)North Carolina state data

State hub for North Carolina census data, linking 2020/2010/2000 decennial summaries, population estimates and projections, and the LINC data platform for state, county, municipal, and tract-level demographics. The official NC gateway to local population and housing data.

Datapoints: 2020 Census summaries by state, county, municipality, American Indian area; Population change 2010-2020; Voting-age and child population trends; Municipal population statistics; Links to ACS and Population Estimates

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Strategic Plan

primary-govstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management / NC Housing Finance AgencyNorth Carolina state data

Official strategic plan document for the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, outlining state affordable-housing goals, program priorities, and performance measures.

Datapoints: NC affordable housing program goals and targets; Agency performance measures; Strategic priorities for low-income housing finance

Ohio Legal Help

otherstate-NCorg-hubOhio Legal Help (nonprofit)North Carolina state data

Ohio-specific plain-language legal self-help portal with guides and interactive court-form tools for housing/eviction, public benefits, and consumer/debt issues. Not NC-specific but a strong structural model for a state legal-aid self-help hub.

Datapoints: Housing/eviction self-help guides (evictions, repairs, utilities, subsidized housing, foreclosure); Public-benefits guide (SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, unemployment); Interactive court-form completion via MyOLH accounts

Library of NC Research Guide: Data & Demographics (NC)

otherstate-NCorg-hubState Library of North Carolina (NC Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources)North Carolina state data

Curated state-library directory of authoritative North Carolina demographic, economic, health, and social-data sources, with vetted links to OSBM demographics, LINC, the State Center for Health Statistics, KIDS COUNT, AccessNC, and USDA NASS-NC. A reliable jumping-off point for NC poverty, housing, food, and health statistics.

Datapoints: NC population estimates/projections by county and municipality; Census data lookup (housing, migration, occupation); Child and family well-being metrics (KIDS COUNT NC); Appalachian regional economic/demographic data; state demographics (OSBM); NC Data Lookup / LINC; health statistics (SCHS); KIDS COUNT NC; labor and small-business data; regional/Appalachian data; Links to OSBM NC demographics and the LINC (Log Into North Carolina) data system; AccessNC economic and demographic profiles; NC State Center for Health Statistics and KIDS COUNT NC data; County-level demographic and census resources; Links to OSBM demographics, NC Data Lookup, and LINC (Log Into North Carolina) interactive data; Health & social statistics via NC State Center for Health Statistics and KIDS COUNT NC; Economic/labor data via AccessNC and regional county profiles; Links to NC OSBM demographics, LINC, and the NC Data Lookup explorer; Links to State Center for Health Statistics and DHHS Aging & Adult Services data; Links to KIDS COUNT (NC), AccessNC economic data, and USDA NASS North Carolina ag/food statistics; Links to OSBM population estimates/projections; State Center for Health Statistics; KIDS COUNT child well-being indicators; County and regional demographic profiles

NCpedia (NC reference encyclopedia)

otherstate-NCorg-hubState Library of North Carolina (NC DNCR)North Carolina state data

Authoritative, expert-reviewed reference encyclopedia for North Carolina history, geography, counties, and communities, including western NC and the Qualla Boundary (Eastern Band of Cherokee). Useful background/context source rather than a statistical dataset.

Datapoints: County-level NC reference content; Government, geography, and community history; Links to State Library data and primary sources; county and regional histories; WNC and Qualla Boundary entries; biographies and primary sources; Spanish-language content

State Library of NC - Community Data Resources

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubState Library of North Carolina (NC DNCR)North Carolina state data

Curated guide to North Carolina community data resources covering demographics, economics, housing, and human services, aggregating authoritative state and federal data tools.

Datapoints: links to NC demographic data; economic indicators; Census/ACS tools; county-level community profiles

NC OneMap / NC Spatial Data Download (sdd.nc.gov)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubState of North Carolina (NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis / NC OneMap)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's official spatial data download portal (ArcGIS Hub). Hosts authoritative statewide GIS layers (administrative boundaries, parcels, addresses, demographics geographies) used to map demographic, housing, and economic data at county and tract level.

Datapoints: Statewide and county GIS layers (boundaries, parcels, addresses); Census geography boundaries for joining demographic/poverty/housing data; Authoritative NC base layers for thematic mapping

Commonwealth Fund Data Center

otherstate-NCinteractive-mapThe Commonwealth FundNorth Carolina state data

Interactive data center where users explore state-level health system performance and policy data, including per-state pages (e.g., a North Carolina profile). Companion to the State Health System Performance Scorecard.

Datapoints: custom tables and maps; state-level health indicators; downloadable profiles; Per-state performance and policy indicators; State profile pages (rankings + demographics); Cross-state comparison of access, equity, and outcome measures

Commonwealth Fund Scorecard on State Health System Performance

otherstate-NCdashboardThe Commonwealth FundNorth Carolina state data

Annual scorecard ranking all states across 50 measures of health system access, affordability, prevention, outcomes, income disparity, and equity, with downloadable state profiles (including North Carolina). The flagship source for state-level health-equity and access comparisons tied to social determinants.

Datapoints: 50 performance indicators; access and affordability; equity dimension; per-state rankings; 50 measures across access/affordability, prevention/treatment, avoidable hospital use, outcomes, income disparity, and equity; Per-state rankings and downloadable state profiles (demographics + indicators); 2025 top states: Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, District of Columbia

Commonwealth Fund Scorecard on State Health System Performance

otherstate-NCdashboardThe Commonwealth FundNorth Carolina state data

Interactive data center ranking all 50 states and D.C. on health system performance, including access and affordability, prevention and treatment, healthy lives, and income/coverage disparities. Lets users pull North Carolina's metrics against national benchmarks.

Datapoints: uninsured rate by state and income; adults who skipped care due to cost; premature death and avoidable mortality; health equity / disparity indicators by race and income

NC Investment Map - Housing

otherstate-NCinteractive-mapThe Health Initiative (NC) / Optiva Solutions GroupNorth Carolina state data

Interactive Tableau-based tool identifying 15 affordable-housing strategies for North Carolina with five-year funding estimates by strategy and region, framing housing as a health determinant.

Datapoints: 15 housing strategies in 4 categories (preserve, produce, build community wealth, statewide infrastructure); Five-year funding estimates by strategy and region; Funding source, purpose, stage, vehicle type and frequency per investment

HUD Exchange - North Carolina CoC Performance & PIT Data

primary-govstate-NCdatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)North Carolina state data

HUD-published state-level Continuum of Care performance report aggregating North Carolina's Point-in-Time homeless counts and Housing Inventory data.

Datapoints: statewide PIT homeless count; sheltered/unsheltered/transitional housing counts; chronic homelessness; veterans and family homelessness; bed inventory by program type

HUD Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis (CHMA) - North Carolina

primary-govstate-NCreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER)North Carolina state data

HUD's periodic Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis reports for North Carolina metro areas, analyzing economic, demographic, and housing-market conditions and forecasts.

Datapoints: sales and rental market conditions by metro; vacancy rates; housing demand forecast (3-year); employment and population trends; absorption rates

SBA Small Business Profiles for States, Territories & Nation

primary-govstate-NCreportU.S. Small Business Administration, Office of AdvocacyNorth Carolina state data

Annually updated state-level profiles (including North Carolina) with key statistics on small-business counts, employment, demographics, and economic contribution; also includes metro-area, rural, and congressional-district profiles.

Datapoints: state small-business counts; small-business employment by state; small-business demographics; industry trends; rural and metro-area breakdowns

Community Partnerships to Fight Hunger in North Carolina

primary-academicstate-NCarticleUNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (Carolina Public Health Magazine)North Carolina state data

Feature on university-community partnerships addressing child nutrition and food access in North Carolina, profiling the Carolina Hunger Initiative and the Food Fitness and Opportunity Research Collaborative.

Datapoints: 1.2 million+ North Carolinians struggle with food access (30%+ children); ~900,000 NC children qualify for free/reduced-price school meals; pre-COVID only 12 of 100 eligible children received summer meals

UNC School of Government Legislative Reporting Service (Daily Bulletin)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubUNC School of GovernmentNorth Carolina state data

Authoritative, nonpartisan tracking and summaries of North Carolina General Assembly bills via The Daily Bulletin, maintained by the UNC School of Government since 1935. Searchable bill summaries with statutory references and timelines.

Datapoints: Neutral summaries of all NC bills; Statutory cross-references and legislative timelines; Searchable archive of bill summaries by session

Certificate of Relief from Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction (NC)

primary-govstate-NCarticleUNC School of Government (North Carolina Criminal Law blog)North Carolina state data

Explainer of North Carolina's 2011 Certificate of Relief procedure that lets certain people with limited convictions seek court relief from collateral consequences affecting employment, housing, and benefits.

Datapoints: Eligibility: no more than two Class G/H/I felonies or misdemeanors in one session; Requirements: 12 months post-sentence, lawful employment, no pending charges; Relief from automatic collateral sanctions (with statutory exceptions); Statutory basis: G.S. 15A-173.1 through 15A-173.6 (S.L. 2011-265)

Immigrants in North Carolina: A Fact Sheet

primary-academicstate-NCreportUNC School of Government (Popular Government)North Carolina state data

Fact sheet examining North Carolina's immigrant population: how many live in the state, tax contributions, public-benefit usage, and economic impact.

Datapoints: Immigrant population counts in North Carolina; Tax contributions of immigrants; Public benefit eligibility and usage; Economic impact estimates

Legislative Reporting Service — HB 781 (2025-2026) Bill Summary

primary-academicstate-NCguidelineUNC School of Government — Legislative Reporting Service (LRS)North Carolina state data

The UNC School of Government's Legislative Reporting Service (operating since 1935) provides an authoritative, neutral summary of North Carolina HB 781, which would impose a statewide prohibition on public camping/sleeping on government property. Primary tracking source for NC homelessness-criminalization legislation.

Datapoints: Local governments may not authorize camping/sleeping on public property except designated sites; Designated sites require DHHS certification, sanitation, water, and coordinated mental health/substance services; Enforcement via civil action by the Attorney General or residents/business owners; Effective date October 1, 2025; Filed April 3, 2025; would amend NC General Statutes to bar local units from regularly permitting public camping/sleeping; Local units may designate own property for up to one year if certified by NC DHHS (safety, sanitation, health standards; substance-use prohibition); DHHS has 45 days to certify designations; allows civil enforcement actions; Emergency clause: inapplicable during gubernatorial emergency declarations; proposed effective date October 1, 2025

NCCARE360 (Unite Us North Carolina Network)

otherstate-NCorg-hubUnite Us / NCCARE360North Carolina state data

Statewide closed-loop referral network connecting health care, government, and community-based organizations to coordinate social services (food, housing, transportation) and track referral outcomes across all 100 NC counties.

Datapoints: 100 NC counties covered; 3,604 organizations onboarded; 9,814 programs onboarded; Closed-loop referral resolution tracking and unmet-need analytics

NC 211 (United Way of North Carolina)

otherstate-NCorg-hubUnited Way of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

Statewide phone referral line and online searchable directory of ~19,000 programs across all 100 NC counties, plus the '211 Counts' dashboard and an eLibrary. Directory + data, not a myth-busting explainer.

Datapoints: ~19,000 programs across all 100 NC counties; 211 Counts request dashboard; statewide social-service referral; Searchable resource directory by need and location; 211 Counts call-volume and unmet-need dashboard; Categories of help requested (housing, food, utilities)

NC 211 (United Way of North Carolina)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubUnited Way of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

Free, confidential, multilingual 24/7 health and human services information and referral system covering all 100 NC counties, with a 2-1-1 Counts data platform showing caller-need data by geography.

Datapoints: Statewide referral data across all 100 NC counties; 2-1-1 Counts: requests by need category, zip code, congressional/school district; Real-time community need tracking; Referral request volume by need category (housing, food, utilities, etc.); Caller data filterable by zip code, congressional/school district; All 100 NC counties covered, 24/7; 211 Counts data dashboard (nc.211counts.org)

NC 211 Resource Search

otherstate-NCtoolUnited Way of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

NC 211 is a free, confidential statewide information-and-referral service connecting residents to housing, food assistance, utility help, and other health and human services via phone (2-1-1), chat, and an online searchable directory.

Datapoints: searchable directory of NC health/human-services resources; housing and shelter referrals; food assistance referrals; utility/financial assistance referrals; county-level service listings

Our Money Needs Calculator (United Way of NC)

local-authoritystate-NCtoolUnited Way of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

An interactive household budget / self-sufficiency calculator estimating the income North Carolina families need to cover basic expenses, based on the ALICE Household Survival Budget and Self-Sufficiency Standard methodology.

Datapoints: county-level basic-needs household budget; costs for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care; self-sufficiency wage estimates by family composition; comparison to federal poverty level and ALICE threshold

United Way of North Carolina (NC 211 & ALICE host)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubUnited Way of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

Statewide United Way that operates NC 211 (24/7 health and human services referral line) and publishes the North Carolina ALICE Report on households unable to afford basics. A primary NC source for referral-need data and cost-of-living hardship figures.

Datapoints: NC 211 call volume (186,045 inbound calls in 2024) and caller needs (240,471 identified); Hurricane Helene welfare checks (18,370); NC ALICE Report 2026 (share of households below ALICE threshold); Money Needs Calculator and Self-Sufficiency Standard; categorized needs (housing, food, utilities, health)

Self-Sufficiency Standard for North Carolina

local-authoritystate-NCreportUnited Way of North Carolina (with the Center for Women's Welfare, University of Washington)North Carolina state data

North Carolina's Self-Sufficiency Standard, measuring the income needed to meet basic needs at a minimally adequate level without public or private assistance, calculated for 700+ family types across all 100 NC counties. A more realistic alternative to the federal poverty line for living-wage analysis.

Datapoints: Self-Sufficiency wage by NC county and family type (700+ types); Budget components: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, taxes/credits, miscellaneous, emergency savings; County data sheets for every NC county; Comparison to Federal Poverty Level; 2017 and 2020 NC reports; County- and family-type-specific self-sufficiency income for 700+ family types; Budget categories: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, miscellaneous, taxes/credits, emergency savings; Housing + child care ~half of budget for families with young children; Comparison to federal poverty level (e.g., ~$21,720 for 3-person family); Occupation wage vs. standard comparisons; minimum self-sufficiency income by county and family type; eight budget categories (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, miscellaneous, taxes/credits, emergency savings); gap vs federal poverty measure; county data sheets and Our Money Needs Calculator; Self-sufficiency wage by county and family type (700+ types); Budget components: housing, child care, food, transport, health, taxes, emergency savings; Housing + child care often ~half of budget for families with young kids

211 Counts (North Carolina)

otherstate-NCdashboardUnited Way of North Carolina / 211 CountsNorth Carolina state data

Public dashboard of NC 211 call data showing what kinds of help residents request and where, by county and category over time.

Datapoints: Call counts by need category (housing, food, utilities, health); Trends over time and by county; Top unmet-need indicators

2020 Self-Sufficiency Standard for North Carolina (report PDF)

local-authoritystate-NCreportUnited Way of North Carolina / Center for Women's WelfareNorth Carolina state data

Full 2020 Self-Sufficiency Standard report for North Carolina, providing county-by-county basic-needs budgets and income thresholds by family composition, with methodology and underlying cost sources.

Datapoints: County-by-county self-sufficiency wage tables (2020); Family-budget breakdown by expense category; Methodology for the NC Standard; Trends in cost vs. wage growth; County-level self-sufficiency budgets by family type (2020); Detailed cost components: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, miscellaneous, taxes; Hourly/annual wage needed to meet the standard by county; Methodology and data-source documentation; 2020 county-level self-sufficiency wage tables; family-budget components by county and family composition; comparison to federal poverty guidelines; 2020 self-sufficiency wages by county and family type; Itemized basic-needs budgets; Comparison to Federal Poverty Level and minimum wage

Center for Housing and Community Studies (CHCS), UNC Greensboro

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth Carolina state data

A university-based, community-engaged applied social science research center offering housing and community research, GIS dashboards, and direct services (eviction mediation, tenant leadership) across North Carolina.

Datapoints: NC eviction-mediation program data and outcomes; Applied housing research studies and archive; Affordable-housing resource list and GIS dashboards; Eviction Mediation Program and Tenant Leadership Academy; GIS services: cartography, web maps, surveys, dashboards; Applied research and program evaluation in NC

County Health Rankings - NC Statewide Health Data

established-research-orgstate-NCdashboardUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationNorth Carolina state data

Entry point to explore North Carolina county health rankings and the model of health outcomes and health factors, including economic and housing conditions.

Datapoints: health outcomes and health factors by NC county; social and economic factor measures; physical environment (housing) measures; annual measures and methodology

County Health Rankings - North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCdashboardUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationNorth Carolina state data

County-level rankings and underlying measures of health outcomes and health factors for all North Carolina counties, including food insecurity, severe housing problems, poverty, and social/economic determinants.

Datapoints: health outcomes ranking by NC county; health factors (social, economic, physical environment); severe housing problems measure; food and economic insecurity measures; annual measures methodology and sources; Food insecurity and limited access to healthy foods by county; Severe housing problems and housing cost burden; Children in poverty, income inequality, unemployment; Health outcomes (length and quality of life) by county

County Health Rankings: North Carolina State Resources

established-research-orgstate-NCorg-hubUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationNorth Carolina state data

Curated directory of North Carolina-specific health and community data sources (state health statistics, cancer registry, health atlas, county data book) to supplement County Health Rankings snapshots.

Datapoints: NC County Health Data Book (births, life expectancy, deaths); NC Central Cancer Registry; NC Health Data Query System (birth, mortality, pregnancy); NC Health Atlas (county interactive maps); NC Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Buncombe County Food Assistance

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County, NCNorth Carolina state data

Buncombe County government page listing local food-assistance programs and resources for Asheville-area residents, including SNAP/FNS access and partner pantries.

Datapoints: local food assistance program directory; FNS/SNAP local enrollment access; emergency food resources in Buncombe County

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubCharlotte Center for Legal AdvocacyNorth Carolina state data

Nonprofit legal-services provider serving Mecklenburg County and the greater Charlotte region of NC, with practice areas in home preservation, benefits access, income security, consumer protection, and property-tax relief. A regional model for tenant/benefits legal aid in North Carolina.

Datapoints: Home Preservation / eviction-defense and community redevelopment; Benefits Access (public assistance enrollment); Income Security legal support for low-income residents; Consumer Protection and Property Tax Relief services

DEAR Durham (Durham Expunction & Restoration Program)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubDurham Expunction & Restoration (DEAR) ProgramNorth Carolina state data

Free legal-services program in Durham, NC that removes employment and housing barriers by expunging criminal records and restoring suspended driver's licenses. Relevant as a model for how record relief reduces housing and economic insecurity for low-income residents.

Datapoints: Free criminal-record expunction for Durham residents; Driver's-license restoration (Second Chance Driving Project); Removes housing/employment barriers tied to records; Monthly application periods and in-person intake

Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore - Programs

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubFoodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore (Feeding America affiliate)North Carolina state data

Feeding America-affiliated food bank serving southeastern Virginia (not NC); its programs page documents federal and local hunger-relief program models useful as a reference template for CSFP, mobile pantries, BackPack, and campus pantry operations.

Datapoints: CSFP 'Senior Big Box': ~30-lb monthly box of nonperishable food plus nutrition education for adults 60+; Nationally 731,993 seniors access CSFP; recipients receive one box per month for up to 36 months; Programs: Mobile Market, BackPack, Campus-Based Pantries, Food Hubs, Mobile Pantry, Retail Rescue, Healthy Food Pantry; Operational documents: income guidelines, monthly reporting forms, civil-rights complaint forms (EN/ES)

NC Collaboratory Helene Aerial & LiDAR Mapping Project

primary-academiclocal-AVLdatasetNorth Carolina Collaboratory / University of North CarolinaNorth Carolina state data

UNC NC Collaboratory initiative that collected high-resolution aerial photography and LiDAR across the 13 western NC counties hardest hit by Hurricane Helene to support floodplain remapping, landslide-risk assessment, and recovery planning; data distributed via NC OneMap.

Datapoints: high-resolution aerial photography (13 counties); LiDAR elevation/3D terrain; Helene inundation and disaster-declaration overlay; floodplain remapping inputs; landslide-risk inputs; before/after landscape-change analysis (since 2017)

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

primary-govnationalorg-hubAppalachian Regional Commission (federal-state partnership)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Federal-state economic development partnership covering 423 counties across 13 Appalachian states, publishing data, county economic-distress classifications, and research on poverty and economic conditions in the region (which includes Western North Carolina).

Datapoints: County Economic Status classifications (distressed/at-risk/transitional/competitive/attainment); The Chartbook: data overview of the Appalachian Region; Data Report Tool for county-level socioeconomic indicators; Research reports, evaluations, maps, fact sheets and infographics; County economic status / distress classifications across 423 counties; Regional poverty, income, employment, and population data (Chartbook); Interactive maps and the ARC Data Report Tool; Coverage of 13 Appalachian states including Western North Carolina

EPI Family Budget Fact Sheets

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Downloadable fact sheets summarizing EPI Family Budget Calculator results for every U.S. county and metro area, giving the income needed for a modest adequate standard of living by family type, suitable for quick local (e.g., Asheville MSA / Buncombe County) reference.

Datapoints: County/metro family budget totals by family type; Breakdown by housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, taxes, other necessities; Annual and monthly income thresholds; Downloadable per-area fact sheets; per-location family budget totals; component cost breakdowns (housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes); comparison to poverty thresholds and median income; Per-area monthly/annual family budgets; Component-level cost breakdowns; Family-type comparisons

HRSA Data Warehouse

primary-govnationaldashboardHealth Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHSAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The federal hub for data, dashboards, maps, locators, downloadable files, and APIs on HRSA programs serving low-income and underserved populations, including community health centers, health workforce shortage designations, and medically underserved areas. Data are queryable by state and county down to local geographies like Buncombe County, NC.

Datapoints: Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas; Health center locations serving 32.4M+ patients at ~1,400 centers; Custom queries via Data Explorer and Build-Your-Own-Map; ~1,400 health centers serving 32.4 million people; HPSA/MUA shortage designations; Area Health Resources Files (50+ data sources); UDS health-center data; grant awards by location; Health center service-area and patient data; Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/MUP); Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA); Downloadable datasets and geography-level extracts; health center program data; health professional shortage areas (HPSA); grant awards by state and program area; downloadable datasets and APIs; Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) designations, scores, and types; Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P); Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) service sites and patients served (32.4 million people); Area Health Resources Files (AHRF): health professions, facilities, population characteristics from 50+ sources; HRSA grant awards by geography (2016-2025); Health centers serve 32.4 million people at nearly 1,400 health centers each year (UDS); Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designations; Area Health Resources Files: health professions, facilities, population characteristics, utilization; Service Area / Unmet Need Score map tool and downloadable datasets by geography; Data Explorer for custom query/filter/export across programs; Bulk Data Downloads and Data-by-Geography portals; Build Your Own Map and High Need Mapping interactive tools

HRSA Build Your Own Map

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapHealth Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. HHSAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Interactive mapping platform that overlays HRSA data layers (health centers, shortage areas, workforce, grants) on a custom map, supporting county- and tract-level analysis for NC and WNC.

Datapoints: customizable data layers; health centers and shortage areas; geographic filtering; exportable maps

National Housing Conference — Paycheck to Paycheck / Priced Out

othernationalreportNational Housing ConferenceAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Analysis comparing occupational wages to local housing costs, including the share of workers in key occupations who cannot afford local rent. Source for the Asheville construction-wage finding.

Datapoints: ~half of construction workers earn under $59,840, the income needed to afford a 1BR (2025); About 1 in 2 Asheville-area construction workers earn less than a modest one-bedroom requires

Climate Explorer (NEMAC / FernLeaf)

othernationalinteractive-mapNEMAC (UNC Asheville) + FernLeaf Interactive, for NOAA/U.S. Climate Resilience ToolkitAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Interactive tool providing graphs, maps, and downloadable data of observed and projected climate conditions for every U.S. county, including Buncombe and WNC counties.

Datapoints: projected temperature (days above thresholds); precipitation projections; observed climate normals; downloadable county climate series under emissions scenarios

BEA iTable - Regional Data Interactive Tables

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Interactive query tool for BEA regional accounts, letting users build custom tables of income, GDP, and price-parity data down to the county and metro level, including the Asheville MSA and North Carolina counties.

Datapoints: Custom queries of personal income by county/metro/state; GDP by industry and geography; Regional Price Parities and real income series; Per-capita personal income time series

American Community Survey (ACS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The premier source of detailed annual social, economic, housing, and demographic data on the U.S., collected continuously since 2005. The single best source for local income, poverty, rent burden, and housing-cost statistics for North Carolina and the Asheville area.

Datapoints: Median household income and earnings by geography; Poverty rate and people below poverty by age/race; Gross rent, rent-as-share-of-income (rent burden), and housing-cost burden; Housing tenure, vacancy, overcrowding, and units lacking facilities; Employment, education, and transportation across 40+ topics; PUMS microdata

American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 Data Releases

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Hub for the 2023 American Community Survey data releases, including the 1-year estimates and the 2019-2023 5-year estimates (released Dec 12, 2024). The ACS is the primary source of small-area statistics on income, poverty, housing cost burden, and demographics for every U.S. community including Asheville/Buncombe.

Datapoints: 2023 ACS 1-year estimates; 2019-2023 ACS 5-year estimates (down to small geographies); Income and poverty tables; Housing characteristics and cost-burden tables; Employment and demographic tables; 2023 table and geography change documentation; Data release schedule

American Community Survey 1-Year Data (2005-2024) API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

API documentation for the ACS 1-year estimates, providing the most current annual social, economic, housing, and demographic data for geographies with populations of 65,000 or more (which includes Buncombe County). Source for up-to-date poverty, income, and housing-cost trend data.

Datapoints: Annual poverty rates and income statistics; Median household income and per capita income; Housing conditions, home value, gross rent, rent burden; Employment, education, family structure; Coverage limited to counties/places with 65,000+ population

American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2024) API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

API documentation for the ACS 5-year estimates, the Census Bureau's most geographically detailed survey of social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics. The 5-year file is the standard source for small-area (tract, block group, county) poverty, income, rent burden, and housing data, including for Buncombe County and Asheville.

Datapoints: Poverty rates and ratio-of-income-to-poverty; Median household and per capita income; Housing tenure (owner vs renter), home value, gross rent, rent burden; Employment, education, demographic characteristics; Available to block-group level via Detailed, Subject, Data Profile, and Comparison tables

data.census.gov — Explore Census Data (Advanced Search)

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The Census Bureau's primary public data-access platform. The advanced-search interface lets users filter by geography, topic, survey, and table to retrieve income, poverty, housing, and demographic estimates down to the tract, county, and place level (including North Carolina and the Asheville MSA).

Datapoints: American Community Survey income, poverty, rent burden, and housing tables by geography; Decennial Census counts; Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates; Geographic filtering to state (NC), county (Buncombe), and place (Asheville)

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Census Bureau program producing annual single-year estimates of income and poverty for every U.S. state and county, plus school-age-children-in-poverty estimates for all 13,000+ school districts. The standard small-area source for county-level poverty rates (incl. Buncombe County).

Datapoints: County and school-district poverty rates; Child poverty (ages 5-17); Median household income by county; county poverty rate; child poverty (under 18 / 5-17); median household income; school-district poverty; annual single-year estimates; poverty rate (all ages, county/state); child poverty (under 5, under 18); school-age (5-17) poverty by district; county poverty rate and counts; median household income by county; child poverty estimates; county poverty rate & count; child poverty (ages 0-17, 5-17); interactive tool + API; County- and state-level poverty rates (all ages); Poverty rate for children under 18 and ages 5-17; Median household income by state and county; School-age children in poverty for all 13,000+ school districts; Annual single-year estimates (2024 released early 2026); Interactive data tool and downloadable datasets; county and state poverty rate and count; child poverty (under 18) estimates; school-district poverty estimates; annual time series

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Buncombe County

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Authoritative federal snapshot of Buncombe County demographic, housing, income, and business statistics drawn from the Census and American Community Survey.

Datapoints: population estimate & change; age/race/ethnicity composition; households & housing units; median household income; poverty rate; owner-occupied housing & median home value; educational attainment

U.S. Census Bureau — Data Hub (Housing, Income & Poverty)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Census BureauAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The federal statistical agency's data hub, the primary source for U.S. housing, income, poverty, and household well-being data through programs like the American Community Survey, American Housing Survey, and the Household Pulse Survey. Tables are queryable down to local geographies (including Asheville/Buncombe County) via data.census.gov.

Datapoints: American Community Survey (ACS) — income, rent burden, housing cost, tenure, poverty by geography; American Housing Survey (AHS) — housing stock condition, costs, and adequacy; Income and poverty estimates (official and Supplemental Poverty Measure); Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) — county/school-district poverty; Household Pulse Survey — near-real-time housing/food/financial hardship indicators; Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) — program participation dynamics

Census ACS — Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (B25070)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census Bureau, American Community SurveyAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

ACS table reporting renter cost burden (gross rent as a share of income) for the nation down to census tracts and block groups, the primary public-data source for local housing cost-burden rates including Buncombe County and Asheville.

Datapoints: renters paying 30%+ of income on rent; renters paying 50%+ (severe burden); median gross rent as % of income (B25071); tract-level estimates; owner households by cost-to-income band; renter households by cost-to-income band; cost-burdened share (>30% income); severely cost-burdened share (>50% income)

USDA Rural Development

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural DevelopmentAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Federal agency hub for rural housing and community-facility programs, including multifamily and single-family housing loans and rental assistance for rural areas such as much of Western North Carolina.

Datapoints: Multifamily Housing Programs (Section 515/538 rental housing); Single-Family Housing direct and guaranteed loans; Rural rental assistance; Community facilities and infrastructure programs

HUD CHAS Estimate Data by Census Tract (ArcGIS Open Data)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

HUD open GIS dataset of Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) estimates at the census-tract level, derived from American Community Survey 5-year data. Provides tract-level housing cost-burden and housing-problem measures usable for local (e.g., Buncombe County tract) affordability analysis.

Datapoints: Households by HUD income category (relative to HAMFI); Cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened households; Households with one or more of four housing problems (overcrowding, lacking kitchen/plumbing, cost burden); Renter vs. owner tenure breakdowns at census-tract geography; Tract-level housing cost burden (>30% and >50% of income on housing); Severe housing problems by tenure and household income (HAMFI brackets); Renter vs. owner household counts by income category; Downloadable shapefile/GIS layers and tabular CHAS estimates; housing cost burden by income category (% of AMI/HAMFI); severe housing problems by tract; renter vs owner housing need; tract-level ACS housing estimates; Housing cost burden (>30%, >50% of income) by income bracket; Housing problems (overcrowding, lacking facilities); HUD income categories relative to HAMFI; Tract-level affordability estimates

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Federal Emergency Management AgencyAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Federal agency administering disaster declarations and Individual/Public Assistance, including housing assistance after disasters such as Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Publishes OpenFEMA datasets on assistance and declarations.

Datapoints: Disaster declarations by county/state; Individual Assistance and Public Assistance award data; Housing assistance amounts and applicant counts (OpenFEMA); National Flood Insurance Program data

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Small Business AdministrationAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Federal agency hub for small-business funding, federal contracting, and disaster assistance. Relevant to economic-opportunity and recovery work, including disaster loans (physical damage and economic-injury) that affect WNC after events like Hurricane Helene.

Datapoints: SBA loan programs (7(a), 504, Microloans); Disaster Assistance loans (physical damage and Economic Injury Disaster Loans); Small Business Procurement Scorecard (federal contracting performance by agency); Resource partner network (SBDC, SCORE, Women's Business Centers, VBOC)

United for ALICE - Methodology

established-research-orgnationalguidelineUnited for ALICE (United Way of Northern New Jersey)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Methodology for the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) measure, which identifies households earning above the Federal Poverty Level but below the local cost of basic necessities. Defines the Household Survival Budget and ALICE Threshold used in county-level (including NC/Buncombe) financial-hardship reporting.

Datapoints: Household Survival Budget (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology, taxes, 10% contingency); ALICE Threshold (minimum survival income by county/household type); Household Stability Budget (incl. 10% savings); 65+ Survival Budget; County and household-type granularity for all U.S. counties; Household Survival Budget across six categories: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology (plus taxes and 10% contingency); ALICE Threshold: minimum survival income by county and household composition; Household Stability Budget (adds savings component); 65+ budget variant; income gaps after assistance; Economic Benefits of Equity (GDP/tax impact estimates); ALICE Household Survival Budget (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology, taxes, 10% contingency); ALICE Threshold by county and household composition; ALICE Income Assessment (income gaps and unmet needs); ALICE Threshold (minimum income for basics); Household Survival Budget (housing, childcare, food, transport, health, technology, +10% contingency); County- and state-level ALICE household counts and rates

USDA Food Access Research Atlas (food deserts / low-access areas)

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapUSDA Economic Research ServiceAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Census-tract-level interactive map and downloadable dataset identifying low-income, low-access (food desert) areas, with distance-to-supermarket and vehicle-access measures usable for NC counties and Asheville tracts.

Datapoints: low-income low-access tracts; distance to nearest supermarket; vehicle-access flags; population with low food access; Low-income low-access tracts; Distance to nearest supermarket; Vehicle access; Population in food deserts by tract; distance to supermarket (0.5/1/10/20 mi); vehicle access; population without nearby food store; Low-income/low-access tract flags at 0.5/1/10/20 mile thresholds; Population with low vehicle access; Number of SNAP-eligible food retailers nearby; Tract-level food-desert classification; Downloadable national tract data file; Low-income low-access tracts (0.5/1 mile urban; 10/20 mile rural); Vehicle availability and food access; Population with low access by distance; Census-tract geographic detail; Low-income, low-access tracts (food deserts); Distance-to-supermarket thresholds; Vehicle-access overlays; Tract-level downloadable data; low-income low-access (LILA) tracts; rural 10-mile and 20-mile supermarket distance flags; population with low vehicle access; share of tract population with low access; downloadable tract-level data; Low-income, low-access (LILA) census tracts; 0.5/1-mile (urban) and 10/20-mile (rural) distance thresholds; Vehicle availability by tract; 2019 estimates comparable to 2015; Subpopulation food-access indicators by tract; low-income/low-access (LILA) tracts (food deserts); distance to nearest supermarket (1 mile urban / 10 mile rural); vehicle access and household resources by tract; downloadable tract-level food-access data (2019 boundaries)

KIDS COUNT - North Carolina Child and Family Well-Being

established-research-orgstate-NCdatasetAnnie E. Casey Foundation / NC ChildAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

North Carolina state and county slice of the KIDS COUNT Data Center, the data layer behind the NC KIDS COUNT Data Book. Provides downloadable, time-series indicators for NC and all 100 counties (Buncombe included) on child poverty, food insecurity, housing burden, and health.

Datapoints: NC children in poverty (2023 data showed an increase after a decade of decline); nearly one-third of NC children in households spending >30% of income on housing; NC child food insecurity; county-level child well-being for Buncombe and WNC counties; NC ranked 34th nationally in the 2025 Data Book; Child poverty rates (state and county); Children in food-insecure / SNAP households; Educational attainment and proficiency indicators; Health, family, and community well-being indicators; 4+ million data points; county and local breakdowns

FEMA — Hurricane Helene North Carolina Disaster (DR-4827-NC)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubFederal Emergency Management AgencyAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

FEMA's official disaster page for Hurricane Helene's North Carolina declaration (DR-4827-NC), the authoritative federal hub for individual assistance, deadlines, and recovery programs relevant to WNC housing recovery.

Datapoints: FEMA disaster DR-4827-NC; Individual Assistance capped at $42,500 per household; Transitional Sheltering Assistance hotel program; FEMA disaster declaration DR-4827-NC (Hurricane Helene); Individual assistance capped at $42,500 per household; DR-4827 North Carolina disaster declaration; FEMA Individual Assistance capped at $42,500 per household

Feeding the Carolinas

otherstate-NCorg-hubFeeding the CarolinasAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Statewide network uniting the ten Feeding America food banks serving North and South Carolina, providing food-insecurity advocacy, disaster response, and a unified hub linking member food banks (including MANNA FoodBank in WNC). Publishes regional hunger statistics and the Farm to Food Bank program.

Datapoints: 600,000+ children food insecure in the Carolinas; 1 in 7 Carolinians food insecure; $1.5 billion+ annual food budget shortfall; Directory of 10 member food banks (incl. MANNA FoodBank); 1 in 7 Carolinians are food insecure; 600,000+ children in the Carolinas experience food insecurity; $1.5 billion+ annual food budget shortfall across the Carolinas; 3,700 local food pantries and partner agencies served; Roster of 10 member food banks with service areas; 600,000+ food-insecure children in the Carolinas; directory of 10 member food banks (incl. MANNA FoodBank); 1 in 7 Carolinians face food insecurity; 3,700 local food pantries and distribution partners

MIT Living Wage Calculator - North Carolina

primary-academicstate-NCtoolMassachusetts Institute of Technology (Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Calculates the hourly wage required to meet basic needs in North Carolina (and its counties/metros, including Asheville) across 12 household configurations, with a transparent itemized family budget and comparison to poverty and minimum wages.

Datapoints: Living wage by household type (e.g., $22.47/hr single adult, $56.67/hr single adult + 3 children); Poverty wage and minimum wage ($7.25/hr NC) comparisons; Itemized budget: food, childcare, medical, housing, transportation, taxes, civic, internet, misc.; Typical annual salaries by occupation ($32,000 food prep to $134,940 management)

MIT Living Wage Calculator - North Carolina Locations

primary-academicstate-NCtoolMassachusetts Institute of Technology (Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Index of all North Carolina county and metropolitan-area living-wage pages, enabling drill-down to local living-wage estimates (e.g., Buncombe County / Asheville MSA).

Datapoints: Per-county living wage estimates for all 100 NC counties; Metro/MSA living-wage breakdowns (incl. Asheville, NC MSA); Links to county-level itemized budgets and required incomes

NC OneMap - Statewide Geospatial Data Portal

primary-govstate-NCinteractive-mapNC Center for Geographic Information & AnalysisAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

North Carolina's authoritative geospatial portal hosting parcels, imagery, elevation/lidar, demographics, transportation, health, and broadband layers downloadable as data and web services; destination for post-Helene high-resolution lidar across 13 hardest-hit counties.

Datapoints: statewide parcels; orthoimagery; QL2 lidar / elevation (incl. post-Helene 13-county collection); transportation & infrastructure; broadband access; demographic and health layers; REST/WMS APIs; parcels & cadastral data; addresses; boundaries (county/municipal); hydrography & elevation; transportation; land cover; imagery; downloadable datasets & REST services

Hurricane Helene Damage and Needs Assessment (NC OSBM)

primary-govstate-NCreportNC Office of State Budget and ManagementAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

State's official damage-and-needs assessment quantifying Hurricane Helene's economic impact across western North Carolina, the authoritative source for statewide loss totals.

Datapoints: $59.6B total estimated impact (Dec 13, 2024); $44.4B direct damage; $9.4B indirect/induced; $5.8B mitigation investment need; sector and county breakdowns

LINC (Log Into North Carolina)

primary-govstate-NCtoolNC Office of State Budget and ManagementAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

North Carolina's interactive data-retrieval portal hosting 1,500+ frequently requested data series drawn from census, federal, and state programs, with visualization, bulk download, and mapping.

Datapoints: population & labor force; education; transportation; revenue; agriculture; vital statistics; energy & utilities; county-level time series for all 100 counties; population & demographics; labor force & employment; revenue & finance; county- and state-level series; historical time series (900+ items)

Population in Hurricane Helene's Path (NC OSBM Insight)

primary-govstate-NCarticleNC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

OSBM demographic analysis of the population in the 39-county Hurricane Helene federal disaster area, profiling the rural, aging WNC region most affected by the storm.

Datapoints: 1.8 million people in 26-county fully-eligible FEMA region (~16% of NC); 4.6 million in full 39-county disaster area (~42% of NC); 22% of region age 65+ vs 18% statewide; 64% live in unincorporated areas vs 42% statewide; 16% report disabilities vs 13% statewide

NC OSBM - Population & Demographics

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNC Office of State Budget and Management (State Demographer)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The State Demographer's hub for certified county and municipal population estimates, state/county projections, and the demographic-data exploration platform.

Datapoints: certified county population estimates (annual); municipal/non-municipal population estimates; state & county population projections to 2060; Buncombe ~unincorporated 156k vs Asheville ~97k; population in Helene's path

NC DHHS — Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Roster

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Official NC DHHS roster of state CCBHC grantees, listing the five NC CCBHCs (Anuvia/Charlotte, B&D/Durham, Coastal Horizons/Wilmington, MAHEC/Asheville, SouthLight/Raleigh) and confirming MAHEC as the only one in Western NC, serving 18 WNC counties on a 2-year $4M SAMHSA grant.

Datapoints: 5 NC CCBHC grantees: Anuvia/Charlotte, B&D/Durham, Coastal Horizons/Wilmington, MAHEC/Asheville, SouthLight/Raleigh; MAHEC is the only CCBHC in the western region (current-as-of); Five NC CCBHC grantees listed; MAHEC is the only CCBHC in Western NC (current-as-of); MAHEC serves 18 WNC counties on a 2-year $4M SAMHSA grant

NC Department of Public Safety — Hurricane Helene response (commodity/POD data)

primary-govstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Department of Public SafetyAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Official NC DPS record of the Helene response, including commodity-distribution scale across Western NC.

Datapoints: 20,000+ hot meals/day via mobile kitchens; ~9.78 million liters of water and ~7.7 million meals delivered in NC

Food Bank Bounces Back (MANNA FoodBank, post-Helene)

primary-govstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Health NewsAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

NC Health News reporting on MANNA FoodBank's recovery after Hurricane Helene damaged its Asheville facility, covering Western North Carolina food-system disruption and response. NC Health News is an independent nonprofit health-policy newsroom.

Datapoints: MANNA FoodBank Helene damage and recovery; WNC food-system disruption; regional food-bank response to disaster; ~20% of Western NC adults had limited or uncertain food access before Helene; MANNA recovery distribution figures; Rural food deserts with 30+ minute drives to grocery

Census Population and Housing (LINC Explore)

primary-govstate-NCinteractive-mapNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

LINC interactive explorer for census population and housing indicators in North Carolina, with charting, mapping, and API access. Provides local population and housing data for NC geographies including Buncombe County.

Datapoints: Population and housing unit counts; Interactive exploration, charting, and mapping; API access for programmatic queries; North Carolina geographies (state/county/municipal)

Building 100 Counties Strong - County Data Dashboard

primary-govstate-NCdashboardOffice of the Governor of North Carolina (Gov. Josh Stein)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Interactive statewide map and downloadable per-county fact sheets reporting North Carolina investments and outcomes in community health, food assistance, mental health/reentry, broadband, water infrastructure, and Hurricane Helene recovery. Includes county-level data relevant to western NC and Buncombe-area communities.

Datapoints: Sun Bucks summer food stipends: 1,054,565 children served (statewide); Medical debt relief: $6.4B forgiven affecting 2.5 million North Carolinians; Helene recovery: $541.6M FEMA assistance facilitated; $55.0M small-business grants; Broadband: $276.7M awards serving 74,384 households/businesses

Partners in Health & Wholeness Resource Hub (NC Council of Churches)

otherstate-NCorg-hubPartners in Health & Wholeness, an initiative of the NC Council of ChurchesAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Curated North Carolina directory of health and social-service resources organized by county and topic (including Healthy Aging and Healthy Eating), connecting residents to meal delivery, food access, and aging-services providers such as Meals on Wheels of Asheville & Buncombe County.

Datapoints: County- and topic-organized directory of NC health/social-service resources; Topic areas include Healthy Aging and Healthy Eating; Buncombe County listings: Meals on Wheels ABC, Harvest House, Lakeview Center for Active Aging, Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging, Senior Opportunity Center, The Steady Collective; Initiative of the NC Council of Churches (Raleigh)

UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (CDC Prevention Research Centers network)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

CDC-funded prevention research center conducting community-based research to reduce health disparities, including food insecurity and child hunger work in Western North Carolina (notably post-Hurricane Helene).

Datapoints: Child hunger and healthy food access research; Western NC food insecurity (post-Helene); Rural health and nutrition/physical activity programs; Practitioner tools and publications; NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference

Affordable Housing Online — Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (NC007)

otherlocal-AVLdatasetAffordable Housing OnlineAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Consolidated HUD/PIH profile for HACA (PHA code NC007): 0 traditional public housing units after RAD conversion, ~3,421 Housing Choice Vouchers, 1,517 project-based voucher units across 11 communities, ~2,873 low-income households served, HUD high-performer rating.

Datapoints: 0 traditional public-housing units (RAD conversion); ~3,421 Housing Choice Vouchers; ~1,517 project-based units across 11 communities; ~2,873 low-income households; 81% extremely low income, 96% very low income; PHA code NC007; HUD CoC code NC-501; PHA code NC007; HUD high performer; 0 public housing units; 3,421 HCVs; 1,517 PBV units / 11 communities; ~2,873 low-income households; ~81% extremely low income, ~96% very low income; ~3,421 Housing Choice Vouchers; 0 traditional public-housing units (RAD-converted); 1,517 project-based units across 11 communities; HUD high performer; 0 traditional public-housing units (RAD-converted); ~3,421 Housing Choice Vouchers; 1,517 PBV units / 11 communities; ~2,873 low-income households; 81% extremely low income (<30% AMI); HUD high-performer rating

Affordable WNC - Affordable Housing Resources

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAffordable WNCAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Resource hub listing affordable-housing organizations, search tools, and government contacts for Western North Carolina / Asheville, including housing authorities, developers, legal aid, and rental search portals.

Datapoints: Asheville Housing Authority (10 communities, 1,534 units, HCV program); Mountain Housing Opportunities (21 communities, four counties); Rental search tools: nchousingsearch.org, affordablehousingonline.com, centralizedrentalapplication.com; 30+ WNC housing, home-repair, and homelessness organizations

Land of Sky Regional Council (ARC Local Development District)

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubAppalachian Regional Commission (ARC)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

ARC-affiliated regional development organization serving Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties, coordinating workforce, infrastructure, and community capacity in the Asheville region.

Datapoints: four-county WNC service area (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania); regional workforce and community infrastructure programs; aging and community services coordination

Asheville Chamber - More than 104,000 WNC residents at risk of hunger

otherlocal-AVLarticleAsheville Area Chamber of CommerceAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville Chamber summary of Map the Meal Gap data on WNC hunger risk. Note: cites older MTMG data and should be checked for vintage before citing.

Datapoints: 104,000+ WNC residents at risk of hunger (older MTMG vintage)

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville Area Habitat for HumanityAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local Habitat affiliate building and repairing affordable homes in partnership with families, plus disaster home repair after Helene. The Impact page reports homes built/repaired and volunteer hours.

Datapoints: 400+ new homes built since 1983; 500+ homes repaired for area families; 84,000+ volunteer hours contributed in 2025; 2,922 tons of material diverted from landfills in 2025

ABCCM (Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville Buncombe Community Christian MinistryAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Coalition of 300+ churches providing emergency food, free medical care, shelter, and veteran housing across Buncombe County. The Facts & Figures page reports people served and shelter capacity.

Datapoints: 30,000+ individuals served each year; 300+ partner churches and 5,000+ trained volunteers; 8 in 10 Transformation Village & VRQ residents leave with stable jobs and housing; 450 shelter beds across three residential facilities

12 Baskets Cafe / Asheville Poverty Initiative

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville Poverty InitiativeAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Pay-what-you-can cafe in West Asheville serving free lunches and groceries from rescued food, a program of the Asheville Poverty Initiative working on food access and economic justice.

Datapoints: 500+ community members served through meals and groceries; 2,000+ lbs of surplus food rescued each week; 100% rescued food, served by donation

Asheville Watchdog

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville WatchdogAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Independent nonprofit local newsroom covering Asheville/Buncombe housing, the housing authority, and homelessness in depth (e.g., the 'Down Town' series and HACA financial reporting). Investigative journalism, not a directory or explainer library.

Datapoints: local Asheville/WNC investigative reporting; housing and homelessness coverage; Helene-recovery reporting; HACA financial and governance reporting; local homelessness and downtown-disorder reporting; Compass Point Village coverage; Asheville Point-in-Time homeless count (e.g. 824 in 2026, up 9.1% from 2025); Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) unit/voucher counts and reserves drawdown; Asheville rent growth since 2020 (~42%); Homelessness plan progress vs. pledge to halve homelessness; ~$2M local Continuum of Care money; ~$1.8M funds permanent housing; Homeward Bound PSH ~$1.4M; Proposed 30% cap would cut permanent-housing programs to at most $568,000; Disaster-recovery grant allocation debates (build vs. repair); Asheville Housing Authority financial crisis; Federal Housing First funding threats; NC camping ban

Asheville Watchdog - SNAP cuts may double already soaring demand for food from MANNA

otherlocal-AVLarticleAsheville WatchdogAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville Watchdog reporting on how SNAP cuts could sharply increase demand on MANNA FoodBank, illustrating the limits of the charitable food backstop.

Datapoints: SNAP cuts could double demand on MANNA; Charitable food system cannot backfill SNAP reductions; Projected demand increase on MANNA; Local SNAP reliance figures

Asheville Watchdog — Asheville Housing Authority Financial Free-Fall coverage

otherlocal-AVLarticleAsheville WatchdogAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Investigative reporting on the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville's vacancies, voucher counts, waitlists, and financial crisis.

Datapoints: 1,525 apartments across 8 complexes; ~3,400 vouchers (2,117 project-based); Waitlists ~4,000 project-based / ~3,300 housing-choice; Vacancies 50 (2023) -> 144 (April 2026); ~$169K/month vacancy losses (2025)

Asheville Watchdog — New Federal Policy Threatens Funding for Permanent Housing

otherlocal-AVLarticleAsheville WatchdogAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local investigative reporting on how the FY2026 federal homelessness changes would shift more than $1 million in Asheville-Buncombe away from Housing First toward shorter-term, treatment-conditioned housing.

Datapoints: Federal changes would shift 'more than a million' locally away from Housing First; Homeward Bound PSH ~$1.4M is the largest single local CoC share at risk; Federal changes would shift more than $1M locally away from Housing First; Homeward Bound's PSH program is the most-exposed local line item

Asheville Watchdog: Missing Middle plan shows the path to more affordable housing

otherlocal-AVLarticleAsheville WatchdogAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Investigative reporting summarizing the regional housing needs assessment, Helene damage counts, and local affordability/cost-burden indicators.

Datapoints: ~19,951 units damaged by Helene across the four-county region; ~1,454 needing rebuild (1,054 owner + 400 renter); 54,824 cost-burdened households; 23,258 severely cost-burdened; Median list $575,000 ($595,000 in Asheville); median gross rent $1,131; median income $67,389

Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care 2025 Point-in-Time Count

primary-govlocal-AVLreportAsheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care / City of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The official local release of the 2025 PIT count for Buncombe County, the most authoritative local-AVL homelessness data source, including the Helene/FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance impact on the count.

Datapoints: 755 people experiencing homelessness (2025) vs 739 (2024); 328 unsheltered (+50%); 35% citing Helene as cause; 1,548 in FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance added to HUD count; shelter/transitional beds down 18% (VRQ damage); 824 people homeless (2026), +9.1% YoY; 334 unsheltered (2026); 755 in 2025 (+1,548 FEMA TSA Helene); Helene-attributed homelessness share; established Feb 29, 2024; 755 people experiencing homelessness in Buncombe County (2025), up from 739 in 2024; 328 unsheltered (50% increase), 35% citing Helene; 18% drop in sheltered/transitional beds (ABCCM Veterans Restoration Quarters damage); 1,548 added via FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance for the HUD-reported figure; 755 people experiencing homelessness in Buncombe County (up from 739 in 2024); 328 unsheltered (50% increase from 2024); Sheltered/transitional housing 18% lower than 2024; 116 people (35% of unsheltered) attributed homelessness to Tropical Storm Helene; 1,548 additional people in FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance counted per federal rules

Asheville 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Data Overview

otherlocal-AVLreportAsheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care / City of Asheville (document hosted on Scribd)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Overview of the January 2025 Point-in-Time homeless count for Asheville and Buncombe County, the first count after Tropical Storm Helene, with sheltered/unsheltered totals and demographics. Hosted on Scribd; the underlying count is conducted by the local Continuum of Care.

Datapoints: 755 people experiencing homelessness (up from 739 in 2024); 328 unsheltered (up ~50% from 219 in 2024); 2,303 total if FEMA TSA (1,548 housed) were included; 35% of unsheltered cited Helene as cause of homelessness; Demographics: ~two-thirds men, ~70% white, peak ages 35-44; only 13 families

BeLoved Asheville

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubBeLoved AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Community-rooted Asheville nonprofit building deeply affordable tiny-home villages and running street outreach, street medicine, food access, and Helene crisis response.

Datapoints: 12 homes in the first BeLoved Village in East Asheville; 100+ partner groups, schools, and businesses; 440-625 sq ft fully furnished village homes; 100+ homes repaired or rebuilt after Hurricane Helene

Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubBlue Ridge Public RadioAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Nonpartisan WNC public radio news outlet covering housing after Helene (e.g., 'Living in Limbo'), the Asheville housing authority, and CDBG-DR disaster-recovery oversight. Audio-first news source.

Datapoints: post-Helene housing coverage; City of Asheville $225M CDBG-DR disaster-recovery reporting; HACA governance and post-Helene conditions reporting; $5M for Asheville/Buncombe homelessness prevention; 100+ people still homeless after Helene; Asheville zoning for affordable downtown housing

BPR - Western NC mobilizes ahead of SNAP pause as shutdown drags on

otherlocal-AVLarticleBlue Ridge Public Radio (BPR)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

BPR coverage of the November 2025 SNAP-pause stress test during the government shutdown, with WNC SNAP enrollment and benefit-level detail.

Datapoints: 90,000+ people across 16 westernmost counties on SNAP; ~29,000 in Buncombe; Average benefit $171/person, $344/household per month; Rural counties (Swain, Graham, Transylvania, Madison, McDowell) at 20-30% SNAP; MANNA saw 15% jump in October demand; single distribution served 1,800+ households; Buncombe projected $13M drop in local food spending; 90,000+ SNAP recipients across 16 westernmost counties; ~29,000 SNAP recipients in Buncombe County; 20-30% SNAP participation in rural WNC counties

Buncombe County 2025 Point-in-Time Count (BPR coverage)

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleBlue Ridge Public Radio (BPR)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local reporting on the January 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) homelessness count for Asheville/Buncombe County, the first count after Hurricane Helene, with detailed sheltered/unsheltered breakdowns and year-over-year comparison. Useful primary local data point on disaster-driven homelessness.

Datapoints: 2,303 people experiencing homelessness (Jan 28-29, 2025); 1,548 Helene-displaced in FEMA hotels; 755 other unhoused (427 sheltered, 328 unsheltered); 2024 total 739; 2023 total 573; 35% of unsheltered cited Helene as cause of homelessness; 2,303 people experiencing homelessness in 2025 PIT count; 1,548 Helene-displaced individuals in FEMA hotels (67% of total); 755 non-FEMA homeless (427 sheltered, 328 unsheltered); 2024 total 739; 2023 total 573; 211% increase 2024->2025; Unsheltered up 50% (219 in 2024 to 328 in 2025); 35% of unsheltered attributed homelessness to Helene; Count conducted Jan 28-29, 2025 by 135 volunteers and city staff; 2,303 people experiencing homelessness in 2025 (vs 739 in 2024); ~1,548 displaced by Helene in FEMA-funded hotels; 755 unhoused outside FEMA program (427 sheltered / 328 unsheltered); 35% of unsheltered attributed homelessness to Helene; 2025 PIT count: 2,303 people experiencing homelessness; 2024 PIT: 739; 2023 PIT: 573; 1,548 Helene-displaced in FEMA hotels (67%); Non-FEMA homeless: 755 (427 sheltered, 328 unsheltered)

Bounty & Soul

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubBounty & SoulAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Black Mountain nonprofit running weekly free produce markets and nutrition education across the Swannanoa Valley and greater WNC. The site publishes annual individuals served and pounds distributed.

Datapoints: 289,562 individuals served in 2025; 2,085,000+ lbs fresh produce distributed in 2025; 99% report improved health and wellbeing; 484 free community markets held in 2025

Bowen National Research - Asheville Region Housing Needs Assessment (2025)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportBowen National Research (for Buncombe County / Asheville Regional Housing Consortium)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Professional housing needs and market study for the Asheville region (Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Transylvania), the most-cited local source for unit-gap and cost-burden figures.

Datapoints: 6,956 units needed at <=80% AMI; 34,358 dwelling units needed over 5 years (4-county region); median 2BR/2BA market rent ~$1,869; median list price ~$595,000 (Mar 2025); renter cost-burden 46.1% / owner 21.3%; extreme cost-burden 19.4% renters

Asheville-Buncombe Housing Needs Assessment (Bowen National Research)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportBowen National Research / City of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Comprehensive housing needs assessment for the City of Asheville and Buncombe County prepared by Bowen National Research, quantifying the local affordable-housing gap, rental and ownership demand, and cost-burdened households.

Datapoints: affordable housing unit gap; rental housing demand by income band; for-sale housing demand; cost-burdened renter and owner households; demographic and income projections; housing affordability by area median income (AMI)

Buncombe County Opioid Settlement Fund — Public Engagement Hub

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County (PublicInput platform)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Buncombe County's public-engagement hub for its opioid settlement funds, hosting strategic-planning materials, the recovery-housing gap analysis, surveys, and budget updates. Buncombe is projected to receive $30M+ over ~18 years.

Datapoints: Buncombe projected to receive $30M+ over ~18 years (2022-2039); ~$3.218M budgeted FY2026 for core services (PORT, re-entry, harm reduction, social needs); Recovery-housing gap analysis: 31 feedback sessions, 1,118 surveys; Steering Committee launched Sept 2022 (~40-45 stakeholders)

HIAC Five-Year Strategic Plan on Homelessness (Buncombe County)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportBuncombe County / Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee (HIAC)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local five-year strategic plan adopted by Buncombe County / Asheville's Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee setting goals and strategies to reduce homelessness in the Asheville area. Dated 2017; useful as a historical local-policy baseline.

Datapoints: Local Asheville/Buncombe homelessness strategy goals and targets; Continuum of care system gaps and priorities; Five-year implementation framework; Asheville-Buncombe homelessness reduction goals and strategies; Local Continuum of Care planning framework

2024 Buncombe County Community Health Assessment

primary-govlocal-AVLreportBuncombe County / NC State Center for Health StatisticsAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The triennial county-level community health assessment for Buncombe County, drawing on the WNC Healthy Impact regional dataset plus a 2024 primary survey of local residents. Identifies community health priorities, disparities, and the data behind them.

Datapoints: leading causes of death; chronic disease prevalence; behavioral health indicators; social determinants of health; community survey results; health priorities ranking; Life expectancy (male 74.4, female 80.8); Community Health Survey responses (908 Buncombe residents in 2024); Respondent demographics (86% White, 7% Black/African American, 9% two or more races); Top community health priorities (mental health, substance use, housing, food insecurity); Chronic disease, access-to-care, and social-determinant indicators

Buncombe County Community Health Improvement Plan Scorecard (Clear Impact)

otherlocal-AVLdashboardBuncombe County / WNC Healthy Impact (Clear Impact Suite)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Interactive HNC2030/CHIP scorecard tracking Buncombe County's progress against its prioritized health objectives for the 2021-2023 (and current) improvement cycle.

Datapoints: Healthy NC 2030 indicator trends; CHIP objective progress measures; performance targets vs. actuals by priority area; 21 HNC2030 indicators (e.g. uninsured rate, housing, food insecurity, overdose deaths); County values vs. statewide HNC2030 targets; Trend lines over time

Buncombe County GIS

primary-govlocal-AVLinteractive-mapBuncombe County GovernmentAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

County GIS hub providing parcel, property, zoning, and address data and interactive maps for Buncombe County, including property lookup and tax mapping.

Datapoints: parcels and property records; zoning and land use; addressing; tax/assessment data; flood and environmental layers

Buncombe County opioid settlement public-input portal (Engage Buncombe)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County GovernmentAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Buncombe County's public-engagement portal for opioid-settlement spending input, the entry point to the county Opioid Settlement Steering Committee process. Source for the local settlement total and concept-input process.

Datapoints: Buncombe settlement total $29,353,031 over roughly 17 years; Concept input open for the FY2028-30 plan; Steering Committee is advisory; Commissioners decide

Buncombe County Tropical Storm Helene Recovery Resources

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County GovernmentAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Buncombe County's central Helene recovery hub linking the spend-tracking dashboard, the adopted Long-Term Recovery Plan (114 projects), and the Tropical Storm Helene After-Action Report.

Datapoints: Helene spend-tracking dashboard (monthly); 114-project, 5-year recovery plan (adopted Nov 18, 2025); 60%+ of county properties damaged; 372 homes destroyed; 11,000+ needing major repair; 53-day water-system disruption; six Recovery Support Functions

Buncombe County Health Data & Reports

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County Government (Public Health)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Buncombe County's portal for local health data, including the 2024 Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, and Healthy NC 2030 scorecard tracking food, housing, and health indicators for the Asheville area.

Datapoints: Community Health Assessment cycle (every 4 years, most recent 2024); State of the County Health (SOTCH) annual updates; Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities; health priority areas (infant/maternal mortality, affordable housing, substance misuse & mental health); 2024 Buncombe Community Health Assessment; Community Health Improvement Plan priorities; HNC2030 scorecard (Buncombe 2021-2023); Local food insecurity and housing indicators; Community Health Assessment (CHA) reports; Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities and progress; State of the County's Health (SOTCH) annual updates; County Health Rankings local summaries

Buncombe County Helene Spend Tracking Dashboard

primary-govlocal-AVLdashboardBuncombe County, NCAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Official county financial transparency dashboard tracking Hurricane Helene-related spending and potential expenditures, refreshed monthly. Provides disaster-recovery fiscal data organized by the county's Recovery Support Functions, including the housing function.

Datapoints: County Helene-related spending to date and projected expenditures; Spending by Recovery Support Function (Housing, Health and Social Services, Infrastructure, etc.); Monthly refresh of disaster-recovery financial data; monthly Helene recovery spending totals; potentially reimbursable expenditure tracking

Buncombe Recovers (Hurricane Helene Recovery Hub)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County, NCAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Buncombe County's central Hurricane Helene recovery hub, organizing recovery work into six Recovery Support Functions (including Housing and Health and Social Services), with project timelines, resource guides, the spend-tracking dashboard, and the Helene Recovery Resource Center.

Datapoints: Six Recovery Support Functions: Debris, Economic Revitalization, Health and Social Services, Housing, Infrastructure, Natural and Cultural Resources; Helene Recovery Resource Center (94 Coxe Avenue, Asheville); Project timeline and recovery resource guides; FEMA application and disaster case management contacts; six Recovery Support Functions (debris, economy, health/social, housing, infrastructure, natural/cultural); $324M FEMA housing relief approved for 146,000+ households; FEMA Individual Assistance program details; recovery milestone timeline (Sep 2024 - Nov 2025); Helene recovery spending and FEMA reimbursement tracking (monthly dashboard); Seven Recovery Support Functions (housing, health/social services, etc.); Recovery milestones and resource center info

Canopy Realtors press release: Asheville MSA housing market shows growing buyer engagement

otherlocal-AVLreportCanopy Realtors / Canopy MLSAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Canopy MLS press release with authoritative Asheville-MSA months-of-supply and market-activity figures.

Datapoints: Months of supply 4.2 (January 2026) and 4.1 (February 2026)

Carolina Public Press - Crisis within a crisis: food access in WNC after Helene

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleCarolina Public PressAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Carolina Public Press investigation into food access in Western NC after Hurricane Helene, layering acute disaster impact on chronic rural food insecurity.

Datapoints: Helene knocked out grocery supply chains and MANNA distribution capacity; Crisis-within-a-crisis framing for chronic rural hunger; Helene compounded chronic rural food insecurity; Disrupted grocery supply chains and food-bank capacity; ~1 in 5 WNC adults with uncertain food access pre-Helene; Disrupted grocery supply chains and pantry capacity

Census Reporter: Asheville, NC Profile

local-authoritylocal-AVLdashboardCensus Reporter (open-source project)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Free open-source profile rendering U.S. Census ACS data for the City of Asheville into readable charts with comparisons to Buncombe County, North Carolina, and the nation. A user-friendly local snapshot of poverty, income, and housing.

Datapoints: Population 94,535; median age 40.7; Per capita income $45,430; median household income $71,102; Poverty rate 14.3% (13,011 people); Housing units 50,034; median home value $440,000; Educational attainment, commute time, residential mobility, foreign-born share

Enhancing Quality of Life in Southern Appalachia (Clay, Cherokee, Towns counties)

otherlocal-AVLreportCenter for Housing and Community Studies, UNC GreensboroAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asset-based community development study covering far western NC / Southern Appalachian counties near the WNC region, addressing quality-of-life, housing, and economic-opportunity gaps. Among CHCS's most locally relevant work for the Asheville/WNC layer.

Datapoints: Geographic focus: Clay, Cherokee, and Towns counties (Southern Appalachia); Methodology: 11 focus groups, 573 surveys, 26 interviews; Asset-based community development planning framework

City of Asheville - Explore City Data

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubCity of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

City landing page pointing residents to the open data portal, the SimpliCity search application, and city map applications.

Datapoints: open data portal entry; SimpliCity location-based search app; city map applications gallery

City of Asheville Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

primary-govlocal-AVLinteractive-mapCity of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

City of Asheville GIS hub offering interactive maps and downloadable spatial datasets covering zoning, neighborhoods, city-owned property, and short-term rentals.

Datapoints: zoning district boundaries; neighborhood boundaries; city-owned properties; home stay (short-term rental) permits; downloadable open spatial datasets

City of Asheville — Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubCity of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The local coordinating body (established Feb 2024) responsible for the comprehensive, coordinated homelessness-response system across Asheville and Buncombe County. It is the local home for CoC plans, policies, and meeting materials, and the local entity behind Buncombe's Point-in-Time count and HUD CoC reporting.

Datapoints: 2025-2028 strategic plan: expand shelter, expand housing, prevent inflow; Local CoC funding allocations; Asheville-Buncombe CoC = HUD CoC code NC-501; Adopted a 2025-2028 strategic plan; Homeward Bound PSH receives the largest single share (~$1.4M) of local CoC funding; CoC NC-501 governance; Local Point-in-Time count and planning materials; Local Continuum of Care governance and membership; CoC committees and work groups; Core CoC documents, plans, and policies (CoC Information Center); City of Asheville Homeless Strategy Division as Lead Agency; Link to local Point-in-Time (PIT) count reporting

City of Asheville Open Data Portal

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetCity of Asheville (ArcGIS Hub)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville's public ArcGIS-Hub open-data portal for viewing, downloading, and querying city datasets and map applications via web and API.

Datapoints: Asheville Neighborhoods boundaries; permit inspections; employee base salary; APD public incidents; historic districts; downloadable GeoJSON/CSV/Shapefile + REST APIs; city boundaries & neighborhoods; parcels (Buncombe); zoning; affordable-housing locations; transit routes; parks & greenways; infrastructure layers; downloadable GIS & APIs

City of Asheville - Housing Plans, Policies and Reports

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubCity of Asheville (Community & Economic Development)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

City hub for federal housing planning documents: the Five-Year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, CAPER, and the Housing Needs Assessment & Market Study for CDBG/HOME funding.

Datapoints: Five-Year Consolidated Plan priorities; Annual Action Plan (2026-2027) CDBG/HOME spending; CAPER accomplishments; Housing Needs Assessment & Market Study; Citizen Participation Plan

City of Asheville Homelessness Data

primary-govlocal-AVLdashboardCity of Asheville (Homeless Initiative)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Official local dashboard of Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count results and HMIS-derived data for Asheville/Buncombe County. The authoritative local source for sheltered/unsheltered counts and trends, including post-Hurricane Helene effects.

Datapoints: annual Point-in-Time count totals; sheltered vs. unsheltered breakdown; HMIS bed coverage (~66% of providers, ~59% of beds); Helene-attributed homelessness share; demographic detail by year; PIT count by sheltered/unsheltered status; Counts by race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status; Chronically homeless count; Year-over-year homeless count trend; Asheville-Buncombe PIT count; sheltered vs. unsheltered; veteran homelessness (transitional vs. emergency shelter); HMIS-based service data; CoC system performance; 755 people experiencing homelessness in Buncombe County (Jan 28, 2025 count) vs 739 in 2024; Excluding FEMA-hotel households: 427 sheltered / 328 unsheltered (2025); HMIS coverage (~66% of providers, 59% of beds); Year-over-year sheltered vs unsheltered trends; 755 people experiencing homelessness (up from 739 in 2024); 328 unsheltered (up from 219 in 2024; ~50% increase); 35% of unsheltered cited Tropical Storm Helene; 1,548 individuals in FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (Jan 28); Demographics: ~two-thirds men, ~70% white, mostly single individuals

Map Asheville — City of Asheville GIS Hub

primary-govlocal-AVLinteractive-mapCity of Asheville (NC), GIS/IT ServicesAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The City of Asheville's public ArcGIS mapping hub, hosting interactive web maps and open geospatial data (zoning, parcels, development, addressing, planning layers) relevant to local housing, land use, and community development analysis.

Datapoints: Zoning and land-use layers; Parcel and address data; Development/permitting and planning map applications

City of Asheville 2025 Region Housing Needs Assessment (Bowen National Research)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportCity of Asheville (Patrick Bowen / Bowen National Research; Land of Sky Regional Council)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Five-year housing needs assessment for the four-county Asheville region plus the City of Asheville, the authoritative local supply-gap figure.

Datapoints: 34,358-unit five-year regional need (13,921 rental + 20,437 for-sale); City of Asheville alone needs 6,441 rental / 5,217 for-sale units; Covers Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania (~1,857 sq mi); Largest rental gaps for households under 50% AMI (~$46,550 for a family of four)

Community Investments for Older Adults in WNC (Dogwood, 2025)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Assessment of the status, assets, and needs of older adults across western NC, including post-Helene recovery and healthy-aging trends.

Datapoints: older-adult population trends; service gaps and assets; healthy-aging indicators; post-Helene impacts on seniors

Dogwood Health Trust — Data Hub & WNC Housing Needs Assessment

local-authoritylocal-AVLdashboardDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville-based health-conversion foundation working to improve health and wellbeing across the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of Western North Carolina (including Asheville/Buncombe), with housing, food, and social-determinants-of-health grantmaking plus a regional learning, evaluation, and data function. Published Hurricane Helene disaster-response resources.

Datapoints: WNC Housing Needs Assessment covering 18 counties + Qualla Boundary; ~20,000 units needed by 2025 (regional); region 34,358 units short over five years (per Bowen 2025); WNC Housing Needs Assessment (473pp, 18 counties + Qualla); ~20,000 units needed by 2025; Grantmaking across housing, economic opportunity, health, education; 18-county WNC service region; Partner/grantee profiles (e.g. Pisgah Legal Services); 18-county + Qualla Boundary Western NC service area; Regional learning, evaluation and data portal; Annual Report (report.dogwoodhealthtrust.org); Hurricane Helene Disaster Response Playbook; Older Adult Collaborative Report; Impact investments and leverage fund for partners

Dogwood Health Trust — Data hub (WNC Housing Needs Assessment)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Regional health-conversion foundation's central library of commissioned WNC studies covering housing, homelessness, aging, child care, education, economy, and Helene recovery, plus county-level community-needs links for all 18 WNC counties + Qualla Boundary.

Datapoints: Roughly 20,000 housing units needed across WNC by 2025; Housing needs across 18 WNC counties plus the Qualla Boundary; Owner and renter housing-gap estimates; Cost-burden data for the region; WNC Housing Needs Assessment (18 counties + Qualla); Within Reach homelessness report; Older-Adults assessment; K-12 outcomes landscape; early care & education studies; Capital Landscape Assessment; Canton paper-mill economic-impact study; Rising Above (nonprofits after Helene); county CHA + Census QuickFacts + County Health Rankings links; WNC 18-county housing supply, gaps, and affordability projections; Population and income projections for the region; Rental and ownership affordability by county

Dogwood Health Trust — Regional Housing Study results announcement

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Announcement summarizing the headline findings of the commissioned Bowen regional (WNC) housing study, including the units-needed estimate.

Datapoints: Headline units-needed figure for WNC; Summary of regional housing-shortage findings; Study scope and methodology overview

Pisgah Legal Services (Dogwood Health Trust partner profile)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Profile of Pisgah Legal Services, the Western North Carolina civil legal-aid organization serving 18 WNC counties with housing, healthcare-access, safety, and income-assistance legal help.

Datapoints: 18 WNC counties served; 18,000+ vulnerable people assisted annually; 32 staff attorneys + ~300 volunteer lawyers; Six regional offices (incl. Asheville); 1,000+ calls fielded weekly

Rising Above: WNC Nonprofits After Hurricane Helene

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

September 2025 study of short- and long-term Hurricane Helene impacts on nonprofit organizations across western North Carolina.

Datapoints: nonprofit operational and financial impacts post-Helene; service-demand shifts; staffing and capacity strain; recovery needs by sector

Western North Carolina Health and Wellness Needs Assessment (Executive Summary)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Regional health and wellness needs assessment for the 18-county Western North Carolina footprint, surveying health, economic, housing, and social-determinant conditions.

Datapoints: regional health and wellness indicators for 18 WNC counties; housing and economic needs in WNC; social determinants of health priorities

WNC Capital Landscape Assessment (Dogwood)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health TrustAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Assessment of the capital ecosystem (funders, lenders, investors, business-support orgs) across western North Carolina and gaps in regional capital coordination.

Datapoints: regional capital sources inventory; lending and investment gaps; business-support-organization landscape; recommendations for capital network coordination

WNC Housing Needs Assessment (Dogwood, 2020-2021)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportDogwood Health Trust (Bowen National Research)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Region-wide housing needs and market study covering 18 WNC counties plus the Qualla Boundary, with supply gaps, affordability, and population projections.

Datapoints: housing supply gaps by AMI band; rental vs. ownership affordability; cost-burden rates; population/household projections; county-level housing demand

Energy Savers Network

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubEnergy Savers Network (nonprofit)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Western North Carolina nonprofit providing free energy-efficiency upgrades, weatherization, and home repairs to low-income households to reduce energy burden in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Haywood Counties.

Datapoints: Served over 1,500 homes at no cost; Average annual savings of $2,025 per home; $3M total 15-year energy-bill savings; 2,200 metric tons CO2 saved over 15 years; Services: blower-door assessments, air/duct sealing, insulation, heat pumps, heat-pump water heaters, LED lighting, repairs via Helping Home Fund; 1,500+ homes weatherized at no cost; Average annual savings $2,025 per home; $3 million 15-year projected energy-bill savings; 200,000 metric tons 15-year CO2 reduction; Serves Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Madison counties

FHFA House Price Index for Asheville, NC (MSA) - ATNHPIUS11700Q

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetFederal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Quarterly all-transactions FHFA House Price Index for the Asheville, NC metropolitan statistical area, providing a long-run index of local home-price appreciation directly relevant to Asheville-area housing affordability tracking.

Datapoints: Quarterly all-transactions house price index for Asheville, NC MSA (CBSA 11700); Long-run home price appreciation trend (indexed); Downloadable time series via FRED API

MANNA FoodBank (Feeding America profile)

established-research-orglocal-AVLorg-hubFeeding AmericaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Feeding America network profile for MANNA FoodBank, the regional food bank serving Western North Carolina including Buncombe County and Asheville. Links the local food bank to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap data and hunger research.

Datapoints: Regional food bank serving Western North Carolina counties; Feeding America affiliate network membership; Local hunger prevalence framing (roughly 1 in 7 people, 1 in 5 children); Linkage to Map the Meal Gap county estimates

Fernleaf (AccelAdapt resilience decision support)

otherlocal-AVLtoolFernleaf (formerly Fernleaf Interactive)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville-rooted climate resilience decision-support firm offering AccelAdapt, a tool for vulnerability assessments and adaptation/resilience planning that helps communities target investments. Works with Land of Sky Regional Council in WNC.

Datapoints: AccelAdapt interactive resilience assessment and scenario tool; Regional resilience assessment for Land of Sky Regional Council (WNC); Projects in North Miami, Alachua County, Hampton Roads VA, and Jacksonville; Climate vulnerability assessment data; Resilience and adaptation planning metrics; Hazard exposure / community resilience indicators

Food Connection

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubFood ConnectionAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville nonprofit rescuing surplus chef-prepared food from caterers and institutions and redistributing it as meals across Buncombe, Henderson, and Madison counties. The site reports meals rescued and food diverted.

Datapoints: 1M+ meals rescued and delivered since 2014; 350 tons fresh food kept out of the landfill; 3 WNC counties served (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison); 43,000+ meals delivered in the first month after Helene

Buncombe Energy Savers / Energy Savers Network (Green Built Alliance)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubGreen Built AllianceAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local Buncombe County program providing free volunteer-delivered energy-efficiency upgrades (air sealing, insulation, weatherization) to low-income households, prioritizing LIHEAP recipients.

Datapoints: Free weatherization/efficiency upgrades for low-income Buncombe County households; Volunteer-based delivery model with county funding; Referral network including Eblen Charities, ABCCM, OnTrack WNC, Mountain Housing Opportunities

HIAC Five-Year Strategic Plan on Homelessness (Asheville-Buncombe)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportHomeless Initiative Advisory Committee / Buncombe CountyAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local five-year strategic plan to address homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County, setting goals, system structure, and performance targets for the local Continuum of Care.

Datapoints: Asheville-Buncombe point-in-time homeless counts and trends; Strategic goals and targets for the local homelessness response system; Local CoC roles and coordination structure

Homeward Bound of WNC

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubHomeward Bound of Western North CarolinaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville's lead Housing First service provider, operating the AHOPE day center, permanent supportive housing, and Code Purple emergency shelter. Source of local housing-program impact data.

Datapoints: 92% permanent-supportive-housing retention; 2,760+ people housed since 2006; 102 exits in 2025; AHOPE day center served 1,660 people and 25,568 service interactions in 2025; 389 Code Purple emergency shelter stays in December 2025; ~$1.4 million in local CoC money (largest single share) toward permanent supportive housing; 85-apartment Compass Point Village (former Tunnel Road motel, $17.5M conversion, opened Sept 2023); 92% of supportive-housing residents stayed housed in 2025; Operates the AHope Day Center

Homeward Bound of WNC - Impact / Data

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportHomeward Bound of WNCAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Western North Carolina nonprofit using a Housing First approach to end homelessness through permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing. The Impact page publishes annual housing and retention outcomes.

Datapoints: people moved into permanent housing per year (102 in 2025, incl. 50 veterans); AHOPE Day Center unique clients (1,660 in 2025) and service interactions (25,568); Woodfin Apartments PSH retention (92% housed since 2016); Housing First retention rate; 2,760+ unique individuals housed since 2006; 92% of Permanent Supportive Housing residents stayed housed in 2025; 85 supportive apartments at Compass Point Village; 102 people exited homelessness in 2025

Homeward Bound of WNC — Asheville-Buncombe CoC 2025-2028 Strategic Plan

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportHomeward Bound of WNCAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Announcement and overview of the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care 2025-2028 strategic plan, the local homelessness-response roadmap.

Datapoints: Local CoC strategic goals 2025-2028; Asheville-Buncombe homelessness-response framework

Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubHousing Authority of the City of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Official site of Asheville's public housing authority, source for unit counts, leadership, and restructuring/RIF press releases.

Datapoints: ~1,525 housing units; ~3,400 vouchers managed; ~$55M annual budget; April 2026 RIF (34 positions); restructuring to <50 staff by end of 2027

Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubHousing Authority of the City of AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Public housing authority serving Asheville/Buncombe County since 1940, administering public housing units and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program plus resident self-sufficiency services. Primary local access point for subsidized rental assistance.

Datapoints: Public housing communities (e.g., Maple Crest, Asheville Terrace); Housing Choice Voucher Program (~7,000 voucher units administered); Family Self-Sufficiency Program and resident services; Location: 165 South French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801

HACA April 2026 Reduction-in-Force Press Release

otherlocal-AVLreportHousing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Primary HACA press release (April 7, 2026) announcing a reduction in force affecting 34 employees, expected to cut ~$1.6M in annual operating costs, amid a projected $500,000 budget shortfall after drawing down ~76% of reserves over two years; 22 of 34 cuts tied to the PODS afterschool program.

Datapoints: 34 positions eliminated; ~$1.6M annual savings; 22 of 34 cuts tied to PODS program (~$500K annual cost); Projected $500,000 shortfall; ~76% of reserves drawn down; 34 positions cut (effective April 6, 2026); ~$1.6M annual savings; 22 of 34 positions tied to the PODS afterschool program; Projected $500K shortfall after ~76% reserve drawdown

HRSA Find a Health Center

primary-govlocal-AVLinteractive-mapHRSA, HHSAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Address-based locator for HRSA-funded community health centers that provide affordable primary care on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status. Directly usable to find safety-net clinics in Asheville/Buncombe and across NC.

Datapoints: Sliding-fee health center locations by address/ZIP; Services offered and contact details per center; Coverage for uninsured and low-income patients; ~1,400 health centers; sliding-fee scale; primary, dental, behavioral health; address/ZIP search; health center locations by address/ZIP; services offered; sliding-fee scale availability; Health center site locations and contact information; Sliding-fee-scale and uninsured-eligible primary care sites; Health Care for the Homeless program sites

Just Economics of Western North Carolina (Living Wage Certification)

local-authoritylocal-AVLtoolJust Economics of Western North CarolinaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Just Economics calculates and publishes the local living wage for Buncombe County and the broader WNC region and runs an employer certification program. The most-cited locally specific living-wage figure for the Asheville area.

Datapoints: Living wage for a single adult in Buncombe County set at $24.10/hour for 2026; Well above what much local work pays and far above the SNAP income line; Buncombe County living wage $24.10/hr (2026, Leading level); pledged living wage option $20/hr (3% + inflation annual increase); rural WNC living wage $17.55/hr (2026); list of certified living-wage employers across WNC; 2026 Buncombe County leading living wage: $24.10/hour; 2026 Buncombe pledged living wage: $20.00/hour; 2026 WNC (non-Buncombe) living wage: $17.55/hour; Certified living-wage employer list and certification criteria

Just Economics of WNC - Living Wage

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubJust Economics of Western North CarolinaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Home of the nation's largest voluntary Living Wage Certification; publishes the annually updated Buncombe County living-wage rate, a certified-employer directory, and a benefits-cliff calculator.

Datapoints: Buncombe living wage rate ($24.10/hr in 2026, up from $23.15 in 2025); methodology: single worker affording a 1-BR on a 4-year avg of HUD Fair Market Rent; 400+ certified employers since 2008; Buncombe Benefits Cliff tool

Just Economics of WNC — Living Wage

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportJust Economics of Western North CarolinaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Regional living-wage certification program publishing the annual local living wage for Buncombe County and the WNC region. The standard local cost-of-living benchmark.

Datapoints: Buncombe County single-adult living wage $24.10/hr (2026), up from $23.15 (2025); 2026 living wage of $24.10/hour for a single adult in Buncombe County

Just Economics WNC - Buncombe Benefits Cliff

local-authoritylocal-AVLtoolJust Economics of Western North CarolinaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Resource explaining the benefits cliff (cliff effect) in Buncombe County, where rising income triggers sudden loss of public benefits, with a calculator and local enrollment data.

Datapoints: 17,152 Buncombe County residents receive food assistance (largest benefit by recipients); NC childcare subsidy identified as a large benefit cliff; Housing Choice Voucher as a graduated-slope benefit example

JustFix Tenant Tools (Letter of Complaint, Rent History, Who Owns What)

otherlocal-AVLtoolJustFix (501(c)(3) nonprofit)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Free digital tools for tenants and housing organizers fighting displacement, including a lawyer-reviewed Letter of Complaint mailed by certified mail, a Rent History lookup, and the Who Owns What landlord-portfolio database. Built for New York City (not Asheville), but a model open tenant-rights toolset.

Datapoints: Letter of Complaint (certified-mail repair requests); Rent History / rent-regulation lookup; Who Owns What landlord portfolio database (NYC)

Asheville Region Housing Needs Assessment, 2025 (Bowen National Research / Land of Sky)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportLand of Sky Regional Council / Bowen National ResearchAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Multi-county council of governments for Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties; publishes regional economic, demographic, equity, and resilience reports and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Datapoints: Region needs 34,358 units over five years; 6,441-unit rental shortfall and 5,217 for-sale gap in Asheville; Buncombe needs ~8,704 rental units by 2029, ~6,956 under 80% AMI; 60% of regional business owners cite housing as hardest hiring problem; Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS); Racial Disparity in the Land of Sky Region report (2023); Labor Shed and Target Industry Analysis; Regional Resiliency and Strategic Plan Alignment report; annual reports; Documents the regional shortage of affordable rental and ownership housing (planning estimates)

Lutheran Services Carolinas - WNC Refugee Resettlement & Housing

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubLutheran Services Carolinas (LSC)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Refugee resettlement and social-services nonprofit serving western North Carolina (Asheville office), providing employment, case management, and housing-stability support to newly arrived refugees and immigrants. Local newcomer-services access point.

Datapoints: 450+ Ukrainian immigrants assisted in WNC since 2022; ORR-funded Employer Engagement program (100-mile radius of Asheville); Refugee employment + modular-housing public-private partnerships in WNC

MANNA FoodBank

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMANNA FoodBankAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The regional Feeding America food bank for a 16-county Western NC network, supplying 300+ partner pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and schools. The annual report publishes meals provided and neighbor-visit data.

Datapoints: 19.2M meals provided in FY2024-25; 191,320 average monthly neighbor visits (FY2024-25); 300+ partner agencies and schools supplied; 16-county Western NC service area

MANNA FoodBank - Heroes of Helene (recovery hub)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMANNA FoodBankAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

MANNA FoodBank's Hurricane Helene recovery page documenting the destruction of its Asheville warehouses and ongoing distribution across Western NC. The regional food-bank anchor for 16 counties plus the Qualla Boundary.

Datapoints: Both Swannanoa River warehouses destroyed Sept 27, 2024 (total operational loss); Served ~137,000-150,000 people/month pre-Helene across 16 counties; Post-Helene roughly 200,000 visits/month; anticipates feeding 250,000+/month; 200+ partner pantries and meal sites; $7M from community foundations to upfit new Mills River warehouse; Served ~137,000-150,000 people/month pre-Helene via 200+ partner sites; Total operational loss of warehouses in Hurricane Helene (Sept 27, 2024); Post-Helene demand ~200,000 visits/month; ~137,000-150,000 people/month served pre-Helene; ~200,000 monthly visits post-Helene (anticipating 250,000+); Total warehouse loss in Helene; Mills River upfit

MANNA FoodBank WNC Mobile Market Calendar

local-authoritylocal-AVLinteractive-mapMANNA FoodBankAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Interactive calendar of MANNA FoodBank's free mobile food markets across 16 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary, with dates, times, and locations; also links SNAP, WIC, NC 211, and a food pantry locator.

Datapoints: Mobile market schedule across 16 WNC counties + Qualla Boundary; Site-level locations (churches, schools, apartments, community centers); Free, open to anyone, no ID required; Food pantry locator tool and Food Helpline contact; Schedule of mobile market events across WNC (16 counties + Qualla Boundary); Locations at apartments, schools, churches, libraries; Calendar export (Google/Outlook/iCal) and printable PDF; multilingual map (EN/ES/RU/UK)

MANNA FoodBank — A Closer Look at Hunger in WNC

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleMANNA FoodBankAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

MANNA FoodBank's Hunger in WNC page, the strongest local food source by geography and topic, presenting food-insecurity figures for Western North Carolina. Advocacy/fundraising content from a service provider.

Datapoints: Western North Carolina food-insecurity counts; Counties served and meals distributed; Local child-hunger figures

MANNA FoodBank — Hunger in WNC

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMANNA FoodBankAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Regional food bank serving 16 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary through 200+ partner pantries and meal sites. Its Swannanoa River headquarters were destroyed by Hurricane Helene in 2024; it now operates from Mills River.

Datapoints: WNC regional food-insecurity context; local food-distribution network; 1 in 6 WNC adults / 1 in 4 children food insecure; monthly people served; 16-county service area; 200+ partner agencies; pounds of food distributed; people served per month; partner agencies in WNC; Helene-related demand surge; counties served; 21.1M pounds of food distributed (FY23/24); ~17.5M meal equivalents; ~47,945 meals/day; Avg 158,775 people served/month; 16-county WNC service area, 250+ partner agencies; Post-Helene demand projections (~250,000/month); More than 200,000 monthly pantry visits by mid-2026, the highest sustained level in its history; About 158,000 monthly visits before Helene; passed 190,000 in June 2025; Buncombe County pantry visits up about 20% since Helene; Swannanoa River warehouse destroyed by Helene; relocated to Mills River; More than 200,000 monthly pantry visits, highest sustained level in its history; Distributes 20+ million pounds of food a year via 200+ partner sites; October 2024-February 2025: moved ~9.2 million pounds (vs 8.6 million prior year) despite losing its hub; October 2025 demand rose ~15% and food-purchasing budget expanded 200% ahead of the SNAP pause; Helene losses ~$28M; ~$112M three-year recovery need; new Mills River site ~84,000 sq ft

Mosaic Realty: Asheville Real Estate Market Update, Q1 2026 (Canopy MLS)

otherlocal-AVLreportMosaic Realty (data via Canopy MLS)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local market analysis of Buncombe County and City of Asheville median sale prices, closed sales, and months of supply for Q1 2026.

Datapoints: Buncombe County median sale price $446,000 Q1 2026, down from $450,000 Q1 2025; City of Asheville median $493,000 (-2.6% from $506,000); Buncombe closed sales down ~8.6% YoY (431 to 394)

2025 PIT Count Shows Increase in Unsheltered Homelessness (Asheville/Buncombe)

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleMountain XpressAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local news coverage of the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) homelessness count for Buncombe County, conducted Jan 28-29, 2025, the first full count after Hurricane Helene.

Datapoints: 755 people experiencing homelessness in Buncombe County (up from 739 in 2024); Unsheltered homelessness rose 50% year-over-year; 2025: 427 sheltered, 328 unsheltered (vs 2024: 520 sheltered, 219 unsheltered); 35% of unsheltered cited Hurricane Helene as cause of homelessness; Count would total 2,303 if FEMA-sheltered households were included; Demographics: ~2/3 men, ~70% white, largest age group 35-44

Mountain Xpress

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMountain XpressAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Asheville's independent alternative weekly newspaper and community-news outlet covering local government, housing, food, and nonprofit activity in the Asheville/Buncombe area.

Datapoints: local Asheville/Buncombe news coverage; community calendar; housing and nonprofit reporting

Mountain Xpress - WNC food insecurity persists months after Helene

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleMountain XpressAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Mountain Xpress feature on persistent food insecurity in Western NC in the months following Hurricane Helene.

Datapoints: Continued elevated food need months after Helene; Strain on local pantries and distribution

Within Reach: Ending Unsheltered Homelessness in the Asheville-Buncombe CoC

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportNational Alliance to End Homelessness (commissioned by Dogwood Health Trust)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Needs assessment and system recommendations for ending unsheltered homelessness in the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, prepared by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Datapoints: unsheltered homelessness system gaps; shelter and PSH capacity assessment; rehousing system recommendations; CoC performance benchmarks

Rebuilding Western North Carolina (Safer, Stronger NC)

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubOffice of the Governor of North Carolina (Gov. Josh Stein)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Governor's office hub for Western NC (including Asheville/Buncombe) disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene, covering housing rebuilding, economic recovery, and family supports. Gateway to executive orders and the 100 Counties Strong progress tracker.

Datapoints: WNC/Helene housing and community rebuilding priorities; Economic recovery and jobs initiatives for the region; Links to executive orders and county-level progress data

Pisgah Legal Services - Community Partner / Housing Assistance

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubPisgah Legal ServicesAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Nonprofit legal aid organization serving Western North Carolina (Buncombe and 10 surrounding counties), providing free civil legal assistance including eviction prevention, substandard-housing enforcement, foreclosure prevention, and disaster recovery housing help.

Datapoints: Service area: Avery, Buncombe, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Transylvania, Rutherford, Yancey (limited in Haywood); Eviction prevention and housing-subsidy preservation services; FEMA temporary-housing eviction prevention / disaster recovery; Intake: 828-253-0406 / 800-489-6144

Pisgah Legal Services 2022 Annual Report

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportPisgah Legal ServicesAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Annual report from the WNC civil legal aid provider documenting services across housing, homelessness prevention, benefits, immigration, and medical-legal partnership for the mountain region.

Datapoints: Practice areas: housing/eviction, homelessness prevention, benefits, immigration, MLP, veterans; 12 office locations across Western North Carolina; Client and impact statistics for 2022

Pisgah Legal Services Free Legal Assistance

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubPisgah Legal ServicesAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Nonprofit legal aid organization serving 11 western North Carolina counties, providing free civil legal help to low-income residents in areas including housing/eviction, consumer protection, elder law, immigration, health-insurance enrollment, and disaster recovery.

Datapoints: Service area: 11 WNC counties (Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Yancey); Housing and homelessness-prevention legal help; Income security / public benefits assistance; 12 office locations across WNC; intake line (828) 253-0406; Homelessness Prevention program (eviction defense); Health Care and Income Security / public benefits assistance; Counties served: Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Yancey; Intake: (828) 253-0406 / 1-800-489-6144; Housing and homelessness prevention legal services; Healthcare enrollment and tax preparation support; Service area: Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Yancey counties; 12 office locations; intake line (828) 253-0406; homelessness prevention and housing legal help; health care and income/benefits security assistance; 11-county WNC service area (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, etc.); expunction and driver's license restoration; medical-legal partnerships and disaster recovery; Eligibility based on income, family size, assets, and living expenses; Service area of 11 WNC counties with 12 office locations; Practice areas: housing, elder law, domestic violence, consumer, immigration, health, tax, disaster recovery

NCpedia: Qualla Boundary (Eastern Band of Cherokee)

otherlocal-AVLarticleState Library of North Carolina / NCpediaAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

NCpedia reference entry on the 57,000-acre Qualla Boundary in western NC (Swain, Jackson, Haywood, and adjacent counties), the territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, providing historical and geographic context for a key WNC community.

Datapoints: Qualla Boundary land area (~57,000 acres) and counties; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians federal recognition history; Western NC (Blue Ridge) regional context

East Riverside Urban Renewal Project (ArcGIS StoryMap)

otherlocal-AVLinteractive-mapSummer Kapanka (ArcGIS StoryMaps)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Map-based narrative documenting Asheville's East Riverside Urban Renewal Project, the largest urban renewal project in the South, and its displacement of the Southside/East End Black community.

Datapoints: More than 900 parcels acquired in the East Riverside project; Six Asheville urban renewal projects between 1965 and 1988; Documents loss of more than 1,100 homes and the neighborhood's businesses and churches

Economy at a Glance - Asheville, NC Metropolitan Area

primary-govlocal-AVLdashboardU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

BLS at-a-glance economic dashboard for the Asheville, NC metropolitan statistical area, aggregating current local labor-market indicators in one place for the Asheville/Buncombe region.

Datapoints: Asheville MSA unemployment rate; Nonfarm employment levels and over-the-year change; Employment by industry supersector; Average weekly/hourly earnings where available

American Community Survey (2020) — Census homeownership by race, Buncombe County

primary-govlocal-AVLdatasetU.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

The Census Bureau's primary public platform for searching, viewing, and downloading tables from the ACS, decennial census, and other surveys, including housing cost burden, income, and poverty estimates for any U.S. geography.

Datapoints: Black/white homeownership gap of 24.6 points in Buncombe (41.3% vs 65.9%, 2020 ACS); Buncombe County population ~269,452 (2020), used to derive the SNAP share; Income and poverty by geography; Housing cost burden and tenure; Rent and home value; Demographics down to census tract; Health insurance coverage; detailed tables (B-series); subject tables (S-series); data profiles (DP04 housing); comparison profiles; thematic maps by geography; Tenure by housing cost as a percentage of household income (B25106, B25140, B25141); Median gross rent and owner costs; Household income and poverty estimates; Demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics by geography (national to block group)

Charles George VA Medical Center (Asheville)

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Comprehensive VA medical center at 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville NC, serving veterans across Western North Carolina with primary, specialty, and mental-health care plus homeless-veteran assistance and community clinics in Franklin, Hickory, and Rutherford.

Datapoints: Location: 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805; Homeless veteran assistance and support programs; Community clinics in Franklin, Hickory, Rutherford; Mental health, PTSD treatment, crisis intervention

NEMAC (National Environmental Modeling & Analysis Center), UNC Asheville

primary-academiclocal-AVLorg-hubUNC AshevilleAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Applied-research center at UNC Asheville that turns environmental and climate data into decision tools; built the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit's Climate Explorer with FernLeaf and a Helene damage-assessment platform.

Datapoints: Climate Explorer (county-level observed + projected climate); U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit; Helene damage-assessment platform for local officials; WNC climate-resilience planning tools

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (Buncombe County, NC)

established-research-orglocal-AVLdashboardUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

County-level health and social-determinant rankings combining housing, food, income, and health data into comparable measures for every U.S. county including Buncombe.

Datapoints: severe housing problems; food insecurity / food environment index; children in poverty; income inequality (80/20 ratio); housing cost burden; overall health outcomes rank (17/100 NC); length & quality of life; adult smoking, obesity; uninsured rate (~13% vs state); access to healthy foods; teen births; high-school graduation; Health outcomes rank (length & quality of life); Health factors rank (clinical care, social/economic, physical environment, health behaviors); Preventable hospital stays, premature death, uninsured rate; Children in poverty, severe housing problems, food environment index

Buncombe County homelessness count hits record high

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleWLOS News 13Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local reporting on Buncombe County's record-high homelessness count driven by Helene and housing costs, drawing on the Continuum of Care Point-in-Time data.

Datapoints: Record-high Buncombe County homelessness count; Helene and housing costs as drivers

Buncombe County opioid response funding (WLOS coverage, FY2025)

local-authoritylocal-AVLarticleWLOS News 13Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Local news reporting documenting Buncombe County's opioid settlement allocations, used to source the county's recent annual settlement spending rate.

Datapoints: Recent allocations run about $2 million per year (e.g., ~$2M in FY2025); Buncombe County total settlement $29,353,031 over roughly 17 years; Straight-line average closer to $1.7M/year

Mountain DEEP (WNC Health Network)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubWNC Health NetworkAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

WNC Health Network initiative that strengthens community power and trust by protecting, generating, and communicating data in equitable and culturally responsive ways for Western North Carolina communities.

Datapoints: Equity-centered, culturally responsive community data practice for WNC; Focus on protecting, generating, and communicating local health data; Complements the WNC Regional Data Workbook and Data Stories

WNC Health Network Resources

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubWNC Health NetworkAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Resource library of regional health data, community health assessments, and data tools across the WNC Health Network's member hospitals and health departments.

Datapoints: regional CHA/SOTCH/CHIP library; WNC Healthy Impact data products; health-equity and data-story resources

WNC Healthy Impact (Community Health Assessment)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubWNC Health NetworkAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Coordinated Western North Carolina partnership between hospitals and public health departments producing regional Community Health Assessments (CHAs), Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs), and Community Health Improvement Plans, with shared datasets and survey data.

Datapoints: Regional community health survey data for WNC counties; State of the County Health (SOTCH) reports; CHA/CHNA/CHIP cycle data and templates; Social determinants and health needs indicators; County-level Community Health Assessment data; Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment summaries; Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP); Regional survey datasets and trends

WNC Health Network

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubWNC Health Network (Asheville, NC)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Nonprofit providing data analysis, training, and technical assistance to health departments, hospitals, and community agencies across western North Carolina; convenes WNC Healthy Impact and maintains regional health data resources used by partners like MANNA FoodBank.

Datapoints: WNC regional health dataset; Community health assessment support across WNC counties and tribal communities; Mountain DEEP data initiative; Regional health data stories and methodology documentation; WNC regional health datasets and data stories; community health assessment support; data methodology documentation; Community health needs assessment data for WNC counties; Regional health indicators and data stories; Mountain DEEP project data

WNC Healthy Impact - Buncombe County Reports

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubWNC Health Network (hospital + health-department partnership)Asheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Buncombe County (Asheville) community health assessment cycle page, linking the official CHA, the Community Health Improvement Plan, and prior State of the County Health reports. The most direct Asheville-layer community-health data source.

Datapoints: regional community health survey (Data Stories); Mountain DEEP initiative data; shared WNC dataset; CHA/SOTCH/CHIP archive 2012-present; current priorities: infant & maternal mortality, affordable housing, substance misuse & mental health; 2024-2026 Buncombe priorities: infant & maternal mortality, affordable housing, substance misuse & mental health; 2024 Buncombe County CHA (NC DHHS-hosted PDF); 2025 Buncombe Community Health Improvement Plan (interactive scorecard); Historical SOTCH reports (2020, 2022) and prior CHAs (2018, 2021)

WNC Data Stories (Food Insecurity & Housing)

local-authoritylocal-AVLinteractive-mapWNC Health Network / WNC Healthy ImpactAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Narrative data presentations highlighting key health issues and disparities in Western NC, with dedicated stories on Food Insecurity and Housing built from Community Health Assessment data, the Community Health Survey, and Online Key Informant Survey responses across the WNC counties.

Datapoints: Dedicated Food Insecurity data story for WNC; Dedicated Housing data story for WNC; Additional stories: Mental Health, Substance Use, Climate and Health, About WNC overview; Sources: CHA data from up to 18 WNC counties, Community Health Survey, Online Key Informant Survey (OKIS)

WNC Healthy Impact Local Community Health Priorities Reports (2024-2026)

local-authoritylocal-AVLreportWNC Health Network / WNC Healthy ImpactAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

County-specific reports identifying the top community health priorities chosen through the 2024-2026 community health assessment process for each of the 16 WNC counties plus the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Datapoints: Mental health prioritized by 16 communities; substance use by 12; chronic disease by 7; housing by 5; food security by 4; Covers all 16 WNC counties plus EBCI; Built from the regional CHA, Community Health Survey, and Online Key Informant Survey; Cycle: 2024-2026

WNC Regional Data Workbook & Community Health Survey

local-authoritylocal-AVLdatasetWNC Health Network / WNC Healthy ImpactAsheville / Buncombe / WNC local

Downloadable Excel data workbook compiling trusted local and national health indicators alongside primary WNC Regional Community Health Survey results (2012-2024), supporting health departments and hospitals in identifying needs and setting priorities for WNC counties.

Datapoints: Primary data: WNC Regional Community Health Survey 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024 (collected Mar-Jun 2024); Secondary core datasets across health, food insecurity, housing, and social determinants; County-level indicators for the WNC region (16-18 counties); 2025 Data Workbook available; requires brief registration to download

Housing Is Health: A Renewed Call for Federal Housing Investments in Affordable Housing for Families With Children

othernationalarticleAcademic Pediatrics (Elsevier / Academic Pediatric Association)Health & social determinants

Peer-reviewed commentary (June 2020) arguing that stable, affordable housing is a determinant of child health and calling for expanded federal affordable-housing investment for families with children.

Datapoints: Links between housing instability/cost burden and child health outcomes; Policy case for federal affordable-housing investment as a pediatric-health intervention; Evidence on housing-assistance under-funding (vouchers reach a minority of eligible families)

AHRQ SDOH Data and Analytics Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Health & social determinants

Landing hub for AHRQ's SDOH data products, documentation, analytic resources, and visualization-challenge winners that link clinical and social data for patient-centered outcomes research.

Datapoints: Links to the downloadable SDOH database (multiple years); Data source documentation PDF; Data visualization tools and challenge winners; Five SDOH domain framework

AHRQ SDOH Database Data Source Documentation

primary-govnationalguidelineAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Health & social determinants

Technical documentation describing the structure, contents, and source datasets of the AHRQ SDOH Database, mapping each variable to its original data source across multiple geographies and years.

Datapoints: Descriptions of each data source feeding the SDOH database; Variable availability, missingness, and methodological notes; Five-domain variable taxonomy; Geography levels: county, ZIP, tract

AHRQ Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Database

primary-govnationaldatasetAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Health & social determinants

Curated, linkable SDOH database (funded by the PCOR Trust Fund) assembling variables from many sources into one downloadable file at county, ZIP Code, and census-tract levels across five SDOH domains. Designed for easy linkage to patient and outcomes data.

Datapoints: Social context (age, race/ethnicity, veteran status); Economic context (income, unemployment, poverty); Education; Physical infrastructure (housing, crime, transportation); Health care context (insurance, provider access); County / ZIP / census-tract geographic levels

AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Resources

primary-govnationalorg-hubAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Health & social determinants

AHRQ hub for social determinants of health data, analytics, and research resources, anchored by the linkable AHRQ SDOH Database covering county, ZIP, and tract geographies across five SDOH domains.

Datapoints: Five SDOH domains: social context, economic context, education, physical infrastructure, healthcare context; County, ZIP Code, and census tract geographies; Annual data files and codebooks through 2020; Variables include income, unemployment, housing, crime, transportation, health insurance

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

primary-govnationaldatasetAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Health & social determinants

The most complete U.S. source of data on the cost and use of health care and health insurance coverage, conducted annually since 1996 across households, employers, and medical providers.

Datapoints: Health care expenditures by condition and event; Insurance coverage status and source; Out-of-pocket spending and access to care; Employer-sponsored insurance offer/cost/enrollment (MEPS-IC, national and state); Demographics, income, health status, jobs held

AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database

primary-academicnationaldatasetAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) / SIREN (UCSF)Health & social determinants

AHRQ-curated database compiling SDOH variables from federal and public sources at county and ZIP-code levels across five domains, designed for easy linkage with other datasets in health-outcomes research.

Datapoints: social context (age, race/ethnicity, veteran status); economic context (income, unemployment); education; physical infrastructure (housing, crime, transportation); healthcare context (insurance); county- and ZIP-level variables

AAP Policy Statement: Poverty and Child Health in the United States

othernationalguidelineAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (Pediatrics journal)Health & social determinants

2016 AAP policy documenting the immediate and life-course health harms of childhood poverty and urging pediatricians to screen for poverty-related social determinants, intervene, and advocate to eliminate child poverty. Paired with a technical report on mechanisms.

Datapoints: evidence linking poverty to physical, socioemotional, and educational harm; recommendation to screen for poverty-related SDOH in the medical home; guidance to link families to community resources

Tsemberis, Gulcur & Nakae (2004) — Housing First New York randomized trial

othernationalarticleAmerican Journal of Public HealthHealth & social determinants

The founding randomized trial of the Pathways Housing First model, demonstrating high housing retention for people with severe mental illness without requiring treatment compliance first.

Datapoints: Housing First produced markedly higher housing retention than treatment-first programs

CDC BRFSS Data and Analysis Tools

primary-govnationaltoolCDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionHealth & social determinants

Suite of interactive tools for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, enabling state, metro, and county-level analysis of chronic disease prevalence, risk behaviors, health status, and healthcare access via the Prevalence Tool, WEAT, SMART local estimates, and Chronic Disease Indicators.

Datapoints: Prevalence and Trends Data Tool (state/national, multi-year); Web Enabled Analysis Tool (WEAT) cross-tabs and logistic regression; SMART local-area estimates (counties, metros); Chronic Disease Indicators (CDI) cross-region comparison; Interactive prevalence maps; Worker Health Charts

BRFSS Annual Survey Data

primary-govnationaldatasetCDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionHealth & social determinants

Raw Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data and documentation by year (1990-2024), the largest continuously conducted U.S. health survey on behavioral risk factors.

Datapoints: Annual microdata 1990-2024 with codebooks/questionnaires; Behavioral health risk factors and chronic conditions; SMART city/county-level data; Asthma call-back survey data; GIS maps and comparability documentation

BRFSS Prevalence & Trends Data

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapCDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionHealth & social determinants

Interactive tool to explore Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System prevalence estimates by location or topic, including state, territory, and Metro/Micropolitan Statistical Area levels.

Datapoints: Crude and age-adjusted prevalence estimates; Health-related risk behaviors and chronic conditions; Use of preventive services; State, territory, and MMSA geographies (core and SMART data)

MonQcle Scientific Legal Mapping Software

othernationaltoolCenter for Public Health Law Research, Temple University (originally Legal Science, LLC)Health & social determinants

Web platform for identifying, coding, analyzing, and visualizing legal policies across jurisdictions and time, then sharing them as spreadsheets and interactive maps. It is the engine behind LawAtlas, PDAPS, and CityHealth policy-surveillance datasets.

Datapoints: legal coding and quality-control workflow; powers LawAtlas, PDAPS, CityHealth; produces automated spreadsheets and interactive maps

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health & social determinants

Nation's premier annual state-based telephone health survey of adults, with optional SDOH and health-related social needs modules covering food insecurity, housing, and economic stability. Source data underpinning PLACES small-area estimates.

Datapoints: Food insecurity (SDOH module); Housing instability / cost; Economic stability and employment; Health care access and discrimination experiences; State and (via PLACES) modeled sub-state estimates; state-level health risk behaviors; chronic disease prevalence; health care access; food security / SDOH survey modules; annual and combined-year prevalence data

CDC About Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

primary-govnationalorg-hubCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health & social determinants

CDC's authoritative explainer hub defining SDOH, the agency's approach, and the five SDOH domains, linking out to CDC data tools (PLACES, SVI, BRFSS) and partner resources.

Datapoints: Five SDOH domains framework; CDC SDOH strategy and programs; Links to PLACES, SVI, BRFSS data; Health-equity context

CDC PLACES Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) measures

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health & social determinants

PLACES measure definitions for health-related social needs derived from BRFSS SDOH/HRSN modules, including food insecurity and housing instability prevalence as small-area estimates.

Datapoints: Food insecurity (lacked reliable food in past 12 months); Housing insecurity / instability; Lost or unable to pay for utilities; Lack of transportation; Social isolation / lack of social/emotional support

CDC PLACES Social Determinants of Health Data

primary-govnationaldatasetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health & social determinants

The PLACES SDOH layer providing estimated prevalence of nine key social-determinant measures derived from the American Community Survey, including housing cost burden and crowding. Downloadable and queryable via the CDC open-data API.

Datapoints: 9 ACS-derived SDOH measures; Housing cost burden; Crowding; Single-parent households; Unemployment; Poverty (below 150% FPL); No broadband, no high school diploma, no health insurance

ICD-10-CM SDOH Z-Codes (Z55-Z65) and CMS Z-Code Resources

primary-govnationalguidelineCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) / CMS Office of Minority HealthHealth & social determinants

CMS resources explaining the SDOH-related ICD-10-CM Z codes (Z55-Z65) used to capture social risks such as housing instability and food insecurity in claims and EHRs, including a coding infographic and the OMH Z-code journey resource.

Datapoints: Z59 housing/economic circumstances (incl. Z59.41 food insecurity, Z59.0 homelessness, Z59.1 inadequate housing); Z55-Z65 social-risk code range; Guidance on who may document Z codes; Use in Medicaid T-MSIS / claims reporting

CMS Accountable Health Communities (AHC) HRSN Screening Tool

primary-govnationaltoolCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation CenterHealth & social determinants

The widely adopted 10-item (plus 16 supplemental) standardized screening instrument for health-related social needs across core domains including housing instability and food insecurity, used to trigger community referrals.

Datapoints: Housing instability items; Food insecurity items (Hunger Vital Sign); Transportation, utilities, interpersonal safety; Supplemental items: financial strain, employment, education

Child Trends Child Welfare Funding Series

established-research-orgnationalreportChild TrendsHealth & social determinants

Multi-report series (state fiscal years 2012-2022) tracking child welfare agency spending and federal/state/local funding sources including Medicaid, Title IV-E, and TANF.

Datapoints: total child welfare spending trends 2012-2022; federal funding sources; Medicaid use by child welfare agencies; Title IV-E and TANF funding

Child Trends Healthy and Ready to Learn (HRTL) National & State Data

established-research-orgnationaldatasetChild TrendsHealth & social determinants

National and state-level indicator measuring developmental readiness of 3-year-olds across early learning, social-emotional, self-regulation, physical health, and motor-skill domains, a social-determinants-relevant child development measure.

Datapoints: state-level 3-year-old development data; early learning skills; social-emotional development; physical health and motor skills

Children's HealthWatch - Housing (research hub)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubChildren's HealthWatch (Boston Medical Center)Health & social determinants

Research hub on how housing instability affects the health and development of young children, with briefs, data, and policy recommendations.

Datapoints: 1 in 6 U.S. children have experienced unstable housing; Housing instability among families with young children: ~$111 billion in avoidable healthcare and special-education costs over 10 years; Families with eviction histories are 5x more likely to experience homelessness; Cost-driven moves linked to loss of WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid benefits

CityHealth Policy Assessment and City Ratings

othernationaldashboardCityHealth (de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente)Health & social determinants

Annual policy scorecard rating the 75 largest U.S. cities (gold/silver/bronze) on evidence-based policies including affordable housing trusts, healthy rental housing, healthy food purchasing, and earned sick leave, all social determinants of health.

Datapoints: city medal ratings across 12 policy domains; affordable housing trust fund adoption; healthy/safe rental housing policies; healthy food purchasing and food-access policies

CMS Z Codes: A Road to Better Understanding Social Determinants of Health (2023)

primary-govnationalreportCMS Office of Minority HealthHealth & social determinants

CMS Office of Minority Health resource on the use of ICD-10-CM Z codes (Z55-Z65) to capture social determinants of health in Medicare claims, including utilization trends and coding guidance.

Datapoints: Z-code (Z55-Z65) categories for SDOH (housing, food, economic, education); Medicare fee-for-service Z-code utilization trends; Coding and documentation guidance for SDOH capture

Cornell ILR Disability Statistics Guide

primary-academicnationalorg-hubCornell University Library / ILR SchoolHealth & social determinants

Curated research guide pointing to authoritative disability and demographic statistics sources, useful for locating population-level data on disability, employment, and program participation that intersects with poverty and social determinants.

Datapoints: Links to U.S. Census disability data (SIPP); DisabilityStatistics.org (Cornell); StateData.info disability data tool

CSG Justice Center - Reentry Topic Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCouncil of State Governments (CSG) Justice CenterHealth & social determinants

Topic hub aggregating research and tools on prisoner reentry across housing, employment, recidivism, Medicaid access, and family connections. Central source for reentry-housing and recidivism evidence.

Datapoints: Reentry 2030 goal: 30% recidivism reduction by 2030 (~500,000 fewer people in prison; ~$43B savings); Recidivism Reduction Checklists (evidence-based practices); Reentry housing / permanent supportive housing resources; Second Chance Act grant program resources

Stepping Up Initiative

othernationalorg-hubCSG Justice Center, NACo, American Psychiatric Association FoundationHealth & social determinants

National initiative helping counties reduce the number of people with serious mental illness in jails through a data-driven framework, toolkits, and technical assistance.

Datapoints: Stepping Up Readiness Toolkit; Data-driven county framework (four key measures); Resource library by topic; Youth adaptation

Social Capital Atlas (US counties, ZIP codes, high schools, colleges)

othernationaldatasetData for Good at Meta / Opportunity Insights (Harvard, NYU, Stanford), hosted on the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX), UN OCHAHealth & social determinants

Open dataset measuring three forms of social capital (economic connectedness, cohesiveness, civic engagement) for US counties, ZIP codes, high schools, and colleges, derived from 21 billion Facebook friendships with differential-privacy noise. Economic connectedness (cross-class friendship) is the strongest neighborhood predictor of upward economic mobility.

Datapoints: Economic connectedness (share of high-SES friends among low-SES individuals); Cohesiveness (clustering / support ratio of friendship networks); Civic engagement (volunteering rate, civic organization membership); Geographies: county, ZIP code, high school, college; Underlying base: ~21 billion friendships

Medically Tailored Meals: A Case for Federal Policy Action

primary-govnationalarticleHealthcare (Basel) / MDPI (via PubMed Central)Health & social determinants

Peer-reviewed review of the clinical effectiveness and cost savings of medically tailored meals for Medicare and Medicaid populations, with federal policy recommendations.

Datapoints: $1.57 saved per dollar invested in MTMs for Medicare beneficiaries; $712/month lower spending for Medicaid enrollees receiving daily meals; reduced hospitalizations and ED visits across diabetes/heart/kidney disease; MTM coverage awareness below 30% among stakeholders

ORR Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA) Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee ResettlementHealth & social determinants

Program hub for the Cash and Medical Assistance grant, which reimburses states for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), and medical screening for ORR-eligible populations ineligible for TANF/Medicaid.

Datapoints: RCA/RMA eligibility for ORR populations ineligible for TANF/Medicaid; Eligibility period reduced from 12 months to 4 months (effective May 5, 2025); State reimbursement structure for refugee cash/medical assistance; Medical screening coverage

Healthy People 2030 - Find Objectives & Data tool

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapHHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)Health & social determinants

Searchable tool for the national Healthy People 2030 objectives, including SDOH measures such as food insecurity, housing cost burden, and poverty, each with a data source, baseline, and target year.

Datapoints: Objective-level baselines, targets, and progress status; Food-insecurity and hunger objectives; Housing-instability and cost-burden objectives; Linked national data sources for each measure

Social Determinants of Health: A Review of the Evidence

primary-govnationalreportHHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)Health & social determinants

ASPE evidence review synthesizing research on how social determinants (including housing instability, food insecurity, and economic stability) affect health outcomes and the effectiveness of interventions addressing health-related social needs.

Datapoints: Evidence on housing interventions and health; Food insecurity and health outcomes; Economic/income supports and health; Intervention effectiveness ratings

Gravity Project AHC HRSN Documentation Resource (Z codes / SDOH coding)

othernationalguidelineHL7 Gravity Project (HL7 International FHIR Accelerator)Health & social determinants

Consensus data-standard resource mapping the CMS Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) screening tool questions to suggested ICD-10-CM Z codes (Z55-Z65) and SNOMED CT codes for documenting social risks in health records.

Datapoints: Suggested ICD-10-CM Z codes by HRSN domain; SNOMED CT codes for social risk dimensions; Domains: housing instability, homelessness, inadequate housing, food insecurity, transportation, utility insecurity; FHIR Condition resource representation

5 Key Facts About Immigrants and Medicaid

established-research-orgnationalreportKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Health & social determinants

KFF brief summarizing immigrant eligibility for and use of Medicaid/CHIP, including coverage rates, emergency Medicaid spending, and state expansions.

Datapoints: 2023: 19% of immigrants under 65 on Medicaid vs 23% of U.S.-born citizens; Eligible noncitizens are ~6% of Medicaid enrollees; Emergency Medicaid = <1% of Medicaid spending ($3.8B, FY2023); 37 states + DC removed the 5-year wait for immigrant children; 31 + DC for pregnant individuals (Jan 2025); Immigrant per-capita health spending $4,875 vs $7,277 for native-born

KFF: Beyond Health Care - The Role of Social Determinants

established-research-orgnationalreportKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Health & social determinants

Foundational KFF issue brief framing how social determinants (including housing and food) drive health and health equity, with synthesized national data and policy context.

Datapoints: SDOH categories and health-equity framework; Share of health driven by social/economic factors; Disparities by income and race/ethnicity; Policy levers across sectors

KFF: Medicaid Authorities and Options to Address SDOH

established-research-orgnationalreportKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Health & social determinants

Analysis of how states use Medicaid authorities (1115 waivers, managed care, HRSN framework) to address health-related social needs such as housing and nutrition, with data on services delivered and spending.

Datapoints: 91% of MCOs report SDOH activities; housing and food top focus; 1115 HRSN waiver landscape; Food services share of HRSN services delivered; Average billed per housing vs food service

Medicaid Work Requirements Tracker

established-research-orgnationaldashboardKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Health & social determinants

KFF tracker monitoring state-by-state implementation of Medicaid work requirements mandated by the 2025 reconciliation law (effective January 2027), covering policy decisions, enrollment, and processing outcomes across 44 states plus DC.

Datapoints: state policy decisions and implementation plans; county-level unemployment rates; Medicaid enrollment figures; application processing times; renewal outcomes; waiver/SPA early-implementation status

Potential Chilling Effects of Public Charge and Immigration Policies on Medicaid/CHIP Enrollment

established-research-orgnationalreportKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Health & social determinants

KFF issue brief estimating how proposed public-charge rule changes and heightened immigration enforcement could reduce Medicaid/CHIP enrollment among immigrant families and their citizen children.

Datapoints: 13.4 million Medicaid/CHIP enrollees live in households with at least one noncitizen (incl. 5.9M citizen children); Projected disenrollment 1.3-4.0 million people (10-30%), incl. 600K-1.8M citizen children; Projected forgone enrollment 200K-500K eligible uninsured; 20% of immigrant adults in noncitizen households report stopping program participation since Jan 2025; Analysis uses 2023 American Community Survey data

Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care

othernationalreportNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and MedicineHealth & social determinants

Consensus study report (2019) on how health care systems can integrate social services and address social determinants of health (food, housing, transportation) to improve outcomes and reduce inequities.

Datapoints: Framework of five health-care activities for addressing social needs (awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, advocacy); Evidence on social care's impact on outcomes and cost; Social-needs workforce composition and training requirements; Health care financing models supporting social care integration; 5As framework: awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, advocacy; Evidence on social-need interventions and health outcomes/cost; Workforce and care-model recommendations; Payment and financing mechanisms for social care

National Academies - Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care

othernationalreportNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)Health & social determinants

2019 consensus study on how health systems can integrate social-care services that address social needs and social determinants of health (housing, food, transportation) to reduce health inequities for vulnerable populations.

Datapoints: 5 health-system activities: awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, advocacy; links between social needs and health outcomes; role of health workforce in addressing SDOH

National Academies Press / Publications Catalog

othernationalorg-hubNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)Health & social determinants

Searchable catalog of National Academies consensus studies and reports, including authoritative work on poverty, food/nutrition, housing, and social determinants. Catalog URLs redirect to nationalacademies.org/publications; browse by topic to find SDOH-related studies.

Datapoints: consensus study reports; free PDF/read-online access; topic browsing (Health and Medicine; policy); peer-reviewed evidence syntheses

Standardized Screening for Health-Related Social Needs: The Accountable Health Communities Screening Tool

primary-academicnationalguidelineNational Academy of Medicine (NAM)Health & social determinants

NAM discussion paper presenting CMS's 10-item Accountable Health Communities (AHC) HRSN screening tool, a validated instrument for identifying unmet social needs in clinical settings across five core domains.

Datapoints: 10-item AHC HRSN screening tool; five core domains (housing instability, food insecurity, transportation, utilities, interpersonal safety); Hunger Vital Sign food-insecurity items; review of 50+ existing tools / 200+ questions

NCES Condition of Education (COE)

primary-govnationalreportNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationHealth & social determinants

Annual congressionally mandated report of indicators on the state of U.S. education, including measures of child poverty, family income, and free/reduced-price lunch eligibility relevant to social determinants.

Datapoints: Children in poverty indicators; Free/reduced-price lunch eligibility shares; Family income and educational attainment; School enrollment and outcomes

NRDC — Data, Reports & Resources

othernationalorg-hubNatural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)Health & social determinants

National environmental-advocacy organization publishing reports and tools on energy affordability and utility disconnections, food waste, and drinking-water affordability, intersecting with household energy/water burden as social determinants of insecurity.

Datapoints: Utility disconnection and energy-burden policy analysis; Food-waste reduction research (Agriculture & Food program); Drinking-water affordability and clean-water work; Buildings/sustainable-cities energy-cost reports

Chetty et al. — Social Capital and Economic Mobility (Nature 2022)

primary-govnationalreportNature (open-access copy via NSF PAR)Health & social determinants

Landmark study measuring economic connectedness (cross-class friendship) across U.S. ZIP codes from 21 billion Facebook friendships, finding economic connectedness among the strongest predictors of upward income mobility for low-income children.

Datapoints: 21 billion friendships analyzed; Economic connectedness a top predictor of upward income mobility; Low-SES children in high-connectedness areas would see ~20% higher adult income; ZIP-code-level social capital data publicly released

Network for Public Health Law - Health Equity Resources

othernationalorg-hubNetwork for Public Health LawHealth & social determinants

Topic hub on how laws and policies create conditions that limit opportunities to be healthy, covering the social determinants of health and mechanisms for advancing health equity.

Datapoints: social determinants of health; health equity mechanisms; Medicaid access; policy levers

NOAA Flood Exposure Tool

primary-govnationaltoolNOAA Office for Coastal ManagementHealth & social determinants

Interactive mapping tool that identifies people, places, and assets most exposed to flooding, including social-vulnerability overlays useful for understanding how flood risk compounds housing insecurity for low-income communities.

Datapoints: Population and housing exposure to flood hazards; Social-vulnerability and critical-facility overlays; Community-scale flood-risk screening

Healthy People 2030 Social Determinants of Health Workgroup

primary-govnationalguidelineOffice of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), U.S. HHSHealth & social determinants

Describes the Healthy People 2030 SDOH workgroup and its objectives across five place-based domains (economic stability, education, health care access, neighborhood/built environment, social/community context). Provides the canonical SDOH definition and tracked national objectives.

Datapoints: Five SDOH domains; Seven tracked SDOH objectives (4 improving, 1 no change, 1 worsening, 1 research); Housing, transportation, poverty as health drivers

Risk Factors for Veteran Food Insecurity: Findings from a National VA Food Insecurity Screener

othernationalarticlePublic Health Nutrition (Cambridge University Press)Health & social determinants

Peer-reviewed study analyzing the US Department of Veterans Affairs universal food-insecurity screener across 3.3 million veterans, identifying demographic, economic, housing, and health risk factors for food insecurity among veterans.

Datapoints: Food insecurity screened positive in 1.3% of male and 2.0% of female veterans (Jul 2017-Dec 2018, 3.3M screened); Housing instability among 58.1% of food-insecure veterans vs 5.5% of others; Strong associations with diabetes, depression, PTSD, low BMI, and military sexual trauma; Single-item annual screening across 161 VA medical centers

RAND Food Insecurity & Poverty Topics

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubRAND CorporationHealth & social determinants

RAND topic hubs aggregating peer-reviewed research on the causes, prevalence, and consequences of food insecurity and poverty, including evaluations of nutrition programs and the economic and social determinants that drive economic hardship.

Datapoints: Food insecurity prevalence, causes, and consequences; Nutrition program evaluations; Poverty dynamics and economic-mobility evidence

Evidence for Action (E4A)

othernationalorg-hubRobert Wood Johnson Foundation, housed at University of California, San FranciscoHealth & social determinants

National RWJF signature program funding and curating action-oriented research on the social determinants of health and health equity, including food-as-medicine, housing, and economic conditions. Publishes a funded-projects database and topic-organized research findings.

Datapoints: Funded-projects database of health-equity research grants; Research findings organized by topic (housing, food, economic security); Medically tailored meals study: 16% drop in medical expenses (JAMA Internal Medicine); 4Action nonpartisan research analysis; Methods notes for health-equity research

National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA) - ICPSR Series 1920

primary-academicnationaldatasetSocial Environment and Health program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan (via ICPSR)Health & social determinants

Publicly available archive of theoretically derived, spatially referenced, nationwide contextual measures of the physical and social environment, linkable to other data by geography. Directly relevant to neighborhood food access, housing, and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Datapoints: Socioeconomic disadvantage and affluence measures; Food environment (fast food, grocery access); Housing, walkability, land use, public transit; Healthcare, crime, libraries, recreation, climate; Geographies: county, census tract, block group; Per-topic neighborhood datasets; Census tract / ZCTA / county scales; Temporal coverage back to 1981; Linkable contextual measures for health/equity research

SIREN Evidence & Resource Library

primary-academicnationalorg-hubSocial Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN), UCSFHealth & social determinants

Searchable library of 4,500+ peer-reviewed studies, briefs, tools, and resources on integrating social and medical care and the effect of social determinants (housing, food, transportation) on health outcomes.

Datapoints: 4,568+ resources (1992-2026); Filters by population, outcome, social determinant, study design, year; Social determinants: housing stability, food insecurity, employment, education, transportation; Outcomes: healthcare costs, utilization, patient experience, health behaviors

Addressing housing insecurity as a social determinant of health: A systematic review of interventions in healthcare settings

primary-academicnationalarticleSocial Science & Medicine (Elsevier)Health & social determinants

Peer-reviewed systematic review (2025) of healthcare-setting interventions that screen for and address housing insecurity as a social determinant of health, synthesizing evidence on effectiveness.

Datapoints: housing-insecurity screening in healthcare; intervention effectiveness on housing and health outcomes; social-determinants-of-health intervention typology

SAMHSA — Section 223 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration

primary-govnationalorg-hubSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Health & social determinants

Authoritative hub for the CCBHC Section 223 Medicaid demonstration program, including the statutory cadence (new state cohorts every two years under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act) and the Prospective Payment System (PPS) reimbursement model that gives CCBHCs a durable Medicaid base.

Datapoints: Demonstration + PPS = durable Medicaid reimbursement for CCBHCs; Up to 10 states per selection cycle (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act); NC has a $1M one-year planning grant (since March 2023); not yet in demonstration; Next NC selection window 2027; BSCA authorizes up to 10 states per two-year selection cycle; CCBHC Medicaid PPS reimbursement stream is the durable funding mechanism; North Carolina won a $1M one-year planning grant (2023) but was not selected in the 2026 cohort; New state cohorts every 2 years (from July 1, 2024); NC not in the 2026 cohort; CCBHC Medicaid demonstration structure; State-cohort cadence (every 2 years from July 1, 2024); NC planning-grant status (not yet in demonstration)

Center for Public Health Law Research (CPHLR)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubTemple University Beasley School of LawHealth & social determinants

Academic center that produces 'legal epidemiology' / policy-surveillance data measuring how laws and policies affect health and well-being, spanning more than 20 public-health topic areas including housing, wage protections, and social determinants. Publishes the LawAtlas legal data library and the MonQcle legal-mapping software.

Datapoints: Legal epidemiology / policy surveillance methodology; Research on state income support policies and child health outcomes; Wage and worker protection law tracking; state law datasets; income support policies; wage/labor protection laws; policy surveillance over time; legal mapping data; 150+ public health law datasets; policy surveillance across 50 states + DC over time; topics include housing, eviction, wage protections, public benefits; Datasets coding state and local laws across 20+ public health domains; Studies on state income-support policies and health outcomes; LawAtlas legal datasets across 20+ public health domains; State income-support / policy datasets affecting child and family health; MonQcle policy-surveillance software for building legal datasets; Legal-epidemiology training modules and publications library

The Gravity Project

othernationalorg-hubThe Gravity Project (HL7 FHIR Accelerator; founded by SIREN with RWJF funding)Health & social determinants

National public collaborative developing consensus, standards-based terminology and data-exchange standards (FHIR) for documenting social risk across domains including food insecurity and housing instability, mapping to ICD-10-CM, SNOMED CT, and LOINC.

Datapoints: Consensus value sets for food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, etc.; ICD-10-CM / SNOMED CT / LOINC code mappings; FHIR implementation guide for SDOH clinical care; AHC HRSN screening documentation resource

The SCAN Foundation - Resources Library

othernationalorg-hubThe SCAN FoundationHealth & social determinants

Research and policy-brief library focused on long-term care, Medicare-Medicaid integration, and social supports for older adults and people with disabilities, including state budget impact analyses and Multisector Plans for Aging.

Datapoints: long-term care policy briefs; Medicare-Medicaid integration; Multisector Plans for Aging; budget impact analyses

HealthData.gov

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Health & social determinants

Federal health data catalog from HHS providing browsable datasets, prebuilt analytics dashboards, data stories, and transparency resources spanning clinical data, public health metrics, and government accountability, with API key access.

Datapoints: Browsable health dataset catalog; Prebuilt analytics dashboards; Data stories and transparency resources; API access via developer keys

HHS — 10 new states welcomed into CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Health & social determinants

HHS press release documenting the CCBHC Medicaid demonstration cohort expansion, establishing the biennial entry schedule (every 2 years beginning July 1, 2024) under BSCA Section 11001. Used to confirm the next new-state entry window is 2028, not 2027.

Datapoints: BSCA Section 11001 adds 10 states beginning July 1, 2024 and every 2 years thereafter; Cohorts in July 2024, July 2026, July 2028 (no 2027 window); NC not in the May 28, 2026 cohort; holds a 2023 planning grant; 10 new states named; NC excluded from 2026 cohort

Healthy People 2030 - Social Determinants of Health

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health PromotionHealth & social determinants

U.S. federal framework organizing social determinants of health into five domains (economic stability, education, health care, neighborhood/built environment, social context) with measurable objectives.

Datapoints: five SDOH domains; objectives on housing instability and food insecurity; literature summaries and evidence; national health targets

Healthy People 2030

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)Health & social determinants

National initiative setting data-driven decade-long health objectives, with a major focus on social determinants of health (SDOH) and measurable Leading Health Indicators.

Datapoints: Leading Health Indicators with national targets; Social Determinants of Health objectives and data; core, developmental, and research objectives; national health disparity tracking

National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory)Health & social determinants

The nation's authoritative source on daily household travel behavior, used to study transportation access, vehicle availability, and travel burden, key social determinants affecting access to jobs, food, and services.

Datapoints: Daily trips by mode, purpose, and distance; Vehicle ownership and availability by household; Travel by income, age, and geography (urban/rural); Commute and trip-chaining patterns

Healthy People 2030: Social Determinants of Health

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)Health & social determinants

The federal Healthy People 2030 framework for social determinants of health, organized into five domains (economic stability, education, health care access, neighborhood/built environment, social/community context) with objectives, data, and an overarching health-equity goal. health.gov now redirects to odphp.health.gov.

Datapoints: SDOH-04: reduce families spending >30% of income on housing; Food insecurity target (reduce to ~6%); Five SDOH domains framework; Literature summaries with national data and tracking; five SDOH domains; national health objectives with targets and tracking data; health-equity goal; domain-level indicators including housing, food, and poverty; Five SDOH domains: Economic Stability; Education Access and Quality; Health Care Access and Quality; Neighborhood and Built Environment; Social and Community Context; National SDOH objectives with baselines and targets; SDOH literature summaries (research snapshots, infographics); Evidence-based resource browser; economic stability objectives; food insecurity as SDOH; housing instability as SDOH; national health objectives; National SDOH objectives and data; Evidence-based intervention resources; Infographics and literature summaries; five SDOH domains (economic stability, education access, health care access, neighborhood/built environment, social/community context); Healthy People 2030 SDOH objectives; SDOH literature summaries; downloadable SDOH infographics

NSF Public Access Repository (PAR)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. National Science Foundation (with DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information)Health & social determinants

Searchable repository of peer-reviewed publications and data resulting from NSF-funded research, providing free public access to federally funded studies including work on economic mobility, social capital, and the social determinants of poverty.

Datapoints: Full-text and metadata for NSF-funded publications; Hosts Chetty et al. (2022, Nature) social-capital / economic-mobility study; Links to associated open datasets

SIREN - Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Center for Health & CommunityHealth & social determinants

National research network curating evidence on social-risk screening and interventions, hosting an Evidence & Resource Library and the inventory of validated social-needs screening tools. Founder of the Gravity Project.

Datapoints: Inventory of 15+ social-risk screening tools; Evidence library of studies/briefs on housing & food interventions; Metrics, measures, and instruments repository; Intervention effectiveness summaries

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute & Robert Wood Johnson FoundationHealth & social determinants

Annual rankings of nearly every U.S. county on dozens of health-influencing measures, with downloadable data, an interactive explorer, and the What Works for Health evidence database of 400+ strategies. Includes direct measures for food insecurity and housing problems.

Datapoints: severe housing problems %; food insecurity %; children in poverty; income inequality; health outcome rankings by county; county food-insecurity / limited-access-to-healthy-foods measures; severe housing problems / housing cost burden; health-outcome and health-factor rankings; income inequality and unemployment; Buncombe County and NC county profiles; Food insecurity (% without reliable food access); Food environment index; Severe housing problems; Severe housing cost burden; Children in poverty, income inequality; County-level rankings and trends, all 50 states; severe housing cost burden (% spending 50%+ income on housing); severe housing problems (overcrowding, cost, kitchen/plumbing); food insecurity / food environment index; access to healthy foods; homeownership rate

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps - Measures

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationHealth & social determinants

County-level health data platform ranking nearly every U.S. county on health outcomes and the factors that shape them, including housing, food access, income, and social/economic conditions. Includes the What Works for Health evidence database.

Datapoints: health outcomes and health factors rankings by county; severe housing problems measure; food insecurity / limited access to healthy foods measures; income inequality and children in poverty; social and economic factor measures

County Health Rankings - Health Data Explorer

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationHealth & social determinants

Entry point to explore county-by-county and state health data, comparisons, and the measures that shape health and equity, including housing, food, and economic conditions.

Datapoints: county and state health snapshots; rankings by health outcomes and health factors; community-condition measures (housing, food, income); trend data and subgroup breakdowns

County Health Rankings: Food Insecurity measure

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / RWJFHealth & social determinants

County-level food insecurity estimates (modeled via Feeding America's Core Food Insecurity Model using CPS, BLS, and ACS inputs), with methodology and downloadable values for every U.S. county.

Datapoints: % of population food insecure, by county; Core Food Insecurity Model methodology; Trend and disparity context

NC State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNCDHHS Division of Public HealthHealth & social determinants

North Carolina's official source for public-health statistics and surveillance data, including the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the County Health Data Book, vital statistics, and health-equity reports relevant to food insecurity and social determinants of health.

Datapoints: 2025 County Health Data Book (all 100 counties); NC BRFSS state/regional survey results; County-level mortality, morbidity, and risk-factor data; Links to LINC (Log Into North Carolina) data; vital statistics; behavioral risk factors; county health indicators; chronic disease prevalence; health disparities; BRFSS prevalence data (health behaviors, chronic disease, food/economic security); County Health Data Book county-level health indicators; Vital statistics (births, deaths, life expectancy); Health-equity and social-determinants reporting

NC Healthy Opportunities (NCDHHS)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)Health & social determinants

North Carolina's nationally watched initiative to address SDOH, including the Healthy Opportunities Pilots, which fund non-medical interventions (housing, food, transportation, interpersonal safety) for Medicaid enrollees via the NCCARE360 platform.

Datapoints: Domains: housing, food, transportation, interpersonal safety; Service fee schedule and enrollment via NCCARE360; Medicaid 1115 demonstration evaluation data; Rapid-cycle assessments of outcomes/cost

County Health Rankings: North Carolina data and resources

established-research-orgstate-NCdashboardUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / RWJFHealth & social determinants

North Carolina state page within County Health Rankings, with all 100 counties' health-factor and outcome measures (including Buncombe County) and links to NC-specific data resources.

Datapoints: All 100 NC counties ranked; Buncombe County food insecurity, housing problems, health outcomes; NC state resource links

WNC Healthy Impact (WNC Health Network)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubWestern North Carolina Health Network (WNC Health Network)Health & social determinants

Regional partnership of Western North Carolina hospitals and public health agencies that runs a coordinated community health assessment and improvement process. Hub for regional health needs assessments and local priority reports covering the Asheville/Buncombe area and surrounding mountain counties.

Datapoints: Regional CHA survey data (demographics, SDOH, behaviors); County-specific reports incl. Buncombe; Food access and housing indicators for WNC; Health priorities and improvement plans; Regional Community Health Assessment cycle every 3 years (2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024); Top community priorities 2024-2026: mental health (16 communities), substance use (12), chronic disease (7), housing (5), food security (4); Covers 16 WNC counties plus the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Counties: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey; Covers 16 WNC counties + EBCI; 2024-2026 local health priorities: mental health (16 communities), substance use (12), chronic disease (7), housing (5), food security (4); Triennial regional community health survey; Mountain DEEP database and regional dataset; Regional Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) cycle; Local health priorities: mental health, substance use, housing, food insecurity, climate and health; Coordinated process across hospitals and county public health departments in WNC; WNC regional health dataset (multi-county); Local community health needs assessments and improvement plans; Data stories on regional health trends; Data methodology documentation; regional community health assessment indicators; county-level health priorities and reports; WNC Dataset of regional health indicators; Mountain DEEP data initiative

Aubry et al. 2020 — PSH and Housing First Outcomes (Lancet Public Health)

primary-academicglobalreportThe Lancet Public Health (Elsevier)Health & social determinants

Systematic review (72 articles) of permanent supportive housing and Housing First, finding increased six-year housing stability for moderate-need (RR 1.13) and high-need (RR 1.42) participants, and pooled OR 3.58 for stable housing at >=18 months.

Datapoints: 72 articles; 6-yr stability RR 1.13 (moderate) / 1.42 (high-need); Pooled OR 3.58 for stable housing >=18 months; PMID 32504587; PSH increased six-year housing stability: moderate-need RR 1.13 (95% CI 1.01-1.26), high-need RR 1.42 (95% CI 1.19-1.69); Pooled Pathways + At Home/Chez Soi RCT data: OR 3.58 (95% CI 2.36-5.43) for stable housing at >=18 months; 72 studies synthesized; Consistent improvement in housing stability across trials

Aubry et al. 2020 — Housing First systematic review (Lancet Public Health)

primary-govglobalreportThe Lancet Public Health / PubMedHealth & social determinants

Systematic review of 72 articles on Housing First, the highest-tier evidence for long-term housing-stability outcomes.

Datapoints: 6-yr housing-stability RR 1.13 (moderate) to 1.42 (high-needs); Pooled OR 3.58 for stable housing >=18 months

WHO Social Determinants of Health Hub

primary-intlglobalorg-hubWorld Health Organization (WHO)Health & social determinants

WHO's authoritative hub on the social determinants of health (the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age), home to the 2025 World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity and monitoring tools relevant to poverty, food, and housing as health drivers.

Datapoints: World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity (2025); Health equity gaps by geography, community, and education; Cash-transfer and intersectoral policy evidence

MEPS Health Care Costs / Expenditures Topic

primary-govnationaldatasetAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Topic portal of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey covering health care costs and expenditures, with statistical briefs and microdata on payments by source (out-of-pocket, private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare) and condition.

Datapoints: Health care expenditures by condition and age group; Distribution / concentration of costs across the population; Out-of-pocket spending by income and family structure; Payments by source (private, Medicaid, Medicare, OOP)

Household-Level Food Price Inflation Heterogeneity (U.S. Consumer Panel, 2013-2023)

primary-academicnationalarticleAgribusiness: An International Journal (Wiley)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Peer-reviewed study (Chalise et al.) analyzing how U.S. household-level food price inflation varied across households from 2013 to 2023 using NielsenIQ Consumer Panel scanner data, relevant to how rising grocery costs unevenly affect lower-income and food-insecure households. (Full text paywalled.)

Datapoints: Uses NielsenIQ Consumer Panel scanner data, 2013-2023; Documents heterogeneity in food price inflation by household; Bears on differential grocery-cost burden for low-income households

AGC Construction Employment Data

othernationaldatasetAssociated General Contractors of America (AGC)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Monthly construction-industry employment and wage statistics (derived from BLS) at national, state, and metro levels, useful for labor-market and housing-supply/cost-of-construction analysis.

Datapoints: National construction employment and average hourly earnings; State rankings by monthly and 12-month employment change; Metro-area employment rankings (~360 metros)

Associated General Contractors of America - Construction Data

othernationaldatasetAssociated General Contractors of America (AGC)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Monthly construction-industry economic data and analysis, including employment by state and metro area, wages, and producer price/employment cost indexes. Relevant to construction-sector wages and the labor side of housing supply and cost-of-living.

Datapoints: Construction employment change by state and 360 metro areas (monthly); Average hourly earnings for production/nonsupervisory construction workers ($38.62, Mar 2026); Producer price and employment cost indexes for materials and building types; Worker-availability and market-condition survey results

H+T Affordability Index

othernationalinteractive-mapCenter for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Interactive index measuring combined housing and transportation costs as a share of household income, giving a fuller picture of affordability than housing costs alone, mapped to block-group level nationwide.

Datapoints: Housing costs as % of income; Transportation costs as % of income; Combined H+T costs as % of income; 45% combined affordability threshold (vs. 30% housing-only); Block group, street, transit-area, regional, and national levels

Cornell eCommons (Digital Repository)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubCornell University Library (incl. Catherwood Library / ILR School)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Cornell University's open digital repository providing long-term access to scholarly content, including ILR School working papers, research studies, and reports on labor, wages, workplace, and economic conditions. Source of primary research and data documentation.

Datapoints: ILR working papers and research studies and reports; labor economics, wages, and workplace research; household survey methodology materials (CPS, American Housing Survey); openly downloadable scholarly PDFs and datasets

CoreLogic Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI)

othernationaldatasetCotality (formerly CoreLogic)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Recurring index measuring single-family rent price changes nationally and across major metros, using a repeat-pairing methodology on single-family rental MLS listings. A primary authoritative gauge of rent inflation alongside the Home Price Index.

Datapoints: US single-family rent growth YoY (e.g. ~1.5% in Nov 2024, lowest in 14+ years); Rent change by major metropolitan area; Attached vs. detached single-family rent trends

Economic Policy Institute (EPI)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubEconomic Policy InstituteEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Research think tank publishing data tools on wages, cost of living, and economic inequality, including the Family Budget Calculator (county-level cost of a basic-needs budget), Minimum Wage Tracker, and the State of Working America Data Library.

Datapoints: Family Budget Calculator (county-level cost of living for 10 family types); State of Working America Data Library (wage and compensation series); Minimum Wage Tracker (state/local wage floors); Wage Calculator and Low-Wage Workforce Tracker; Family Budget Calculator (basic-needs cost by county/family size); Minimum Wage Tracker by state; Productivity-Pay Gap series; State of Working America wage/income data; Child care cost estimates by state; Low Wage Workforce Tracker

EPI Family Budget Calculator - Technical Documentation

established-research-orgnationalreportEconomic Policy InstituteEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Methodology document for EPI's family budgets, defining the families, areas, and each cost component and listing the underlying data sources.

Datapoints: component-by-component data sources; inflation adjustment method; family type and area definitions; 2025/2026 data vintages

EPI Family Budget Map

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapEconomic Policy InstituteEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Interactive map letting users compare the cost of a modest family budget across counties and metro areas nationwide.

Datapoints: county/metro family budget totals; rank of areas by cost; component shares by location

EPI State of Working America Data Library

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy InstituteEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Comprehensive, freely citable data library on U.S. wages, jobs, and inequality over time and across demographic groups, compiled from EPI analysis of government data sources. Provides historical series on wages, compensation, productivity, unionization, and CEO pay.

Datapoints: Hourly/annual wages by percentile (top 1% vs bottom 90%); Wages and compensation by demographic group; Productivity vs typical worker compensation; Union coverage trends; CEO-to-worker pay ratios

The Productivity-Pay Gap

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapEconomic Policy InstituteEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Interactive chart and analysis documenting the divergence since 1979 between net productivity and the hourly compensation of typical (production/nonsupervisory) workers. A key reference for wage stagnation and rising inequality.

Datapoints: Productivity grew ~3.5x as much as typical worker pay since 1979; 1948-1973 productivity and pay grew in tandem; 1979-2019: net productivity +1.36%/yr vs median compensation +0.38%/yr; Rising inequality explains ~80% of the gap (2000-2014)

EPI Real Hourly Wages by Percentile

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Interactive series tracking inflation-adjusted hourly wages at the 10th, 50th (median), and 90th percentiles from 1973 to the present, illustrating long-run wage inequality and stagnation for low- and middle-wage workers.

Datapoints: 2025: 90th percentile $65.38/hr; median $25.67/hr; 10th percentile $14.56/hr; Inflation-adjusted to constant 2025 dollars; Based on Current Population Survey microdata

EPI State of Working America Data Library

othernationaldatasetEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)Economic security, wages & cost of living

The full underlying data behind EPI's State of Working America, offered as downloadable CSVs covering 40+ economic indicators on wages, employment, income, poverty, and inequality. Interactive access is also available through the EPI Data Library.

Datapoints: hourly and annual wages, including wage gaps by race and gender; official and supplemental poverty measures and median household income; unemployment, underemployment, and union membership; productivity and price indexes; breakdowns by national, state, regional, and demographic segments

State of Working America Data Library

established-research-orgnationaldatasetEconomic Policy Institute (EPI)Economic security, wages & cost of living

EPI's interactive data library of U.S. wages, jobs, and inequality over time and by demographic group, compiled from EPI analysis of government data sources; freely citable and downloadable.

Datapoints: Hourly and annual wages by percentile (incl. top 1% and bottom 90%); Wages by race, gender, education, age; Productivity-pay gap series since 1979; Unionization rates and CEP pay trends; Labor market and inequality indicators over time

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Research & Data

othernationaldashboardFederal Reserve Bank of AtlantaEconomic security, wages & cost of living

The Atlanta Fed's data hub hosting high-frequency economic indicators including the Wage Growth Tracker (individual wage growth), GDPNow, and the Home Ownership Affordability Monitor. Tools cover wages, the labor market, and housing affordability at national/metro levels.

Datapoints: Wage Growth Tracker (median 12-month wage growth, by demographic/job-switcher status); Home Ownership Affordability Monitor (HOAM) national/metro/county affordability index; median household capacity to afford median-priced home (30% income threshold); GDPNow real GDP nowcast; inflation and labor-market indicators

New York Fed - Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit (Q3 2024 release)

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Research news release accompanying the New York Fed's Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, reporting balances and delinquency trends in mortgage, credit card, auto, and student-loan debt for the third quarter of 2024.

Datapoints: Total household debt (~$18.59 trillion reported in 2025 cycle; Q3 2024 totals); Quarterly change in total debt (+$197 billion / +1% in Q3 2024); Mortgage, auto, student loan, and credit card balances; Delinquency transition rates by loan type

NY Fed Center for Microeconomic Data

primary-govnationaldashboardFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Hub for the NY Fed's household-level economic data products, including the Survey of Consumer Expectations and the Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, with interactive dashboards and downloadable data.

Datapoints: Household Debt and Credit Report (mortgage, rent-related, credit card, student-loan balances and delinquency); Survey of Consumer Expectations series; Consumer Credit Panel microdata; Quarterly Household Debt and Credit Report (total debt ~$18.8 trillion in Q1 2026); Mortgage, student loan, credit card, auto loan balances; Delinquency transition rates; Survey of Consumer Expectations indices; Downloadable data sets via the Data Bank; household debt and credit balances by type (mortgage, auto, student, credit card); delinquency and foreclosure/bankruptcy rates; consumer inflation and labor-market expectations; credit access and spending expectations; Household Debt and Credit (mortgage, rent-related, auto, student, credit-card balances and delinquencies); Consumer Credit Panel (Equifax-based)

Survey of Consumer Expectations (SCE)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Nationally representative, internet-based monthly rotating-panel survey (launched 2013) of ~1,300 household heads measuring expectations about inflation, the labor market, and household finances, including expected price changes for rent, food, gas, medical care, and home prices.

Datapoints: Household inflation expectations (1- and 3-year); Spending growth and income growth expectations; Housing and rent expectations; labor-market expectations; Household financial-distress and credit-access indicators; Inflation expectations (1- and 3-year median); Household income, spending, and credit-access expectations; Labor-market expectations (earnings growth, job-finding/job-loss); Housing Survey supplement (home price expectations, rent); Short-, medium-, and long-term inflation expectations; Home price growth and rent growth expectations; Labor-market expectations (job-finding, layoff, earnings growth); Expected future spending and access to credit; Household financial situation and delinquency expectations; Breakdowns by age, income, education, geography, numeracy; Home price growth expectations; Labor market expectations (job loss, job finding); Household financial situation and credit access expectations; Delinquency expectations; spending; special survey modules; median 1-, 3-, and 5-year inflation expectations; expected price growth for food, gas, housing, education, and medical care; labor market expectations (job-finding, layoff, earnings growth); household spending and credit-access expectations; panel of ~1,300 household heads rotating up to 12 months; Median inflation expectations (1-year and 3-year) and forecast uncertainty; Expected changes in rent, food, gasoline, medical care, college costs, home prices; Labor-market and household-finance expectations; Breakdowns by age, geography, income, education, numeracy; Monthly releases with downloadable historical microdata

Survey of Consumer Expectations (SCE) - NY Fed

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Nationally representative monthly internet-based survey of household heads measuring expectations and behavior around inflation, the labor market, household finance, credit access, and housing.

Datapoints: Inflation expectations (median, uncertainty, 1- and 3-year horizons); Labor market expectations (job-finding, job-loss, earnings growth); Household spending and income expectations; Credit access and debt-delinquency expectations; SCE Housing Survey (home-price and rent expectations)

An Overview of the Survey of Consumer Expectations (EPR 2017)

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Bank of New York (Economic Policy Review)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Methodology paper by Armantier et al. describing the design, sampling, and content of the New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations, the source for its consumer inflation, labor-market, and household-finance expectations data.

Datapoints: SCE survey design and rotating-panel methodology; Modules: inflation expectations, labor market, household finance, credit access, spending; Demographic stratification (age, income, education, geography, numeracy)

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of St. LouisEconomic security, wages & cost of living

FRED is the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's database of hundreds of thousands of U.S. and international economic time series, with charting tools and an API, widely used for housing, prices, wages, and poverty indicators.

Datapoints: Case-Shiller home price index (CSUSHPINSA); Asheville and NC house price indexes (e.g., ATNHPIUS11700Q); Housing affordability index (FIXHAI), CPI components, wage and unemployment series; State/metro-level economic series with API and download access; Case-Shiller and FHFA house price indexes (national/metro); Consumer Price Index and rent components; Unemployment, wages, and median household income series; Housing affordability index, homeownership rate, housing starts/permits; Programmatic access via FRED API

HHS Poverty Guidelines API

primary-govnationalapiHHS ASPEEconomic security, wages & cost of living

A programmatic API returning the official federal poverty guideline dollar amounts by year, household size, and state group for use in eligibility calculators.

Datapoints: poverty guideline values by year and household size; percent-of-poverty calculations; state variants; JSON poverty figures by year/household size; 48-state, Alaska, Hawaii variants; percent-of-guideline lookups

MIT Living Wage Calculator Methodology

primary-academicnationalreportMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Technical documentation describing how the Living Wage Calculator builds each cost component and which federal data sources it draws from.

Datapoints: cost component definitions; data source vintages; family type assumptions; geographic granularity

NLIHC Out of Reach - Report Graphics & Housing Wage Data

established-research-orgnationaldashboardNational Low Income Housing CoalitionEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Reusable charts and downloadable graphics summarizing the Out of Reach Housing Wage analysis, including wage-to-rent gaps, occupational wage comparisons, and racial/gender wage disparities relative to the cost of renting.

Datapoints: Two-bedroom and one-bedroom Housing Wage by state; Hours at minimum wage needed to afford rent; Gap between renter wages and FMR-based housing wage; Racial and gender wage disparities vs. housing wage

NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 (housing wage)

established-research-orgnationalreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionEconomic security, wages & cost of living

NLIHC's annual flagship report documenting the gap between renters' wages and the cost of rental housing, anchored by the signature 'Housing Wage' (the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a modest rental without being cost-burdened). Provides national, state, county, and metro figures.

Datapoints: Asheville metro 2BR housing wage $29.08/hr; 1BR $25.90/hr; NC 2BR housing wage $27.14/hr; Refresh cadence: annual, ~August (OOR 2026); national and state-by-state Housing Wage; hourly wage needed to afford a 1- and 2-bedroom rental at Fair Market Rent; gap between renter wages and rents; Buncombe worker needs $29.08/hr for a 2-bedroom at fair-market rent; Median local housekeeping wages ~$15.18/hr; National and state housing-wage tables; national/state/county 2BR and 1BR Housing Wage; hours of minimum-wage work needed for rent; share of cost-burdened renters; Housing Wage (hourly wage needed for 2BR fair market rent); Fair Market Rents; Hours of minimum-wage work needed for rent; State and county rankings; 2-bedroom housing wage; 1-bedroom housing wage; hours of minimum-wage work needed to afford rent; FMR-based affordability gap; state/metro/county detail; Housing Wage (hourly wage to afford 2BR FMR); Fair Market Rents by county; renter median wage; state and county comparisons; 2-bedroom Housing Wage ($33.63 in 2025); 1-bedroom Housing Wage; fair market rent; renter share by area; state/metro/county tables; 2-bedroom Housing Wage ($33.63/hr, 2025); 1-bedroom Housing Wage ($28.17/hr); vs. minimum wage; FMR by jurisdiction; hours of minimum-wage work needed; National Housing Wage 2025: $33.63/hr for a modest two-bedroom, $28.17/hr for a one-bedroom; Hourly wage needed to afford HUD Fair Market Rent at 30% of income, by state/metro/county; Share of workers unable to afford a modest 1BR/2BR rental; Comparison of Housing Wage to minimum wage and mean renter wage; national Housing Wage ($33.63/hr for 2BR, $28.17 for 1BR in 2025); Housing Wage by state/metro/county; Fair Market Rent; hours at minimum wage needed to afford rent; renter household income vs. wage needed; National Housing Wage for a two-bedroom rental home; State and metro-level Housing Wages including North Carolina; Gap between minimum wage and the wage needed to afford a modest two-bedroom; $27.14/hour needed for a modest two-bedroom (2025, national); $25.90/hour needed for a modest one-bedroom in the Asheville metro; Asheville among the least affordable NC metros relative to local wages; Housing wage / rental affordability gap by state and metro; Estimated at least 97,000 people nationally at risk of losing housing under the HUD CoC permanent-housing funding redirect; Housing Wage by state and county; Fair Market Rent for 1- and 2-bedroom units; Hours of minimum-wage work needed to afford rent; Two-bedroom Housing Wage by state, metro, and county; One-bedroom Housing Wage; HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) by area; Hours per week at minimum wage needed to afford a 2BR rental; State rankings by housing affordability; Renter wages vs. affordability gap

NielsenIQ Consumer Panel (Homescan) data

othernationaldatasetNielsenIQ (commercial; academic access via Kilts Center / Cornell CCSS)Economic security, wages & cost of living

Nationally representative longitudinal household scanner panel (roughly 35,000-60,000 households/year) capturing UPC-level food and beverage purchases. Widely used in peer-reviewed food-price-inflation, food-spending, and food-security research; the underlying microdata is a paid/licensed product (academic access through the Kilts-Nielsen data set).

Datapoints: household food and beverage purchases at UPC level; demographically balanced household panel; evidence of higher food-price inflation among low-income, SNAP-eligible, and older households; basis for analyses of food-spending and food-security disparities

PolicyLink

othernationalorg-hubPolicyLinkEconomic security, wages & cost of living

National research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity, producing data tools and reports on housing affordability, rent debt, wages, and the working poor. Co-produces the National Equity Atlas with the USC Equity Research Institute and the San Francisco Foundation.

Datapoints: Equity-focused research on housing, wages, and poverty; Co-producer of the National Equity Atlas; Rent Debt in America research and dashboard

National Equity Atlas — Racial Equity Data Lab

othernationaldatasetPolicyLink and USC Equity Research InstituteEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Interactive workspace to build custom equity data visualizations and dashboards, with downloadable Tableau-ready datasets and starter workbooks for Housing Burden, Median Wages, Poverty, Working Poor, Educational Attainment, and Car Access.

Datapoints: Downloadable starter datasets/workbooks for six core equity indicators; Breakdowns by race, sex, nativity, gender, ancestry; Housing Burden starter workbook; Median Wages, Poverty, Working Poor workbooks; Demographic breakdowns by race and gender

The Brookings Institution

primary-academicnationalorg-hubThe Brookings InstitutionEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Nonpartisan think tank publishing research and policy analysis on housing, poverty, workforce/wages, and the metropolitan economy (notably via Brookings Metro and Economic Studies). A frequently cited secondary source for housing affordability, poverty among older adults, and rural development.

Datapoints: Economic Studies and Brookings Metro research programs; Poverty research (e.g., reducing poverty among older adults); Housing and rural development analysis (e.g., America's Rural Future series); Business & Workforce / wages and labor-market analysis

BEA Personal Income by County, Metro, and Other Areas

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Annual personal income and per-capita personal income estimates for every U.S. county and metro area, including Buncombe County and the Asheville MSA.

Datapoints: total personal income by county; per capita personal income; net earnings by place of work; components: wages, transfer receipts, dividends/interest/rent

BEA Real Personal Income for States and Metropolitan Areas

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisEconomic security, wages & cost of living

BEA estimates of personal income adjusted for regional price differences, allowing real income comparisons across states and metro areas. Pairs with Regional Price Parities to gauge purchasing power and local cost of living.

Datapoints: Real personal income by state and metro area; Regional Price Parities (RPP) by state and metro; Implicit regional price deflator; Real per-capita personal income comparisons

BEA Regional Price Parities by State and Metro Area

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) measuring differences in price levels across states and metro areas as a percent of the national level, used to compare real cost of living and real incomes geographically.

Datapoints: RPP all items by state/metro; RPP for rents, goods, other services; real personal income by state/metro; purchasing-power comparisons

BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Program providing data on consumer expenditures, income, and demographics through the Interview and Diary surveys; the basis for CPI market-basket weights. Data via tables, LABSTAT, and public-use microdata.

Datapoints: average annual expenditures by category; average rent expenditure ($15,342 in 2023); income before/after taxes; spending by demographic group; C-CPI-U weights

BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) - Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Data hub for the Consumer Expenditure Surveys, providing household spending data by category, income, demographics, and region, including public-use microdata and pre-tabulated tables used to build family budgets and the CPI weights.

Datapoints: Average annual expenditures by category (housing, food, transportation, healthcare); Spending by income quintile, age, family size, region; Public-Use Microdata (PUMD); Calendar-year and tables-by-demographic series

BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) - Rent / Shelter

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

The Consumer Price Index program, including the rent of primary residence and owners' equivalent rent series that dominate the shelter component and drive cost-of-living adjustments.

Datapoints: CPI-U all items; rent of primary residence index; owners' equivalent rent; South region CPI; 12-month inflation rate

BLS Handbook of Methods: Consumer Price Index Concepts

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Authoritative methodology reference defining the concepts, scope, and definitions behind the Consumer Price Index, the standard measure of inflation used to assess cost-of-living and the real value of wages and benefits.

Datapoints: Definition of the CPI market basket and target population; Shelter / rent of primary residence and owners' equivalent rent concepts; Food at home and food away from home categories; Geographic and item structure of the index

BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAU)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Monthly and annual estimates of the labor force, employment, unemployment, and unemployment rates for states, metropolitan areas, counties, cities, and other sub-state regions.

Datapoints: Unemployment rate by county, city, metro, and state; Labor force size; Employment and unemployment levels; Monthly and annual series; Seasonally adjusted and unadjusted figures

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Employment and wage estimates for about 830 occupations at national, state, metro, and industry levels - the authoritative wage source feeding most living-wage calculators.

Datapoints: mean and median hourly/annual wage by occupation; 10th-90th percentile wages; employment counts and location quotients; metro and nonmetro estimates

BLS Public Data API (Developers)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Public API providing programmatic access to Bureau of Labor Statistics time series, including employment, unemployment, wages, consumer prices (CPI), and occupational data used in cost-of-living and labor-market analysis.

Datapoints: Employment and unemployment series (LAUS, CES); Consumer Price Index (CPI) series; Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS); Registered API key supports batch series queries; Occupational employment and wage statistics (OEWS); Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW); Consumer Expenditure Survey series; Local Area Unemployment / employment series; Series-based JSON query endpoints

Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) - Getting Started Guide & Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Guide and table set for the Consumer Expenditure Survey, the primary federal source for how American households spend money across categories including housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. Underpins the CPI market basket and cost-of-living/family budget analyses.

Datapoints: Average annual household expenditures by category (housing, food at home/away, utilities, healthcare, transportation); Expenditures by income quintile, age, household size, and region; Income before/after taxes and average household characteristics; Share of spending on shelter and food by income level

Consumer Expenditures in 2023 (BLS Report)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Annual BLS report summarizing U.S. household spending patterns for 2023, including average expenditures by major category and how they shifted with income, age, and household composition.

Datapoints: Average annual household expenditures (total and by category); Share of spending on housing, food, transportation, healthcare; Expenditures by income before taxes and demographic group; Year-over-year spending changes

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Annual estimates of employment and wages for roughly 800 occupations, available nationally and by state and metropolitan area. Core source for wage-floor and living-wage comparisons by occupation and locality.

Datapoints: Employment counts by detailed occupation; Mean and median hourly and annual wages by occupation; Wage percentiles (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th); State and metropolitan-area occupational wage estimates

Joint Economic Committee (JEC)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Congress, Joint Economic CommitteeEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Bipartisan congressional committee that analyzes economic conditions and policy, publishing annual Joint Economic Reports, hearing records, and investigations on labor markets, healthcare costs, energy prices, cost of living, and economic security.

Datapoints: Annual Joint Economic Reports (2023, 2024); Labor market and aging-population analyses; Energy and cost-of-living investigations; Healthcare cost and tax-policy analyses

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor StatisticsEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Federal source for labor market, wage, and price statistics, including the Consumer Price Index, employment, and occupational wage data used for cost-of-living analysis.

Datapoints: Consumer Price Index (CPI) and inflation; Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS); Current Population Survey labor force data; Consumer Expenditure Survey; Asheville MSA economic at-a-glance data

ALICE Essentials Index

established-research-orgnationaldatasetUnited for ALICEEconomic security, wages & cost of living

An inflation index tracking cost changes specifically for the basic necessities low-income (ALICE) households must afford, offered as an alternative to the broad CPI. Captures how quickly the cost of essentials has outpaced general inflation and wages, with urban/rural breakdowns.

Datapoints: Annual growth rate of essentials cost (5.6% 2021-2024 vs CPI 5.0%); Rental housing up 99% and home food up 38% (2007-2024); Urban vs. rural cost-increase comparison; Time series back to 2007; ALICE Essentials Index annual growth 5.6% (2021-2024) vs. CPI 5.0%; Rental housing costs +99% and food +38% from 2007 to 2024; Urban essentials inflation 4.9%/yr vs. rural 3.8%/yr (2021-2026); Six tracked categories: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology; Comparison against CPI and CPI-tied benefits (e.g., Social Security); ALICE Index 5.6% annual increase 2021-2024 vs CPI 5.0%; rental housing +99% (2007-2024); food at home +38%, child care +74%; six essential categories (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology); Essentials Index annual increase 5.6% (2021-2024) vs 5.0% CPI; Housing costs +99% and food +38% (2007-2024); Projections through 2026; Urban vs rural and Census-region variation

United For ALICE - National Overview

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUnited For ALICEEconomic security, wages & cost of living

National dashboard of the ALICE measure across all states, with the national household survival budget and the share of U.S. households below the ALICE threshold.

Datapoints: national ALICE + poverty household share; national household survival budget; state-by-state comparison; ALICE Essentials Index inflation rate

ALICE in Action (United for ALICE)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUnited for ALICE (United Way of Northern New Jersey)Economic security, wages & cost of living

A national database documenting how organizations apply ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) measures to address financial hardship among households earning above the federal poverty line but below the basic cost-of-living threshold. Companion to state ALICE reports and data tools.

Datapoints: share of households below the ALICE threshold (by state/county/legislative district); ALICE Household Survival Budget (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology); ALICE Essentials Index (cost-of-living inflation for basics); focus breakdowns for children, people with disabilities, veterans; income status calculator and wage tool

United For ALICE

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUnited Way (United For ALICE national project)Economic security, wages & cost of living

United For ALICE measures households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) - those earning above the Federal Poverty Level but below the cost of basic needs. Provides state and county data tools across 31+ states plus the D.C. metro area.

Datapoints: ALICE Household Survival Budget by county; ALICE threshold vs. Federal Poverty Level; Number/share of ALICE + poverty households; ALICE Essentials Index (cost of basics inflation); Wage Tool, Legislative District Tool, Economic Viability Dashboard

Self-Sufficiency Standard

othernationaltoolUniversity of Washington Center for Women's WelfareEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Home of the Self-Sufficiency Standard, an alternative to the federal poverty measure that defines the income working families need by family composition, children's ages, and geography. Calculated for 41 states.

Datapoints: Self-sufficiency wage by county and family type; Cost of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care; Gap between standard and minimum wage; county-specific budgets for 700+ family types; cost components (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, misc, taxes, tax credits); state report library; wage adequacy measure

Self-Sufficiency Standard for North Carolina

otherstate-NCreportCenter for Women's Welfare, University of WashingtonEconomic security, wages & cost of living

North Carolina edition of the Self-Sufficiency Standard (2020, by Dr. Diana M. Pearce), with county-by-county basic-needs budgets for hundreds of family types.

Datapoints: county self-sufficiency wages; monthly cost by component; comparison to FPL; family-type matrix

StateData / ThinkWork (Institute for Community Inclusion) Disability Employment Data

otherstate-NCdatasetInstitute for Community Inclusion (ICI), University of Massachusetts BostonEconomic security, wages & cost of living

National and state-level data platform on employment and economic self-sufficiency for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a population at elevated risk of poverty and housing/food insecurity. The legacy statedata.info domain now redirects here.

Datapoints: employment rate and earnings for people with IDD by state; day/employment service participation; economic self-sufficiency trends (StateData Blue Book); state IDD-system service outcomes

myFutureNC Dashboard - Family-Sustaining Wage

otherstate-NCdashboardmyFutureNCEconomic security, wages & cost of living

North Carolina statewide attainment dashboard tracking the share of jobs and workers reaching a family-sustaining wage, with county-level workforce-alignment indicators.

Datapoints: share of NC jobs paying a family-sustaining wage; county workforce-alignment metrics; educational attainment vs. wage

NLIHC Out of Reach - North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCreportNational Low Income Housing CoalitionEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Annual report on the wage a full-time worker must earn (the Housing Wage) to afford HUD fair-market rent without spending more than 30% of income, with state, metro, and county detail for North Carolina.

Datapoints: NC two-bedroom Housing Wage ~$18.46-$25+/hr; Asheville HMFA housing wage $25.83 (2BR FMR $1,680); hours at minimum wage to afford rent; NC ranks 29th highest housing wage; 2-bedroom housing wage statewide ($27.14/hr); housing wage range across jurisdictions ($17.88-$36.00); 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent ($1,411; range $930-$1,872); hours at minimum wage needed to afford FMR (131 hrs/wk for 1BR); renter households (1,408,252); renters below 30% AMI (332,199) and below 50% AMI (539,661); housing wages for 0-4 bedroom units

NC Budget & Tax Center - Living Income Standard

local-authoritystate-NCreportNC Budget & Tax Center (NC Justice Center)Economic security, wages & cost of living

North Carolina's own basic-needs budget, computed for every county roughly every two years, measuring the income working families need to afford eight categories of basic expenses plus savings.

Datapoints: family-of-four LIS ~$97,500/yr statewide average (2025); county range $77,000 (Halifax) to ~$113,000 (Union); $23.40/hr per adult to afford basics; eight expense categories incl. savings

United For ALICE Research Center & Interactive Maps (North Carolina)

established-research-orgstate-NCinteractive-mapUnited For ALICEEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Interactive county-level mapping of ALICE and poverty households across North Carolina, with downloadable data sheets and the suite of ALICE tools.

Datapoints: county-level ALICE rates; ALICE Budget and Income Status Tool; ALICE Wage Tool; Economic Viability Dashboard; ALICE in Focus: Children; Legislative District Tool; downloadable Excel data sheet

United For ALICE - State of ALICE in North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCorg-hubUnited For ALICE (United Way of Northern New Jersey)Economic security, wages & cost of living

State overview of households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) - above the poverty line but below the cost of basics. Provides survival-budget figures and the full ALICE toolset.

Datapoints: 41% of NC households below ALICE threshold (2024); 13% in poverty + 28% ALICE; 4,452,562 total households; family-of-four survival budget $79,596/yr; FPL family of four $31,200

ALICE in North Carolina - United Way of NC

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubUnited Way of North CarolinaEconomic security, wages & cost of living

North Carolina partner page presenting the ALICE report findings for the state, with the latest NC report and county breakdowns.

Datapoints: 42% of NC households below ALICE threshold (2023 release); single-adult survival budget $30,336; family-of-four survival budget $80,232; county variation $28,000-$78,500/yr

Just Economics of WNC - Living Wage Rate & Certification

local-authoritylocal-AVLtoolJust Economics of Western North CarolinaEconomic security, wages & cost of living

The locally calculated living wage for Buncombe County and rural WNC, plus the employer certification program. The Buncombe rate is pegged to a four-year rolling average of HUD Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom unit.

Datapoints: 2026 Buncombe living wage $24.10/hr; pledged living wage $20/hr; rural WNC rate $17.55/hr; tied to HUD FMR 1BR 4-year rolling average; list of certified employers

MIT Living Wage Calculation for Buncombe County, NC

primary-academiclocal-AVLtoolMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyEconomic security, wages & cost of living

County-specific living wage page for Buncombe County (Asheville), showing the wage required by family type and a full typical-expenses table. Updated February 2026.

Datapoints: single adult living wage $23.74/hr; 1 adult + 2 children $50.31/hr; 2 working adults + 2 children $27.18/hr each; 8-category expense breakdown; NC minimum wage $7.25/hr; poverty wage $7.67-$18.60/hr

Occupational Employment and Wages in Asheville, NC (May 2024)

primary-govlocal-AVLreportU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Southeast Information OfficeEconomic security, wages & cost of living

OEWS news release for the Asheville, NC metro area (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison counties), with mean wages overall and by occupational group.

Datapoints: Asheville mean hourly wage $27.60 (vs. $32.66 U.S.); highest-paid groups: legal $56.01, management $54.59; lowest-paid: food prep $16.06; food prep is 12.2% of metro employment

Census Bureau QuickFacts - Buncombe County, NC

primary-govlocal-AVLdashboardU.S. Census BureauEconomic security, wages & cost of living

Official Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Buncombe County, NC, presenting headline population, income, poverty, and housing indicators drawn from the decennial census, ACS, and Population Estimates programs. The authoritative one-stop local snapshot for Asheville's home county.

Datapoints: median household income; per capita income; persons in poverty; median gross rent; median home value; homeownership rate; Total population and population change; Persons in poverty (percent); Median household income and per capita income; Median value of owner-occupied housing units; median gross rent; Owner-occupied housing unit rate; total housing units; Age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, health insurance coverage

Food Insecurity Screening in Pediatric Primary Care: Can Offering Referrals Help Identify Families in Need? (food-insecurity clinical screening)

primary-academicnationalarticleAcademic PediatricsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Study testing the HFSSM 6-item short form plus a referral menu in pediatric primary care, supporting AAP/FRAC recommendations to screen for and act on food insecurity in clinical settings.

Datapoints: Use of HFSSM 6-item short form in well-child visits; Referral menu: food pantries, hot meals, SNAP, WIC; Relationship between food insecurity and referral uptake; Feasibility of clinic-based food-insecurity intervention

The Effects of Exposure to Better Neighborhoods on Children: New Evidence from the Moving to Opportunity Experiment (Chetty, Hendren & Katz)

othernationalarticleAmerican Economic Review (AEA) / Opportunity InsightsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Highly-cited reanalysis of HUD's Moving to Opportunity housing-voucher experiment, linking voucher-induced moves to lower-poverty neighborhoods in childhood to large gains in adult earnings, college attendance, and reduced single parenthood. Central evidence on housing mobility and economic opportunity.

Datapoints: American Economic Review 2016, 106(4):855-902; DOI 10.1257/aer.20150572; MTO experiment: 4,604 low-income families, 5 cities (1994-1998); Children moving before age 13: +$3,477 (~31%) adult annual income vs control; Increased college attendance, reduced single parenthood; exposure-duration effect; American Economic Review 2016, 106(4):903-934; DOI 10.1257/aer.20130375; Reduced adult incidence of metabolic syndrome (obesity, hypertension, diabetes); Increased economic self-sufficiency for women; Panel Study of Income Dynamics linked to county/birth-cohort FSP exposure

Eviction and the Reproduction of Urban Poverty (Desmond, 2012)

primary-academicnationalarticleAmerican Journal of Sociology (University of Chicago Press)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Landmark peer-reviewed study (AJS 118(1):88-133) establishing eviction as a cause, not merely a condition, of poverty, based on Milwaukee fieldwork and statistical analysis.

Datapoints: eviction prevalence in low-income communities; eviction as driver of poverty; racial and gender disparities in eviction; residential instability mechanisms

American Journal of Public Health (AJPH)

othernationalorg-hubAmerican Public Health Association (APHA)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Flagship public-health journal of APHA, a major outlet for peer-reviewed studies on the health effects of housing instability, homelessness, and food insecurity, and population-level interventions.

Datapoints: population health and social-determinants research; homelessness and health studies; food insecurity-disease associations; health-equity and disparities analyses; public-health intervention evaluations

Food Insecurity and Hypoglycemia Among Safety Net Patients With Diabetes

primary-govnationalarticleArchives of Internal Medicine (JAMA Network)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Multicenter study finding that food insecurity significantly increases the risk of dangerous hypoglycemic episodes among low-income patients managing diabetes.

Datapoints: Food insecurity associated with higher odds of hypoglycemia among diabetic safety-net patients; Links economic barriers to nutrition with disease-management risk

Food Insecurity and Hypoglycemia Among Safety Net Patients with Diabetes (Seligman et al.)

primary-academicnationalarticleArchives of Internal Medicine / JAMA Internal MedicineAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Influential study documenting that food insecurity is associated with hypoglycemia and poor diabetes self-management among low-income patients, including end-of-month hospitalization spikes. Anchors the food-insecurity-and-chronic-disease evidence base.

Datapoints: Arch Intern Med 2011; PMID 21747017; Association between food insecurity and self-reported hypoglycemia; End-of-month hospital admissions for hypoglycemia in low-income populations; Links to medication 'scrimping' and poor glycemic control (elevated HbA1c)

Children's HealthWatch

primary-academicnationalorg-hubBoston Medical Center (founded by Dr. Deborah Frank, 1998)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Nonprofit pediatric research network that documents how economic hardship, food insecurity, and housing instability affect young children's health, and develops clinical screening tools. Originator of the 'Hunger Vital Sign' two-question food-insecurity screener.

Datapoints: food insecurity rates among families with young children; child health outcomes (fair/poor health, hospitalization, anemia, developmental risk); housing-instability and child-health linkages; SNAP/WIC policy impact research; multisite sentinel data (Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Little Rock); Hunger Vital Sign food-insecurity screening tool; Food insecurity and child health outcomes; Housing instability and child health; Energy insecurity / utility hardship indicators

eScholarship (University of California Open Access Repository)

othernationalorg-hubCalifornia Digital Library, University of CaliforniaAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Open-access institutional repository and publishing platform for University of California research, hosting peer-reviewed articles, working papers, and dissertations including studies on housing, poverty, food insecurity, and health that are otherwise paywalled.

Datapoints: Free full-text access to UC scholarly works; Stable item URLs (uc/item identifiers); Coverage spans housing, poverty, public health, and social policy research

Community Servings - Medically Tailored Meals & Healthcare Utilization Study

othernationalreportCommunity Servings (servings.org)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Landmark study finding that medically tailored meals (food as medicine) for chronically ill, food-insecure patients significantly cut hospital and skilled-nursing admissions and overall costs. Anchor evidence linking food insecurity to health-system spending.

Datapoints: 807 meal recipients analyzed via Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database (2011-2015); $753 lower monthly healthcare cost per person (16% reduction: $3,838 vs $4,591); Fewer inpatient and skilled-nursing-facility admissions; Published in JAMA Internal Medicine (April 2019); funded by RWJF Evidence for Action; 807 recipients studied (2011-2015 MA All-Payer Claims Database); $753/person/month cost reduction (16% savings); Fewer inpatient and skilled nursing facility admissions

Health Care and Public Service Use - Project-Based Housing First 2-Year Alcohol Trajectories (Collins, Larimer et al.)

primary-govnationalarticleDrug and Alcohol Dependence (PMC)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Follow-on to the Larimer JAMA study showing alcohol consumption declined over two years among chronically homeless residents in a permitted-drinking Housing First program, countering the assumption that low-barrier housing increases drinking.

Datapoints: Within-subjects analysis over 24 months; PMC3487630; Declining alcohol-use trajectories after entering housing; Reductions in alcohol-related problems; Project-based (single-site) Housing First model

Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA) Documentation v5.0

primary-academicnationaldatasetEducational Opportunity Project, Stanford UniversityAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Technical documentation for the Stanford Education Data Archive, which provides nationally comparable measures of academic achievement, learning rates, and socioeconomic context for U.S. school districts, counties, and metros. Used to study educational opportunity gaps tied to neighborhood poverty and segregation.

Datapoints: District/county/metro average test-score (achievement) estimates; Learning rates and trends over grades 3-8; Socioeconomic status (SES) composite covariates; Achievement gaps by race/ethnicity and economic disadvantage; District-level average test-score performance (grades 3-8); Learning rates and achievement growth over time; Achievement gaps by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status; Socioeconomic composition of school districts; Geographic coverage at district, county, metro, and state levels; Standardized test achievement by district/county/school; Socioeconomic status composite measures; Learning rate and trend measures over grades/years

National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Highway Administration (U.S. DOT)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

The authoritative national survey of personal and household travel behavior, capturing commuting patterns, vehicle ownership, and trip-making by demographic group. Used to study transportation burden, car dependence, and access to jobs/services among low-income households.

Datapoints: Travel behavior, mode choice, and demographic relationships; Household vehicle ownership and trip-making patterns; Supports transportation-cost-burden and equity analysis

Food Is Medicine Massachusetts — Research Library (medically tailored meals)

othernationalorg-hubFood Is Medicine Massachusetts (Community Servings / academic partners)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Curated hub of peer-reviewed studies on medically tailored meals and Food Is Medicine interventions, anchoring the Seth Berkowitz citation graph (JAMA Internal Medicine, Health Affairs) on health outcomes and cost.

Datapoints: reduced inpatient admissions and ED visits; net medical cost savings per patient-month; dietary quality improvements in food-insecure diabetics

Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHS)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubHarvard UniversityAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Research center at Harvard producing authoritative analysis and data on housing markets, affordability, and demographics. Home of flagship annual reports including The State of the Nation's Housing and America's Rental Housing.

Datapoints: State of the Nation's Housing annual report; America's Rental Housing report; renter and owner cost-burden shares; housing affordability and supply trends; interactive cost-burden data tool; 43% of lower-income renter households reduce/skip food or medicine to pay energy bills; 21% of those make the tradeoff almost every month; Renter vs. owner energy-burden disparities; Housing-quality drivers of energy insecurity; State of the Nation's Housing (annual); America's Rental Housing (biennial); Improving America's Housing (remodeling); Housing affordability and cost-burden research; Housing markets and demographics analysis

Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes (Gundersen & Ziliak)

primary-academicnationalreviewHealth AffairsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

The single most-cited review article synthesizing the association between food insecurity and health across the life course (children, non-senior adults, seniors). The standard citation for the food-insecurity-health link and for clinical screening recommendations.

Datapoints: Health Affairs 2015;34(11):1830-1839; DOI 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0645; PMID 26526240; Food-insecure children >=2x as likely to report fair/poor health; >=1.4x asthma; Food-insecure seniors have ADL limitations comparable to food-secure seniors 14 years older; Adult associations with diabetes, hypertension, depression, poor chronic-disease control; food insecurity-chronic disease associations (diabetes, hypertension); mental-health and child-development effects; health-care cost burden of food insecurity; SNAP and policy levers

Consumer choice principle in Housing First (Tsai et al. / Housing Studies 2021)

primary-academicnationalarticleHousing Studies (Taylor & Francis)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Peer-reviewed corroboration of the consumer-choice/self-determination core principle of Housing First.

Datapoints: Tenants choose housing and direct their own services as a defined core HF principle

Health Care and Public Service Use and Costs Before and After Provision of Housing for Chronically Homeless Persons With Severe Alcohol Problems (Larimer et al.)

primary-academicnationalarticleJAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Landmark 2009 quasi-experimental study (Seattle 1811 Eastlake, Housing First with permitted drinking) showing large public-cost reductions after housing chronically homeless adults with severe alcohol problems. One of the most-cited cost-offset studies in the Housing First literature.

Datapoints: JAMA 2009;301(13):1349-1357; 95 housed vs 39 wait-list control participants; Median monthly per-person cost reduction over time after housing; Reductions in jail, sobering center, ED, and hospital use

Examining Excess Mortality Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic for Renters Threatened With Eviction (Hepburn, Desmond et al.)

primary-govnationalarticleJAMA (PMC)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Eviction Lab study linking eviction filings to dramatically elevated mortality during the pandemic, the most prominent recent eviction-and-mortality paper. Establishes eviction as a population-health exposure.

Datapoints: JAMA 2024; ~282,000 renters with eviction filings (Jan 2020-Aug 2021); Observed mortality 106% higher than expected among the eviction-threatened; 25% higher among similar renters; 9% higher in general population; Excess-mortality methodology by eviction-filing exposure

Theorizing Pathways Between Eviction Filings and Increased Mortality Risk

primary-govnationalarticleJAMA / PubMedAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Companion piece to the eviction excess-mortality study, articulating the causal mechanisms (stress, displacement, lost healthcare access, material hardship) connecting eviction filings to death.

Datapoints: PMID 38497705; Mechanistic pathways from eviction to mortality; Role of chronic stress and displacement; Loss of healthcare continuity and medication access

Medically Tailored Meal Delivery for Diabetes Patients with Food Insecurity: A Randomized Cross-over Trial (Berkowitz et al.)

primary-govnationalarticleJournal of General Internal MedicineAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Randomized cross-over trial showing medically tailored meals improved dietary quality and food security and reduced hypoglycemia among food-insecure adults with diabetes. Key randomized evidence for the Food Is Medicine movement.

Datapoints: Randomized cross-over trial; PMID 30421335; Improved Healthy Eating Index dietary quality; Reduced food insecurity during meal-delivery period; Reduced self-reported hypoglycemia

Food Insecurity, Hypoglycemia and Poor Diabetes Self-Management in a Low-Income Sample (Seligman et al.)

primary-govnationalarticleJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved / PubMedAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Early Seligman study establishing the association between food insecurity, hypoglycemia, and poor diabetes self-management, frequently paired with the JAMA hypoglycemia paper in the food-insecurity-diabetes literature.

Datapoints: PMID 21099074; Food insecurity associated with self-reported hypoglycemia; Poorer diabetes self-management behaviors; Low-income clinic sample

Measuring Food Security in the United States for More Than 25 Years: History, Methods, Findings, and Opportunities (Coleman-Jensen et al.)

othernationalreviewJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Authoritative retrospective on the development, validation, and application of U.S. food-security measurement, the definitive methods citation for the HFSSM and the USDA food-security classification system.

Datapoints: History and Rasch-model basis of the HFSSM; Definitions of food security, low, and very low food security; National prevalence trends since 1995; Measurement limitations and future directions

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Permanent Supportive Housing: Evaluating the Evidence (2018)

othernationalreportNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and MedicineAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Consensus study reviewing the evidence on permanent supportive housing and Housing First, finding reliable housing-stability gains without consistent health-outcome gains. A core evidence base for supportive-housing policy.

Datapoints: 6 controlled cost studies reviewed; 3 showed net savings (up to $33,500/person/yr); 3 showed modest net cost; Reviewed six controlled studies: three showed net savings up to ~$33,500/person/yr; three showed modest net cost; PSH improves housing stability; clinical effects more limited; Permanent supportive housing reliably improves housing stability; Health outcomes do not consistently improve from housing alone; Reviewed six controlled cost studies: three showed net savings (up to ~$33,500/person/year), three showed modest net cost; PSH reliably improves housing stability but not consistently health outcomes; Housing without services can worsen outcomes for the most vulnerable tenants

NBER Working Paper Series (housing, homelessness & food assistance)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubNational Bureau of Economic ResearchAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Pre-publication working-paper archive of leading economic research, including administrative-data studies on homelessness, safety-net participation (SNAP, HUD, Medicaid), and prevention.

Datapoints: income/employment of people experiencing homelessness; SNAP and housing-assistance participation; homelessness prevention and reduction evidence; mortality at the margins of society; linked tax + program administrative data

The Effects of Exposure to Better Neighborhoods on Children: New Evidence from the Moving to Opportunity Experiment (NBER w21156)

primary-academicnationalarticleNational Bureau of Economic ResearchAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Chetty, Hendren, and Katz study using tax data from the Moving to Opportunity experiment to estimate how moving to lower-poverty neighborhoods affects children's long-term outcomes.

Datapoints: Children who moved before age 13 had ~$3,477 (31%) higher annual adult income; Higher college attendance and better adult neighborhoods; Moves after age 13 showed negative effects

Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO) — Seattle/King County experiment

primary-academicnationalreportNational Bureau of Economic Research (Bergman, Chetty, DeLuca, Hendren, Katz, Palmer)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Randomized experiment testing whether housing-mobility counseling helps low-income families move to high-opportunity neighborhoods; a direct policy follow-on to the Opportunity Atlas and Moving to Opportunity.

Datapoints: share of families moving to opportunity areas with vs. without support; barriers to neighborhood choice; voucher-use patterns

NBER TAXSIM (Tax Microsimulation Model)

primary-academicnationaltoolNational Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

NBER's gold-standard tax microsimulation program that calculates federal and state income tax liabilities (and marginal rates) from survey-style microdata; TAXSIM35 accepts 35 input variables and returns tax, credits, and payroll-tax components, widely used to model after-tax income and benefit cliffs.

Datapoints: Federal and state income tax liability from individual data; Marginal tax on an additional $100 of earned income; TAXSIM35: 35 input variables (demographics, labor/capital income, deductions, credits); Taxable income, EITC/CTC and other credits, payroll taxes; All 50 states + DC, multiple tax years

TAXSIM (NBER tax calculator)

primary-academicnationaltoolNational Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Microsimulation tool that computes federal and state income tax liabilities and marginal/effective tax rates from survey data, widely used to model after-tax income, tax credits (EITC/CTC), and net resources of low-income households.

Datapoints: Federal tax law 1960-2024 (beta) and state tax law 1977 onward; Marginal and effective tax rates; EITC, Child Tax Credit, and other credit calculations; State-by-state tax liability comparisons; Interfaces for Stata, SAS, R, Python

Inside the War on Poverty: The Impact of Food Stamps on Birth Outcomes (Almond, Hoynes & Schanzenbach)

primary-academicnationalarticleNational Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) / Review of Economics and StatisticsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Quasi-experimental study showing that prenatal Food Stamp Program access increased birth weight, especially at the low end of the distribution, establishing a biological pathway from early-life food assistance to health.

Datapoints: NBER WP 14306; published Review of Economics and Statistics 2011; Increased mean birth weight from prenatal FSP exposure; Largest gains concentrated at lowest birth weights; Reduced incidence of low birth weight, larger effects for Black mothers

Social Capital I: Measurement and Associations with Economic Mobility (Chetty et al., Nature 2022)

othernationalarticleNature (Springer Nature); research by Opportunity Insights / Chetty, Jackson, Kuchler, Stroebel et al.Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Peer-reviewed study using 21 billion Facebook friendships to show that economic connectedness (cross-class friendship) is strongly associated with upward income mobility, a core paper behind the Social Capital Atlas. Full text is paywalled; open versions exist at NSF PAGES and MIT.

Datapoints: economic connectedness; upward income mobility correlation; friending bias; exposure by socioeconomic status; neighborhood-level social capital measures

The Impacts of Neighborhoods on Intergenerational Mobility (Chetty & Hendren, observational companion to MTO)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubOpportunity Insights / Quarterly Journal of EconomicsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Opportunity Insights paper hub providing the MTO reanalysis paper, replication data, and links to the broader neighborhoods-and-mobility research program, including downloadable datasets used in housing-mobility policy.

Datapoints: Causal place effects on children's adult earnings; Exposure-time model of neighborhood effects; Downloadable replication data and code; Links to Opportunity Atlas and county-level mobility estimates

Unstable Housing and Caregiver and Child Health in Renter Families (Sandel et al., Children's HealthWatch)

othernationalarticlePediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Large multi-site Children's HealthWatch study (22,324 households) linking housing instability to worse child and caregiver health, food insecurity, energy insecurity, foregone care, and developmental risk. A pillar of the housing-and-child-health evidence base.

Datapoints: Pediatrics 2018;141(2):e20172199; 22,324 households surveyed via clinic/ED; 34% reported housing instability; Instability associated with food and energy insecurity and foregone health care; Higher risk of fair/poor child and caregiver health, maternal depression, developmental risk

Eviction Lab (research hub, Princeton / Matthew Desmond)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubPrinceton University (The Eviction Lab)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

The national research hub built by Matthew Desmond's team, source of the first nationwide eviction database and the methods behind the eviction-and-health literature, with court-records data downloadable to the county and tract level.

Datapoints: Nationwide eviction-filing and eviction-judgment database; Eviction rates by state, county, and census tract; Demographic disparities in eviction (race, gender, children); Methodology and data-download portal

Health Affairs

primary-academicnationalorg-hubProject HOPEAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Leading peer-reviewed health-policy journal that frequently publishes research on social determinants of health, food insecurity, housing, and Food-Is-Medicine interventions and their cost/utilization effects.

Datapoints: food insecurity and health-outcome research; medically tailored meals cost/utilization estimates; social determinants of health policy; Medicaid/Medicare program evaluations; housing-and-health intervention studies

Tsai, Mares & Rosenheck 2010 — Housing First vs Residential Treatment First

primary-govnationalreportPsychological Services (American Psychological Association)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

The flagship randomized controlled trial of Housing First (Pathways to Housing) versus treatment-first/continuum-of-care, finding Housing First superior on housing retention with no increase in substance use or psychiatric symptoms. The single randomized head-to-head US trial in this evidence base.

Datapoints: Independent Housing First n=578 vs Residential Treatment First n=131; Cohen's d=0.4 on days housed; no difference in substance/mental-health/community-adjustment; RTF incurred higher substance-abuse service costs; Psychological Services 2010;7(4):219-232, PMC3151537; 1,242 enrolled CICH clients across 11 sites; Tests housing stability for chronically homeless adults; n=709, 11 sites, 2-year follow-up; No clinical advantage to treatment-first; more days housed for Housing First; doi:10.1037/a0020460; Independent Housing First spent more days housed; No between-group differences in substance/mental-health outcomes; Residential-Treatment-First incurred higher SA service costs; Randomized controlled trial design; Housing First superior on housing retention; No clinical penalty; not requiring sobriety did not increase substance use; Contrasted with Tsai et al. (2010), which is observational; IHF n=578 vs RTF n=131; More days housed (Cohen's d=0.4); no clinical advantage to treatment-first; Higher substance-abuse service cost in RTF

Montgomery, Kertesz et al. 2017 — HUD-VASH Housing First Fidelity

primary-govnationalreportPubMedAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Study of the VA's 85,000+ person HUD-VASH transition to Housing First, documenting high fidelity on cheap structural domains but lagging services/recovery fidelity - the empirical basis for the 'Housing Only' failure mode.

Datapoints: 85,000+ persons in HUD-VASH; high fidelity on no-precondition/rapid-housing domains; weak on services/recovery philosophy; 85,000+ person HUD-VASH rollout; High structural fidelity, low services-domain fidelity ('Housing Only' risk); Structural domains (no preconditions, rapid permanent housing) achieved high fidelity readily; Supportive-services and recovery-philosophy domains lagged at lower fidelity

Nutrition Interventions Addressing Food Insecurity as a Social Determinant of Health (Systematic Literature Review)

primary-govnationalarticlePubMed Central (NIH/NLM)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Systematic literature review of nutrition interventions (including produce prescriptions, food-is-medicine, and benefits enrollment) implemented to address food insecurity as a social determinant of health.

Datapoints: intervention types catalogued; effects on food-security status; effects on diet quality and health outcomes; healthcare-setting interventions; implementation outcomes

Medically Tailored Meals: A Case for Federal Policy Action (review)

primary-govnationalreportPubMed Central (peer-reviewed review article)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Synthesis review of the medically tailored meals evidence base and the policy case for federal coverage, a downstream node in the Berkowitz/Community Servings citation graph.

Datapoints: MTM health-outcome evidence summary; cost-effectiveness findings; federal coverage policy options

Eviction as a Community Health Exposure (review)

primary-govnationalreviewSocial Science & Medicine / NIH PMCAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Synthesis cataloging the health consequences linked to eviction, including mortality, COVID-19 infection, reduced healthcare access, food insecurity, adverse birth outcomes, child cognitive development, and mental health.

Datapoints: Catalog of eviction-linked health outcomes across studies; Pathways from eviction to mortality and acute care use; Eviction-food insecurity-mental health linkages; Birth outcomes and child development associations

The Pathways Housing First Fidelity Scale for Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities (Stefancic, Tsemberis et al. 2013)

othernationaltoolStefancic, A., Tsemberis, S., et al. (American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

The five-domain fidelity instrument used to measure whether a program is operating as true Pathways Housing First.

Datapoints: Five domains: housing choice/structure; separation of housing and services; service philosophy (harm reduction); service array; program/team structure

What Now? How to Move From Awareness to Action as a Strong Towns Advocate

othernationalarticleStrong TownsAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Strong Towns guidance on converting awareness of housing and land-use problems into local advocacy action. Strong Towns is a national pro-housing / fiscally-grounded urbanism organization.

Datapoints: awareness-to-action advocacy steps; local housing/land-use advocacy guidance

Housing Policy Debate (journal)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubTaylor & Francis (for the journal Housing Policy Debate)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Peer-reviewed journal publishing original research evaluating and informing U.S. housing and community-development policy since 1990, including affordable housing, poverty alleviation, and metropolitan development.

Datapoints: peer-reviewed housing affordability research; eviction and rental-assistance studies; zoning, gentrification, and tenant-protection scholarship

Housing Policy Debate

primary-academicnationalorg-hubTaylor & Francis (founded by Fannie Mae Foundation, 1990)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Leading peer-reviewed journal publishing original research that evaluates and informs housing and community-development policy. Hybrid open-access; spans affordable housing, housing instability and homelessness, finance, and the housing-health linkage.

Datapoints: affordable housing policy evaluation; housing instability and homelessness research; neighborhood revitalization and segregation; housing finance studies; housing-health/energy/transportation linkages; poverty-alleviation and integration strategies

Housing and Society (journal)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubTaylor & Francis, for the Housing Education and Research Association (HERA)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Peer-reviewed journal disseminating research on housing policy, design, social and economic aspects, gerontology, energy/environment, and program evaluation.

Datapoints: housing policy research; housing economics studies; social aspects of housing

The Government Created Housing Segregation. The Government Can End It.

othernationalarticleThe American Prospect (Kahlenberg & Quick, The Century Foundation)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Analytical article documenting how government policy (racial zoning, redlining, exclusionary zoning) engineered racial residential segregation and persisting wealth and opportunity gaps, with policy remedies including Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Datapoints: Black-white dissimilarity index (~0.526 in median metro); Middle-class Black families in higher-poverty neighborhoods than low-income white families; Racial wealth gap by education level; Policy levers: AFFH, fair-housing testing, Economic Fair Housing Act; black-white dissimilarity index of 0.526 in median metro areas; middle-class Black households ($100k+) live in neighborhoods comparable to white households under $30k; FHA policy holding Black residents an 'adverse influence on property values'; racial steering found in up to 15% of fair-housing tests; Black-white dissimilarity index of 0.526 (2013-2017 census analysis); Black median household net worth ~8% of white median; Black unemployment 17.4% in highly segregated areas (ages 25-34) vs 10.1% in moderately segregated; Discrimination testing: 30 of 70 Chicago properties showed discrimination

The Concentrated Geography of Eviction (Hepburn, Louis, Desmond et al.)

primary-govnationalarticleThe ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (PMC)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Eviction Lab analysis mapping the demographic and spatial concentration of eviction across the United States, foundational to understanding racial and neighborhood disparities in housing instability.

Datapoints: National eviction-filing rates by neighborhood and demographic group; Disproportionate eviction burden on Black women and children; Spatial concentration of evictions within metro areas; Eviction Lab nationwide court-records dataset

Attacking the Black-White Opportunity Gap That Comes from Residential Segregation

established-research-orgnationalreportThe Century Foundation (Richard D. Kahlenberg)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Report analyzing how government-engineered residential segregation drives the Black-White opportunity gap, with policy proposals to reduce economic and racial segregation in housing.

Datapoints: Middle-class Black households live in higher-poverty neighborhoods than low-income White households; Black households headed by a college graduate hold less wealth on average than White households headed by a high-school dropout; Federal/state/local segregation policy history

An Economic Fair Housing Act

established-research-orgnationalreportThe Century Foundation (TCF)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Report by Richard Kahlenberg proposing an Economic Fair Housing Act to make it illegal for municipalities to use exclusionary zoning that discriminates by income, documenting how zoning drives income and racial segregation.

Datapoints: Exclusionary zoning prevalence and minimum-lot-size effects; Matched-pair test: 21% callback for subsidy holders vs 61% for employment income; Links between income and racial segregation; Policy proposal text for an Economic Fair Housing Act

Medically Tailored Meal Programs Could Yield Significant Health Care Savings (Tufts study)

primary-academicnationalarticleTufts University (Food is Medicine Institute, Friedman School) / Tufts NowAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Reports a Health Affairs modeling study estimating that nationwide medically tailored meal (MTM) programs could save ~$23 billion in health care costs and prevent over 2.6 million hospitalizations annually. Includes state-by-state savings estimates.

Datapoints: ~$23 billion estimated annual health care savings; 2.6 million+ hospitalizations prevented per year; 14 million+ eligible Americans with diet-sensitive conditions; Connecticut highest per-patient savings ($6,299/yr); state-level per-patient savings and break-even thresholds

Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

HUD's free, peer-reviewed scholarly journal (launched 1994, three issues/year) sharing HUD-funded and external research on housing and urban policy. Each issue has Symposia (themed, guest-edited), Refereed Papers, and Departments sections.

Datapoints: affordable housing policy research; homelessness interventions; neighborhood revitalization studies; fair housing and segregation analyses; housing finance and assisted-housing evaluations; data-shop/graphic-detail data features

PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Free biomedical-literature index of >37M citations, the primary discovery tool for peer-reviewed studies on housing-first, food insecurity, and health outcomes; offers the E-utilities API and full-text links via PMC.

Datapoints: citation/abstract search across biomedical journals; MeSH-indexed topic retrieval; links to PubMed Central full text; E-utilities programmatic API; systematic-review and meta-analysis filters

Journal of Urban Affairs

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUrban Affairs Association / Taylor & FrancisAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Peer-reviewed journal of the Urban Affairs Association covering urban research including gentrification, displacement, housing, and the geography of poverty in metropolitan areas.

Datapoints: gentrification and displacement studies; urban housing markets; involuntary residential mobility; neighborhood change; metropolitan inequality; local governance and policy

USDA Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) - Survey Tools

primary-govnationaltoolUSDA Economic Research ServiceAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

The official, Rasch-validated instrument used to measure food insecurity in the United States since the 1990s; the gold-standard measurement tool underlying virtually all U.S. food-insecurity statistics and clinical screening short forms.

Datapoints: 18-item module (10 household/adult items + 8 child items); 6-item short form used in clinical/pediatric screening; Rasch-model calibration and food-security raw-score-to-status thresholds; Standardized Spanish-language HFSSM; U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (18-item); U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module (10-item); Six-Item Short Form module; Self-Administered Youth module (ages 12+); Scoring/classification guidance for food security status

More People Are Being Forced Into Addiction Treatment Under Section 35

othernationalarticleWBUR (Boston NPR member station)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

WBUR reporting on Massachusetts' Section 35, which allows involuntary civil commitment to addiction treatment without criminal charges, documenting its scale and mixed outcomes. A key real-world case study of compulsory-treatment policy.

Datapoints: FY2018: 10,770 Section 35 petitions filed, 7,244 evaluations, 5,716 commitments; Average commitment lasted about three weeks; nearly half had prior mental-health medication use; One study: those with involuntary-treatment history were 1.4x as likely to die of opioid-related overdose; 33.8% relapsed immediately on release; average time to relapse 72 days

Annie E. Casey Foundation — KIDS COUNT Data Center

established-research-orgstate-NCdatasetAnnie E. Casey FoundationAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

The premier source for data on child and family well-being in the United States, with thousands of indicators searchable nationally and by state, county, city, and congressional district. Covers economic well-being (child poverty, parental employment, housing cost burden), food security, health, education, and family/community measures.

Datapoints: children in households with high housing cost burden (>30% income); child poverty and economic well-being indicators; food/nutrition-related child outcomes; state and county comparisons (NC); trend scores since 2019; children in poverty; children receiving SNAP / food insecurity; children in households with high housing cost burden; 16 key well-being measures (economic, education, health, family/community); race/ethnicity disaggregation; downloadable CSV/Excel by geography; Children in poverty (count and rate) by state and county; Children living in households with a high housing cost burden (>30% of income); Children living in food-insecure households; Children without health insurance; Children in single-parent families and high-poverty areas; North Carolina profile with all indicators at state and county level; child poverty (below 100% / 150% / 200% FPL); child food insecurity rate; children in households with high housing cost burden (>30% of income); children whose parents lack secure employment; teens not in school and not working; low birthweight, uninsured children, and health indicators; Children in poverty (below 100% FPL) by state and county; Children in households spending >30% of income on housing (housing cost burden); Food/economic hardship and public assistance indicators; 16 core indicators across 4 domains; downloadable raw data tables (CSV/Excel); child poverty rates; children in food-insecure households; housing cost burden for families; child well-being indicators; data by race/sex/age; children below 100% poverty (national/state/county); children in households with a high housing cost burden; 16 indicators across economic well-being, education, health, family/community

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubDuke UniversityAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Duke University health-policy institute producing peer-reviewed and applied research on social determinants of health, food-is-medicine, and Medicaid interventions, with substantial North Carolina (Healthy Opportunities Pilots) focus.

Datapoints: NC Healthy Opportunities Pilots evaluation; food-and-housing health-related social needs research; Medicaid SDOH policy analysis; value-based care and food-is-medicine evidence

Estimated Impact of Medically Tailored Meals on Health Care Use and Expenditures in 50 US States

primary-academicstate-NCarticleHealth Affairs (Tufts Food is Medicine Institute)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Peer-reviewed modeling study estimating state-by-state (including North Carolina) health-care savings and avoided hospitalizations from medically tailored meals; cost-saving in 49 of 50 states.

Datapoints: ~$23B first-year national savings; ~2.6M hospitalizations avoided/year; per-patient savings by state (e.g., CT $6,299; PA $4,450; MA $4,331); state-level cost-saving status (NC included)

Association Between Receipt of a Medically Tailored Meal Program and Health Care Use (Berkowitz et al.)

primary-academicstate-NCarticleJAMA Internal MedicineAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Largest study to date linking medically tailored meals (Community Servings, Massachusetts) to fewer inpatient and skilled-nursing admissions and lower total medical spending. The flagship cost-effectiveness citation for medically tailored meals.

Datapoints: JAMA Intern Med 2019; DOI 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0198; 1,020 matched participants (499 MTM, 521 comparison); Inpatient admissions IRR 0.51; ~519 fewer admissions per 1,000 person-years; SNF admissions IRR 0.28; monthly cost $3,838 vs $4,591 (~16% reduction, ~$753/mo)

UNC Health / Blue Cross NC Produce Prescription Clinical Study

otherstate-NCarticleUNC Health / Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North CarolinaAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

North Carolina clinical study providing evidence that grocery/produce-card food-delivery models reduce food insecurity and improve blood-pressure outcomes; a state-level Food-Is-Medicine evidence point.

Datapoints: change in food-insecurity status; blood-pressure reductions; produce-prescription/grocery-card intervention design; NC participant outcomes

UNC Hunger Research (School of Government / Carolina Hunger Initiative)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

UNC's hunger-research hub compiling North Carolina county-level food-insecurity statistics and applied research; affiliated with the Carolina Hunger Initiative and the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

Datapoints: NC county-level food insecurity rates; child food insecurity by NC county; food-access and program-participation data; local hunger-intervention evaluations; County-level food insecurity rates; Child food insecurity rates; Overall NC food-insecurity prevalence (~10.9% adults, ~17% children, 2021)

Rafful et al. 2018 — Involuntary Drug Treatment and Non-Fatal Overdose Risk (Addiction)

primary-govglobalreportAddiction (Society for the Study of Addiction) via PubMedAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Longitudinal cohort of people who inject drugs in Tijuana finding past involuntary drug treatment associated with nearly a two-fold increase in non-fatal overdose odds, attributed to reduced tolerance after forced abstinence.

Datapoints: ~2x non-fatal overdose odds after involuntary treatment; Mechanism: tolerance loss after forced abstinence; PMID 29333664

BU AOD Health: Current Evidence (Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health)

primary-academicglobalorg-hubBoston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of MedicineAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Boston University's long-running expert review service summarizing peer-reviewed research on alcohol, other drug, and health topics, including substance use treatment outcomes and involuntary/compulsory care.

Datapoints: Expert commentary on peer-reviewed addiction-medicine studies; Coverage of compulsory/involuntary treatment outcomes and harm reduction

Bahji et al. 2023 — Effectiveness of Involuntary Treatment for SUD (systematic review)

otherglobalreportCanadian Journal of Addiction (Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

PRISMA systematic review (42 studies, 354,420+ participants) on involuntary treatment for substance use disorders, finding it predominantly increased length of stay but did not show lasting reductions in substance use; concludes lack of high-quality evidence to support or refute involuntary treatment.

Datapoints: 42 studies, 354,420+ participants; of 22 involuntary-vs-voluntary studies: 7 improvements (mostly retention), 10 negative, 5 nonsignificant; Canadian Journal of Addiction 2023;14(4):6-18; Systematic review of involuntary SUD treatment outcomes; Weak-to-negative effectiveness evidence; 42 studies; 354,420+ participants; Of 22 involuntary-vs-voluntary studies: 7 improvements, 10 negative, 5 nonsignificant; Of 22 voluntary-vs-involuntary studies: 7 improvements, 10 negative, 5 nonsignificant

Housing Improvements for Health and Associated Socio-Economic Outcomes (Cochrane Review)

otherglobalarticleCochrane Library (Thomson et al.)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Cochrane systematic review assessing the health and social impacts of improvements to the physical fabric of housing, with strongest evidence for warmth/energy-efficiency interventions among vulnerable residents.

Datapoints: health effects of housing-fabric improvements; warmth/energy-efficiency intervention outcomes; socio-economic outcomes of housing investment; evidence-quality grading

Ledberg & Reitan 2022 — Mortality After Discharge From Compulsory SUD Care (Sweden)

primary-govglobalreportDrug and Alcohol DependenceAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Swedish national-registry competing-risks cohort (7,929 individuals discharged from compulsory SUD care 2000-2017) documenting an acute post-discharge mortality spike driven by external-cause (overdose) deaths in those under age 36.

Datapoints: first two weeks post-discharge: death hazard 2.6 (95% CI 1.3-5.0) to 3.7 (2.4-5.9) times higher; overall mortality 7.1 per 100 person-years; Drug Alcohol Depend 2022;236:109492, PMID 35617775; 7,929 individuals, 6 months compulsory treatment; 494 deaths; elevated post-discharge mortality rate; First 2 weeks post-discharge: 2.6x-3.7x higher death hazard; Overall mortality 7.1 per 100 person-years; excess driven by overdose; HRR 2.6-3.7 for death in first 14 days post-discharge; Excess driven by overdose / external-cause deaths; One-year mortality 7.1 per 100 person-years

Loubiere et al. 2022 — Un Chez Soi d'Abord 4-Year Outcomes (Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences)

established-research-orgglobalreportFEANTSA / Epidemiology and Psychiatric SciencesAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

French multicentre intent-to-treat Housing First RCT (n~703, 48-month follow-up) finding significant advantages in autonomy (adjusted beta 2.6), sentimental life, and SF-36 mental composite, with no difference in self-reported mental symptoms - the strongest long-term non-U.S. autonomy/QoL confirmation.

Datapoints: n~703; 48-month follow-up; autonomy beta 2.6 (1.2-4.1); Higher housing stability, lower hospital use; No difference in self-reported mental symptoms or personal recovery; Autonomy advantage adjusted beta 2.6 (95% CI 1.2-4.1); Sentimental life beta 2.3 (95% CI 0.5-4.1); improved SF-36 mental composite; Higher housing stability, lower hospital use; no difference in self-reported mental symptoms

Google Scholar

otherglobaltoolGoogleAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Cross-disciplinary scholarly search engine indexing peer-reviewed articles, working papers, theses, and citations; useful for citation counts and forward-citation snowballing on housing and food-insecurity literature.

Datapoints: full-text and citation search across disciplines; cited-by forward citation tracking; author profiles and h-index metrics; version/PDF discovery for paywalled work

Housing and Health Inequalities: Synthesis of Systematic Reviews

primary-govglobalarticleHealth & Place (Elsevier) / PubMed CentralAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Synthesis of systematic reviews of interventions on pathways linking housing and health (internal conditions, area characteristics, tenure), mapping where the evidence is strongest.

Datapoints: three housing-health pathways framework; area-characteristic intervention evidence; warmth/energy-efficiency evidence; tenure and health associations

Werb et al. 2016 — Effectiveness of Compulsory Drug Treatment (systematic review)

primary-govglobalreportInternational Journal of Drug PolicyAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Systematic review of compulsory drug treatment finding little evidence it improves drug use or criminal recidivism vs alternatives, with some studies showing worse outcomes; concludes non-compulsory modalities should be prioritized.

Datapoints: 9 studies reviewed; no study majority showing benefit; 22% showed worse criminal recidivism; Int J Drug Policy 2016;28:1-9, PMID 26790691; 9 studies reviewed; ~78% found no significant positive impact; 2 studies found worse criminal-recidivism outcomes; PMID 26790691; doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.005; Most studies showed no positive impact vs alternatives; Some studies showed worse criminal-recidivism outcomes; 78% of studies found no positive impact; 22% found worse recidivism outcomes; Int J Drug Policy 2016;28:1-9

Werb et al. (2016) — The Effectiveness of Compulsory Drug Treatment: A Systematic Review

primary-academicglobalreportInternational Journal of Drug Policy (ScienceDirect)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Systematic review of compulsory/involuntary drug treatment outcomes finding little evidence of benefit and some evidence of harm, a core source for the coerced-vs-voluntary treatment evidence base.

Datapoints: Reviewed studies of compulsory drug treatment; No consistent evidence of benefit over voluntary treatment; Some studies showed harm

Baxter et al. 2019 — Effects of Housing First on Health (J Epidemiol Community Health/BMJ)

primary-govglobalreportJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health (BMJ) via PMCAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs finding Housing First reduces hospitalizations (IRR 0.76, I2=0%) and ED visits (IRR 0.63), with no clear difference in substance use and a non-significant mental-health effect (SMD 0.07); authors advise implementing HF as a housing intervention but not relying on it for health outcomes.

Datapoints: Hospitalizations IRR 0.76 (0.70-0.83, I2=0%); ED visits IRR 0.63 (0.48-0.82; I2=95%, 2 trials); Mental health SMD 0.07 (n.s.); Fewer hospitalizations: IRR 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.83; I2=0%); Fewer ED visits: IRR 0.63 (95% CI 0.48-0.82; p=0.0006); No clear difference in substance use; mental-health SMD 0.07 (n.s.)

Effect of a Housing First Intervention on Acute Health Care Utilization: Long-term Outcomes of the At Home/Chez Soi Randomized Pragmatic Trial

primary-govglobalarticleJournal of General Internal Medicine (PMC)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Seven-year follow-up of the Toronto At Home/Chez Soi site examining hospitalizations and emergency department use, a key citation for the cost/health-utilization case for Housing First.

Datapoints: 7-year follow-up of all-cause hospitalization; Mental-health-related hospitalizations; Emergency department visit rates; Acute care utilization trajectories vs usual care

Knowledge at Wharton - Portugal Drug Decriminalization Analysis

primary-academicglobalarticleKnowledge at Wharton, The Wharton School, University of PennsylvaniaAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

University-affiliated business-journal analysis of Portugal's 2001 drug decriminalization, weighing its early public-health gains against recent backsliding. Useful as a sourced, data-cited comparator for U.S. addiction and treatment-vs-criminalization policy debates.

Datapoints: Heroin users fell from 100,000 to 25,000 by 2018; lowest drug-related death rate in Western Europe at peak; HIV infections from injection drug use declined ~90%; program cost under $10 per citizen annually; Treatment enrollment fell from 1,150 to 352 (2015-2021); funding dropped from $82.7M to $17.4M; Adult illicit drug use rose from 7.8% (2001) to 12.8% (2022); overdoses at 12-year highs; Central lesson: decriminalization alone is insufficient without sustained treatment investment

At Home/Chez Soi — Goering et al. 2014 (MHCC pragmatic RCT)

primary-govglobalreportMental Health Commission of Canada / PubMed CentralAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Review synthesizing the Housing First evidence base alongside the At Home/Chez Soi demonstration, a convenient high-level citation summarizing housing-stability and service-use outcomes across trials.

Datapoints: 62% vs 31% stably housed (last 6 months); High-needs/ACT returned ~$9.60 per $10 invested; Synthesis of Housing First RCT evidence; Housing-retention findings across studies; Service-use and cost-offset summary; Fidelity dimensions of the Housing First model

Effectiveness of a Housing First intervention with intensive case management: At Home/Chez Soi randomized controlled trial (Aubry et al.)

otherglobalarticlePLOS ONE / Mental Health Commission of CanadaAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

A core paper from the At Home/Chez Soi multi-site RCT (n=2,148 across five Canadian cities), the largest randomized trial of Housing First for homeless adults with mental illness. Establishes the modern evidence base that Housing First produces durable housing stability versus treatment-as-usual.

Datapoints: RCT, 2,148 homeless adults with mental illness, 5 cities; Days stably housed: +39.7% (younger) / +43.9% (older) vs usual care at 24 months; Housing retention rates by need stratum (ICM vs ACT); Community functioning and quality-of-life secondary outcomes

At Home/Chez Soi — Latimer et al. 2019 Cost-Effectiveness (Housing First RCT)

primary-govglobalreportPMC / At Home/Chez Soi (Mental Health Commission of Canada)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Cost-effectiveness analysis from the Canadian At Home/Chez Soi RCT, finding service-cost reductions offset 46% of the $14,496/person/year program cost and +140.34 days of stable housing over 24 months.

Datapoints: 140.34 more days of stable housing over 24 months (95% CI 128.14-153.31); service-cost reductions offset 46% of $14,496/person/yr cost; ICER $56.08 per additional day of stable housing; Service cost reductions offset 46% of $14,496/person/year; +140.34 stable-housing days over 24 months; Cost offsets recovered 46% of the $14,496/person/year intervention cost (net $7,868; 95% CI $4,409-$11,405); Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $56.08 per additional day of stable housing

Lachaud/Stergiopoulos et al. 2021 — Housing First Health-Service Use by Need Level (Toronto)

primary-govglobalreportPubMed / At Home/Chez Soi TorontoAcademic & peer-reviewed literature

Toronto At Home/Chez Soi analysis showing Housing First cuts hospital and ER use for high-need clients with ACT but increases acute-care use for moderate-need clients with ICM, establishing that service modality drives the cost result.

Datapoints: high-need+ACT: fewer hospital days (RRR 0.32) and ER visits (RRR 0.57); moderate-need+ICM: increased hospitalizations (RRR 1.69) and ER visits (RRR 1.42); High-need+ACT: fewer hospital days (RRR 0.32) and ER visits (RRR 0.57); Moderate-need+ICM: more hospitalizations (RRR 1.69) and ER visits (RRR 1.42); High-need HF+ACT: fewer hospital days (RRR 0.32) and ED visits (RRR 0.57); Moderate-need HF+ICM: increased hospitalizations (RRR 1.69) and ED visits (RRR 1.42)

Aubry et al. 2019 Moncton At Home/Chez Soi RCT

primary-govglobalreportPubMed Central (Aubry, T., et al.)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Moncton site RCT (N=201) of Housing First with ACT, reporting time-to-housing and stability outcomes.

Datapoints: HF+ACT housed far faster: 23.30 vs 88.25 days (Cohen's d=1.02); Housed all of the time in final 6 months: 79.6% vs 55.5% (p=0.003)

Association of Food Insecurity and Risk of Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

primary-govglobalarticlePubMed Central (NIH/NLM)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Systematic review and meta-analysis of large-scale cohorts quantifying the association between household food insecurity and all-cause mortality risk.

Datapoints: pooled hazard/odds ratios for mortality; dose-response by food-insecurity severity; cohort sample sizes and follow-up; subgroup mortality effects

Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

primary-govglobalarticlePubMed Central (NIH/NLM)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Meta-analysis (>300,000 individuals, ~19 studies, 10 countries) linking food insecurity with depression, anxiety, and stress, quantifying increased odds across mental-health outcomes.

Datapoints: odds of depression (+~40%); odds of stress (+~34%); odds of anxiety (North America +~29%); psychological-distress association; cross-country pooled estimates

Health Outcomes Following Childhood/Adolescent Household Food Insecurity: Rapid Systematic Review

primary-govglobalarticlePubMed Central (NIH/NLM)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Rapid systematic review synthesizing associations between household food insecurity in childhood/adolescence and general health, asthma, dental caries, and mental-health outcomes.

Datapoints: fair/poor health status odds (~2x); asthma risk (~1.4x); dental caries associations; child mental-health outcomes; developmental and academic effects

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition

primary-academicglobalorg-hubTaylor & Francis (since 2006)Academic & peer-reviewed literature

Double-blind peer-reviewed journal examining hunger, food access, food and water security, food systems, and the interconnection of food production with nutrition and health, at local, national, and international scales.

Datapoints: food security and food access research; food systems and food waste; nutrition-environment linkages; food-assistance program studies; agriculture and natural-resources nutrition; community food-environment interventions

Local Housing Solutions (Abt Associates + NYU Furman Center)

othernationaltoolAbt Associates and NYU Furman CenterOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Local-housing data tools and a policy library for policymakers, including a local-data-for-housing analyzer. A policymaker toolkit, not a public explainer.

Datapoints: Local housing-market indicators by jurisdiction; Cost-burden and affordability metrics; Housing policy library and option matrix

Local Housing Solutions (Abt Associates + NYU Furman Center)

othernationaltoolAbt Associates and the NYU Furman CenterOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Policymaker toolkit of local-housing data tools and a housing-policy library. National scope; no food or local-narrative content.

Datapoints: local-housing policy library; housing-data tools for policymakers

MEPS-HC Data Tools (Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Household Component)

primary-govnationaldashboardAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. HHSOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Interactive data tools producing nationally representative estimates of health care use, spending, insurance coverage, and access from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a key source for medical-cost burden among low-income households.

Datapoints: Health care utilization and total/out-of-pocket expenditures; Health insurance coverage and enrollment; Access to and quality of care; Condition-specific spending and prescribed-drug costs; Breakdowns by income, demographics, and insurance status

ARC Research, Evaluations, Maps and Data

primary-govnationalorg-hubAppalachian Regional Commission (ARC)Open data, APIs & aggregators

ARC's research and data portal hosting reports, program evaluations, county economic status maps, thematic maps (poverty, geography, congressional districts), and a county-specific Data Report Tool covering 423 Appalachian counties.

Datapoints: Socioeconomic research reports (energy, transportation, infrastructure, workforce); County Economic Status maps by fiscal year; Interactive county-specific Data Report Tool; Program evaluations (e.g., ARISE initiative); Thematic maps: poverty rates, ZIP codes, congressional districts

Center for Public Enterprise — The $169 Billion Challenge (public housing preservation)

othernationalreportCenter for Public EnterpriseOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Analysis of the public housing capital-repair backlog and the cost of preserving the affordable housing stock. Cited for the scale of housing capital need vs. spending.

Datapoints: $169.1B preservation backlog across ~899,000 units (~$188,090/unit; $3,597/unit/yr aging); Prior estimate ~$26B (2010) grew to $169.1B (2025); Estimated $169 billion public housing capital-needs challenge; $169.1 billion to preserve ~899,000 public-housing units (~$188,090 per unit); Buildings aging at ~$3,597 per unit per year; Backlog roughly sextupled from ~$26 billion (HUD 2010 estimate) in 15 years; Public Housing Capital Fund ~$3.2 billion in FY2023; ~10,000 units lost/year to disrepair

Child Care Aware of America

othernationalorg-hubChild Care Aware of AmericaOpen data, APIs & aggregators

National nonprofit and child-care data hub publishing annual price-and-supply research and a Child Care Data Center, plus a CCR&R search to locate child-care resource and referral agencies. A key source for child-care affordability, a major component of family survival budgets.

Datapoints: Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply report; An Uneven Start 2026 (state child-care funding); State-by-state Child Care Data Center; Price of care by state and provider type; Child Care in America: annual Price & Supply report; An Uneven Start: state child-care funding analysis; State-by-state child-care price and access data (Child Care Data Center); CCR&R network search by location; An Uneven Start 2026 state-funding report; state-by-state child care cost data (Child Care Data Center); Child Care in America: Price & Supply (annual report); State-by-state child care price and supply data; An Uneven Start (state funding/access report)

Child Care Aware of America - Research & Data

othernationalreportChild Care Aware of America (CCAoA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

National research hub publishing annual child care price and supply analyses, state funding reports, and interactive data tools documenting child care affordability and access, a major cost driver for low-income working families.

Datapoints: Child Care in America: Price & Supply (annual prices, supply, share of family income); An Uneven Start (state child care funding, 44 states); child care cost vs. family income trade-offs; state snapshots and GIS mapping of child care needs; parent survey data on affordability

CRS Report R48413

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service (CRS)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Congressional Research Service product providing nonpartisan analysis for Congress on a federal safety-net / housing or nutrition policy topic, with statutory background and program data. CRS reports are authoritative reference material.

Datapoints: Statutory and legislative background; Program funding and appropriations context; Policy options and analysis for Congress

Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Home Price Index, Loan Performance & Single-Family Rent Index

othernationalreportCotality (formerly CoreLogic)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Commercial property-data firm; corelogic.com now redirects to cotality.com. Publishes widely cited monthly housing benchmarks: the Home Price Index (HPI), Loan Performance Insights (mortgage delinquency/foreclosure), and the Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI). Underlying datasets are proprietary; press releases and insights are public.

Datapoints: Home Price Index (HPI): repeat-sales index with 45+ years of transactions; 30-year HPI Forecasts; Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI): ~100 metros, four price tiers, national composite; Loan Performance Insights: mortgage delinquency, serious delinquency, and foreclosure rates; US Property Market Index (annual home-price change, forecast, home-equity change); US annual home price change (e.g. ~0.3% YoY, June 2026) and 12-month HPI forecast; Quarterly homeowner equity change ($ billions); 30+ years of repeat-sales home price history; market tiers by property type/price/loan type/distressed sales

Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Property & Housing Market Data

othernationaldatasetCotality (formerly CoreLogic)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Commercial property-intelligence platform offering nationwide property, home-price, home-equity, mortgage-performance, and climate/hazard-risk datasets. Publishes a monthly U.S. Property Market Index and a Home Price Index widely cited in housing-affordability and mortgage-delinquency reporting.

Datapoints: Annual and forecast home price change (Home Price Index / HPI); Quarterly home equity change in dollars; Mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates (Loan Performance Insights); 98%+ property coverage in major markets; ~30 years of historical data

Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA)

othernationaldatasetEducational Opportunity Project, Stanford UniversityOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Free national archive of academic-achievement and educational-opportunity measures for U.S. schools and districts, with an interactive explorer and downloadable files (Stata/CSV).

Datapoints: average test-score achievement (grades 3-8); achievement gaps by race & SES; learning rates / growth; school & neighborhood segregation; socioeconomic composition; geographies: school/district/county/CZ/metro/state

Esri Tapestry Segmentation Documentation

othernationalguidelineEsriOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Technical documentation for the Esri Tapestry segmentation system, describing segment definitions, LifeMode groupings, and the demographic variables used to classify neighborhoods.

Datapoints: Definitions of all 60 segments and 12 LifeMode groups; Underlying demographic and socioeconomic variables; Usage within ArcGIS Business Analyst

OpenFEMA Data Sets

primary-govnationalapiFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

FEMA's open-data catalog providing machine-readable datasets and APIs on disaster declarations, individual and public assistance, hazard mitigation grants, and flood insurance, useful for tracking disaster-driven displacement and housing recovery.

Datapoints: Disaster declarations summaries; Individual Assistance and Housing Assistance program data; Public Assistance funded projects; Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants; National Flood Insurance Program claims and policies; OpenFEMA API endpoints; disaster declarations summaries; Individuals and Households Program (IHP) awards; Housing Assistance program data by county/state

Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

primary-govnationalorg-hubFederal Housing Finance AgencyOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Independent federal agency overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks; publishes the authoritative FHFA House Price Index and a suite of mortgage-market and housing-finance datasets.

Datapoints: FHFA House Price Index (HPI) - quarterly/annual home value change, 50 states + 400+ cities; National Mortgage Database (NMDB) aggregate statistics; MIRS Transition Index (mortgage interest rate); Conforming loan limits; Duty to Serve and Enterprise Housing Goals data; Federal Home Loan Bank membership and underserved-areas data

Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

primary-govnationalorg-hubFederal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Independent federal agency overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Publishes the FHFA House Price Index and a suite of mortgage-market and housing-finance datasets used to track home values and credit access.

Datapoints: FHFA House Price Index (HPI): single-family home value change across all 50 states and 400+ cities (e.g., +1.7% YoY Q1 2026); National Mortgage Database (NMDB) aggregate statistics; MIRS Transition Index (mortgage interest rate series); Conforming loan limits; Enterprise Housing Goals and Duty to Serve performance data; Borrower Assistance Map dashboard

Center for Microeconomic Data (CMD) Data Bank

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Downloadable datasets behind the New York Fed's microeconomic research, including the Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit and the Survey of Consumer Expectations.

Datapoints: Household debt and credit balances (mortgages, student loans, credit cards, auto loans); Delinquency rates by debt type; Survey of Consumer Expectations: inflation, labor market, household-finance expectations; SCE Credit Access Survey: credit demand and access (fielded every 4 months); Breakdowns by age, geography, income, education

Household Debt and Credit Report - Q1 2026 Data (PDF)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Quarterly data release (Q1 2026) based on the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data, detailing total U.S. household debt and balances by loan type, originations, and delinquency. The authoritative national source for household-debt trends.

Datapoints: Total household debt $18.8 trillion (Q1 2026, +$18B); Mortgage balances $13.19 trillion; $530B newly originated; Student loan debt $1.66 trillion; $182 billion new auto loans; 4.8% of outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency

FRED: S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index (CSUSHPINSA)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) / S&P Dow Jones IndicesOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Monthly national home price index (not seasonally adjusted) measuring changes in U.S. single-family home values, hosted on FRED with full historical time series and API/download access.

Datapoints: National home price index level (Jan 2000 = 100); Month-over-month and year-over-year home price change; Long-run housing price time series

Georgetown Massive Data Institute (MDI)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubGeorgetown University McCourt School of Public PolicyOpen data, APIs & aggregators

University research institute applying data and computing to social-science and public-policy questions, including administrative-data research, data privacy, and preservation of at-risk public datasets. A credible academic source for methods and analysis underpinning poverty, mobility, and social-determinant research.

Datapoints: administrative data linkage; social policy research; data privacy and access methods; Data-science research advancing public-policy decision-making; Policy-shaping research outputs and methods; Resources and training in social-data methods; host of the Civil Justice Data Commons; social-policy and public-policy research outputs; data infrastructure and researcher training resources; Substantive research projects on public-policy outcomes; Data methods and responsible-data-use training resources; Affiliated with the McCourt School's policy research portfolio; Administrative Data Research Conference and associated methods work; Initiatives to preserve at-risk federal/public data; Substantive and methodological social-science research outputs

HRSA Area Health Resources Files (AHRF)

primary-govnationaldatasetHRSA National Center for Health Workforce AnalysisOpen data, APIs & aggregators

County-level data files combining 50+ sources on health professions, facilities, population characteristics, economics, and hospital utilization. A standard backbone dataset for county health and social-determinant profiles.

Datapoints: County-level health workforce and facility counts; Population and socioeconomic characteristics; Hospital utilization and access measures; Health workforce supply and facility distribution by county; Population characteristics and health indicators; Compiled from 50+ data sources

HUD Open Data / data.hud.gov Data Catalog

primary-govnationalorg-hubHUD Office of the Chief Data OfficerOpen data, APIs & aggregators

HUD's centralized open-data repository aggregating datasets on public housing, community development, fair housing, homelessness, and housing economics, with metadata and data dictionaries for each collection. Functions as the federal entry point for downloadable housing and homelessness data.

Datapoints: Public Housing and Multifamily property locations; Housing Choice Voucher tract-level data; Qualified Census Tracts / Difficult Development Areas; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties; USPS address vacancy data by tract; Public Housing developments; Housing Choice Voucher locations; Continuum of Care (CoC) boundaries; HUD field offices; Opportunity Zones; Multifamily properties; Difficult Development Areas / Qualified Census Tracts; Public housing and assisted-housing program data; Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) data; Fair housing datasets; Continuum of Care / homelessness program data; Housing Counseling Web Service API; Geospatial / mapping layers; Data dictionaries and metadata per dataset; Housing and community development datasets; GIS boundary files and geospatial layers; Housing counseling and other web-service APIs; Fair housing data

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD USEROpen data, APIs & aggregators

Custom tabulations of ACS data measuring housing need and affordability gaps for jurisdictions, counties, and tracts. The standard source for documenting cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened households for Consolidated Plans.

Datapoints: Cost-burdened households (>30% of income on housing); Severely cost-burdened households (>50%); Housing problems by HUD income category (extremely low, very low, low income); Renter vs. owner need by household type; Tract- and place-level affordability gaps

HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — dataset and API

primary-govnationalapiHUD USEROpen data, APIs & aggregators

Annual estimates of gross rent (rent plus utilities) by bedroom size for every metropolitan area and county, used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Available as downloadable tables and a documented REST API.

Datapoints: FMRs by unit size (efficiency through 4-bedroom); Metro-area and county/non-metro FMR areas; Small Area FMRs by ZIP code; 50th-percentile rent estimates; Historical FMR time series; FMR by bedroom size (0-4BR); metro/county-level rents; annual time series; payment-standard basis

Housing Affordability Data System (HADS)

primary-govnationaldatasetHUD USER / Data.govOpen data, APIs & aggregators

A set of analysis-ready microdata files derived from the national American Housing Survey (1985+) and Metro AHS (2002+), with housing units classified by affordability and household income relative to area medians.

Datapoints: Housing cost relative to adjusted income; Affordability categories by AMI percentage; Cost-burden flags for renters and owners; Derived AHS housing-unit-level variables; National and metro file vintages

ICPSR — housing & food-security data collections and thematic archives

primary-academicnationalorg-hubICPSR, University of MichiganOpen data, APIs & aggregators

The world's largest social-science data archive, organized by topic, series, and thematic collections. Hosts deposited housing and food-security studies including American Housing Survey files with the Food Security rotating module.

Datapoints: American Housing Survey national/metro files (e.g. Study 36801, 2015 + Food Security module); Thematic collections by topic and longitudinal series; Restricted and public-use food-assistance study deposits; Search by investigator, geography, and series

Energy Justice Lab

primary-academicnationalorg-hubIndiana University & University of PennsylvaniaOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Academic research lab measuring the equity and justice dimensions of the energy transition, publishing data tools on household energy insecurity, utility disconnections, and environmental justice.

Datapoints: Utility Disconnections Dashboard; INviroScreen environmental-justice map; Household energy insecurity research; Energy-program effectiveness analyses

ICE Mortgage Monitor & Home Price Index (ICE Mortgage Technology)

othernationalreportIntercontinental Exchange (ICE) Mortgage TechnologyOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Commercial mortgage data and analytics provider whose monthly Mortgage Monitor report (free executive summary) and ICE Home Price Index track home prices, mortgage delinquency/performance, equity, and affordability nationally and by metro; detailed datasets are commercial/paywalled.

Datapoints: Monthly Mortgage Monitor: delinquency, foreclosure, prepayment trends; ICE Home Price Index for national/metro home-price movements; Homeowner equity and affordability metrics; Underlying loan-level data is commercial (subscription)

IPUMS CPS

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS, University of MinnesotaOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Harmonized microdata from the monthly Current Population Survey (1962-present), including the supplements that produce official poverty, income, and food-security statistics.

Datapoints: labor force status & unemployment; household income; poverty (official & SPM); food security supplement; health insurance; demographic detail; monthly time series

IPUMS CPS — Food Security Supplement (FSS) sample and variable catalog

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS, University of MinnesotaOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Harmonized Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement microdata (1995-present), the source for national/state food-insecurity statistics. Household-level data on food spending, sufficiency, and assistance-program use.

Datapoints: 18-item household food security scale (raw and recoded status); Food expenditures and spending needed to meet needs; Food pantry / community kitchen use; SNAP, WIC, and school-meal participation; ASEC poverty/SPM linkage variables (ASECWT, ASECWTH)

IPUMS NHGIS — National Historical GIS

othernationaldatasetIPUMS, University of MinnesotaOpen data, APIs & aggregators

U.S. census summary tables, time series, and GIS boundary files from 1790 to the present, at geographies from states down to blocks, with API and R/Python package access.

Datapoints: population & housing summary tables; GIS boundary shapefiles (states/counties/tracts/blocks); standardized time series; geographic crosswalks; place points; 1790-present coverage

IPUMS USA — harmonized Census/ACS microdata sample and variable catalog

primary-academicnationaldatasetIPUMS, University of MinnesotaOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Harmonized U.S. census and ACS microdata from 1850 to the present, delivered as custom extracts via web interface or API. The standard source for individual-level historical and current population research.

Datapoints: OWNERSHP (tenure: owned vs. rented); RENT / RENTGRS (contract and gross rent); VALUEH (home value); MORTGAGE; FOODSTMP (household SNAP/food-stamp receipt); UNITSSTR (units in structure); HHINCOME; POVERTY ratio; ACS 1-year/5-year and decennial samples 2000-2024; person/household microdata; income & poverty; housing tenure & costs; employment & occupation; education; migration; race/ethnicity/ancestry; PUMA geography; consistent variable definitions across decades

Kilts Center NielsenIQ Retail Scanner & Consumer Panel Data

primary-academicnationaldatasetKilts Center for Marketing, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (NielsenIQ data)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Academic-access NielsenIQ datasets covering household purchase panels and store-level retail scanner data nationwide, capturing prices paid, quantities, and promotions. A primary research source for food-price, consumption, and cost-of-living analysis.

Datapoints: Consumer Panel: 40,000-60,000 households recording purchases via in-home scanners (since 2004); Retail Scanner: weekly price/volume from 90+ chains, 35,000-50,000 stores (since 2006); Captures dates, locations, prices, deals/coupons across all retail channels

LexisNexis Risk Solutions - Real Estate & screening data (commercial)

othernationaltoolLexisNexis Risk SolutionsOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Commercial data-broker platform whose Real Estate, MIDEX mortgage-data-exchange, and Accurint products feed rental-screening, mortgage-fraud, and consumer-identity decisions. Listed for context on the proprietary data layer behind housing-access screening; not an open authoritative dataset.

Datapoints: MIDEX mortgage industry data exchange; Accurint people/locate and collections data; Identity verification (InstantID, TrueID); Inputs used in tenant- and credit-screening decisions

Moody's Analytics (Economy.com) Economic and Housing Data

othernationaldatasetMoody's AnalyticsOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Commercial economic-data and forecasting platform covering U.S. and subnational housing, labor markets, consumer credit, and commercial real estate. Includes exclusive Case-Shiller-based house-price forecasts and housing-affordability monitoring; data delivered via the Data Buffet platform and API.

Datapoints: U.S. House Price Index and house-price forecasts (Case-Shiller-based); Forecast: U.S. Housing Stock (supply, demand, foreclosures) at national/subnational level; CRE space/capital market databases across 400+ metro areas; Housing affordability monitoring; Data Buffet API/Excel add-in delivery

Moody's Analytics — Economic Data & Analysis

othernationaldatasetMoody's AnalyticsOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Commercial economic data and forecasting platform widely cited for housing-market, rent, mortgage, and cost-of-living analytics; most detailed datasets are subscription-gated.

Datapoints: economic and housing-market forecasts; rent and affordability analytics; regional and metro economic indicators

National Association of Counties (NACo) Resources & County Explorer

othernationalorg-hubNational Association of CountiesOpen data, APIs & aggregators

National organization representing 3,069 county governments, providing housing-policy resources, a resource library, and the County Explorer comparative county-data tool covering demographic and economic indicators.

Datapoints: County Explorer comparative county data (ce.naco.org); Housing-policy briefs and toolkits; Federal-funding analyses affecting counties (FEMA, PILT, appropriations)

National Housing Conference

othernationalorg-hubNational Housing Conference (NHC)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Affordable-housing research and advocacy coalition publishing housing-affordability data tools and reports, including the Paycheck to Paycheck database and the Priced Out report, plus a federal housing policy research library.

Datapoints: Paycheck to Paycheck database (whether working households can afford typical housing by metro/occupation); Housing Research Center / federal housing policy analysis; Employer Assisted Housing toolkit; Tenant protections, supply-side, and homeownership research; Paycheck to Paycheck: wages needed to afford typical housing in metro areas by occupation; Priced Out report on housing affordability vs. wages; Employer Assisted Housing Toolkit; Housing Research Center policy library; Paycheck to Paycheck database: wages needed to afford housing by metro area and occupation; Housing Research Center / federal housing policy resources; Employer-Assisted Housing toolkit; Affordability and homeownership analyses

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

primary-govnationaltoolNOAA / U.S. Global Change Research ProgramOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Federal toolkit helping communities assess and address climate-related risks, with 100+ data tools, hazard maps, case studies, and a structured Steps to Resilience framework.

Datapoints: Steps to Resilience framework (exposure, vulnerability, risk, planning); 100+ climate data and mapping tools; hazard-specific case studies (drought, heat, flooding, wildfire); funding and grant resources via NOAA Digital Coast

Largest housing affordability bill in decades passes Congress

othernationalarticleNPROpen data, APIs & aggregators

NPR coverage of Congress passing the largest housing affordability bill in decades, summarizing the legislation's main provisions for housing supply and affordability.

Datapoints: Largest federal housing affordability bill in decades; Housing-supply and affordability provisions

The Opportunity Atlas (Interactive Map)

othernationalinteractive-mapOpportunity Insights & U.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Census-tract-level interactive map of children's later-life economic outcomes by parental income, race, and gender, linking where children grow up to their adult earnings, incarceration, and poverty rates. Allows drill-down to neighborhood-level mobility for any U.S. county including Buncombe and WNC.

Datapoints: adult household income by childhood tract; incarceration rates; teenage birth rates; employment rates; college attendance; outcomes by parent-income percentile; outcomes by race/sex; county & metro mobility trends (Module 2); predicted adult household income by childhood neighborhood and parental income percentile; upward-mobility rate for children raised in low-income families; outcomes broken out by race/ethnicity and gender; tract, county, and commuting-zone geographies

Opportunity Atlas - Neighborhoods and Economic Mobility

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapOpportunity Insights (Harvard University)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Research hub and interactive atlas showing how the neighborhood a child grows up in shapes adult economic outcomes, with mobility estimates across ~70,000 U.S. neighborhoods.

Datapoints: Neighborhood-level income mobility across ~70,000 neighborhoods; Outcomes: incarceration, college attendance, marriage, fertility; Within-city variation in upward mobility

Social Capital Atlas

othernationalinteractive-mapOpportunity Insights (Harvard University)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Interactive atlas and downloadable dataset measuring social capital, especially economic connectedness (cross-class friendship), across U.S. ZIP codes, counties, high schools, and colleges, built from privacy-protected Facebook friendship data on 21 billion friendships. Economic connectedness is among the strongest neighborhood predictors of upward income mobility out of poverty.

Datapoints: economic connectedness (share of high-SES friends among low-SES individuals); cohesiveness (clustering/support ratio) and civic engagement (volunteering rates); ZIP-code, county, high-school, and college-level estimates; 100x100 friending-rate matrix by socioeconomic status; Economic connectedness (cross-class friendship) by county and ZIP code; Cohesiveness (clustering / support ratio) of friendship networks; Civic engagement measures; Estimated 20% adult-income gain for low-SES children in high-connectedness counties; economic connectedness (cross-class friendship) by county/ZIP/school; cohesiveness (network clustering); civic engagement measures; association: low-SES children in high-EC counties see ~20% higher adult income; downloadable datasets by geography; Economic connectedness (share of high-SES friends among low-SES individuals) by county, ZIP, high school, college; Cohesiveness (clustering / support ratio of friendship networks); Civic engagement (volunteering rates, civic organization membership); Estimated 20% lifetime income gain for low-SES children raised in high-connectedness counties

The Opportunity Atlas — Neighborhood Social Mobility Map & Data

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapOpportunity Insights, Harvard (Chetty, Hendren, Friedman, Jones, Porter)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Downloadable repository (CSV plus README) of research-grade datasets on economic mobility, neighborhoods, social capital, college mobility report cards, and the COVID-era Economic Tracker, organized by geography (tract, county, commuting zone, state, national) and topic.

Datapoints: adult income by childhood tract; upward mobility by race and parental income; neighborhood causal-effect estimates; affordable high-opportunity tracts; intergenerational mobility by tract; Mobility Report Cards (colleges); migration patterns by race/income; Social Capital Atlas (friending/connectedness); credit access by county; life expectancy by income percentile; COVID Economic Tracker (employment/spending); Social Capital I & II files (county, ZIP, high-school, college); Mobility Report Cards (college-level access and mobility); Economic Tracker (employment, consumer spending, small business, UI claims); neighborhood and racial-disparity mobility tables

PolicyMap — Data Directory (indicator catalog)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubPolicyMapOpen data, APIs & aggregators

A directory of 10,000+ mapped indicators drawn from 65+ public and proprietary sources (Census, IRS, USDA, HUD, and others), listing data years and the smallest available geography for each indicator family.

Datapoints: Demographics (population, race/ethnicity, households, migration); Incomes & Spending (income, poverty, IRS tax returns, economic mobility, AMI, location affordability); Housing (vacancy, affordability, cost burden, federal housing programs); Per-indicator data years and geography level (national to census tract); Per-source documentation links

PolicyMap

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapPolicyMap (TRF affiliate)Open data, APIs & aggregators

A data visualization and analytics platform that maps thousands of standardized U.S. socio-economic datasets (housing, demographics, income, health, lending) at neighborhood-to-national scale. Widely used by researchers, nonprofits, and government for place-based housing and poverty analysis (freemium; deeper data behind subscription).

Datapoints: Housing affordability and cost burden by tract; Income and poverty indicators; Food access (incl. Map the Meal Gap layers); Lending and demographic data; Rental costs, vacancy rates, and housing affordability indicators; HUD Fair Market Rents layer; Mortgage and home-value data by tract; Tract-level demographic overlays; demographics & income; housing prices & affordability; lending (HMDA); health outcomes; education; quality-of-life indices; custom geography aggregation; proprietary API-only indicators; Housing and economic development indicators; Demographic and Census/American Community Survey data; Community health metrics; Income and poverty data by neighborhood; Mortgage / lending (HMDA) data; Neighborhood-level standardized indicators

National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD)

othernationaldatasetPublic and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) & National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Comprehensive national database that aggregates federally subsidized affordable housing properties and their subsidy expiration dates, used to track and target preservation of affordable rental housing. Requires free registration.

Datapoints: Subsidized affordable housing property inventory (address-level); Subsidy program type (LIHTC, Section 8, USDA, HUD multifamily, public housing); Subsidy/affordability expiration dates; Units at risk of conversion to market rate; Geographic / property-level preservation indicators; LIHTC, HOME-assisted, and project-based rental assistance property records; State and county counts of assisted properties; Subsidy expiration / at-risk dates; Property and subsidy attributes from 10 federal data sources

Socrata Open Data API (SODA) Developer Documentation

othernationalapiTyler Technologies (Socrata)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Developer documentation for the Socrata Open Data API used by many city, county, state, and federal open-data portals (including municipal housing and human-services datasets) to query datasets programmatically.

Datapoints: SoQL query language for filtering/aggregating datasets; Output formats: JSON, GeoJSON, CSV, RDF-XML; Geospatial and time-series query support; SDKs for Python, R, JavaScript, Java; Open Data Network dataset discovery

BEA Data API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisOpen data, APIs & aggregators

API offering programmatic access to Bureau of Economic Analysis economic statistics, including national, regional, and county-level GDP, personal income, employment, and regional price parities relevant to local cost-of-living and economic-condition analysis.

Datapoints: State and county GDP and personal income; Regional price parities (RPP); NIPA national accounts tables; Industry value added and gross output; Regional personal income by state, metro, and county; Regional price parities; State and county GDP; National income and product accounts (NIPA); Employment statistics by industry; Regional personal income and GDP by state/county; Regional Price Parities by state and metro; Industry value added, gross output, employment

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Data API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisOpen data, APIs & aggregators

API delivering BEA economic accounts data, including regional income and GDP series down to the county and metro level, used for local economic context.

Datapoints: personal income by county/metro/state (SAINC); GDP by state/metro; per-capita personal income; industry GDP; regional price parities; national income & product accounts

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Public Data API

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOpen data, APIs & aggregators

API for retrieving BLS time-series labor and price statistics, including unemployment, employment, wages, and consumer prices, at national, state, and metro levels.

Datapoints: unemployment rate (LAUS, by state/metro/county); Current Employment Statistics (CES) jobs; Consumer Price Index (CPI); Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW); Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS); Producer Price Index

American Community Survey (ACS) — Data Tables hub and table-type catalog

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Master catalog of all ACS table families: Detailed Tables (B/C prefix), Subject Tables (S prefix), Data Profiles (DP), and Comparison Profiles, covering 40+ topics including income, housing, and food assistance for geographies down to block group.

Datapoints: B-series detailed base tables (e.g. B17001 poverty, B25070 gross rent ratio, B22010 SNAP); S-series subject tables (S1701 poverty, S2201 SNAP, S1903 income); DP-series data profiles (DP03 economic, DP04 housing); 1-year and 5-year estimate vintages; Geographies: nation, state, county, place, tract, block group

Census Bureau Developers — Available APIs catalog

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Catalog of all Census Data APIs, including ACS 1-/5-year, ACS subject/profile, SAIPE, Poverty Statistics (CPS & SAIPE), decennial, and population estimates. An API key is required as of May 2026.

Datapoints: ACS 1-year (2005-2024) and 5-year (2009-2024) endpoints; SAIPE timeseries endpoint (/data/timeseries/poverty/saipe); Poverty Statistics: CPS & SAIPE; Health Insurance Statistics: CPS, SIPP, ACS, SAHIE; Decennial Census 2000/2010/2020 endpoints; ACS housing & poverty variables (B17xxx, B25xxx); SAIPE timeseries; decennial tenure/vacancy; population estimates; American Community Survey (1/3/5-year, Supplemental, Migration Flows); Decennial Census 2000/2010/2020; Population Estimates & Projections; Economic Census; County/ZIP Business Patterns; Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE); Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE); Community Resilience Estimates; Household Pulse Survey; Quarterly Workforce Indicators; Census Microdata API; TIGERweb / geocoding services

Census Household Pulse Survey — API and data tables

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Rapid-response experimental survey measuring how emergent issues affect U.S. households, including near-real-time food sufficiency and housing-payment-difficulty/eviction-risk indicators at national and metro levels.

Datapoints: Food sufficiency in the last 7 days (sometimes/often not enough to eat); Difficulty paying usual household expenses; Housing: caught up vs. behind on rent/mortgage, likelihood of eviction/foreclosure; SNAP and free-meal program receipt; Top-50 metropolitan area estimates

Census Microdata API (PUMS)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Programmatic access to Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) records — individual-level responses from the ACS and Decennial Census — for custom cross-tabulations not available in published tables.

Datapoints: person-level records; household-level records; PUMA-level geography; income/poverty detail; housing characteristics; custom tabulation variables; replicate weights

data.census.gov ACS Data Profile DP04 — Selected Housing Characteristics

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

The housing data profile summarizing occupancy, tenure, value, rent, and housing-cost burden for any geography down to census tract. One of four ACS Data Profiles (DP02 social, DP03 economic, DP04 housing, DP05 demographic).

Datapoints: Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied units; Median home value and median gross rent; Gross rent as a percentage of household income (cost burden); Selected monthly owner costs as percent of income; Vacancy rates, units in structure, year built

data.census.gov ACS Subject Table S1701 — Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

The standard American Community Survey subject table for poverty status, queryable down to census-tract level for any geography including NC counties and Asheville. Provides counts and rates of people below poverty by age, sex, race, and family type.

Datapoints: Total population for whom poverty status is determined; Number and percent below 100% of poverty; Poverty rate by age (under 18, 18-64, 65+); Poverty by race/ethnicity and sex; Ratios of income to poverty (50%, 125%, 150%, 185%, 200%)

data.census.gov ACS Subject Table S2201 — Food Stamps/SNAP

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

ACS subject table reporting households receiving SNAP/food stamps, including characteristics of recipient vs. non-recipient households, down to census-tract geographies. The primary small-area SNAP participation series for any county or place.

Datapoints: Households receiving SNAP in past 12 months (count and percent); SNAP receipt by poverty status; SNAP receipt by presence of children / elderly; SNAP receipt by disability status; SNAP receipt by household work status and race/ethnicity

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) — model-based county/school-district estimates

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Programmatic API access to the Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, providing annual income and poverty statistics for all states, counties, and school districts. Enables pulling county- and district-level poverty data (including for Buncombe County / Asheville) for years 1989-2024.

Datapoints: Estimated number and percent in poverty (all ages, under 18, ages 5-17); Median household income by county and state; School-district child poverty estimates (Title I allocations); SNAP benefit and tax-return model inputs; Total population in poverty (count and rate); Children in poverty by age group (0-17, 5-17, under 5); Median household income; Estimates available for states, counties, and school districts

Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program FY2026 (Federal Register Notice)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) / Office of the Federal RegisterOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Official Federal Register notice publishing HUD's Fiscal Year 2026 Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher, Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy, and related programs. The legally operative annual rent benchmarks (weighted-average change of 2.8% for FY2026) that govern voucher payment standards nationwide.

Datapoints: FY2026 Fair Market Rents by area and bedroom size; National weighted-average FMR change of 2.8% for FY2026; Effective dates for the FY2026 FMRs; Applicable programs: HCV, Mod Rehab SRO, and other HUD programs; Procedures for requesting reevaluation of an area FMR

Data.gov — Housing & Food-Security dataset facets

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. General Services Administration (Data.gov)Open data, APIs & aggregators

The federal open-data catalog, filterable by tags such as food-security, food-insecurity, and housing. Each facet enumerates individual agency datasets with downloadable resources and metadata.

Datapoints: food-security and food-insecurity tagged datasets; Housing Affordability Data System (HADS); CHAS and FoodAPS records; Food Security in the United States dataset entry; Agency-specific metadata and API/download links

Data.gov (federal open data catalog)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. General Services Administration (GSA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Central U.S. open-data catalog aggregating 500,000+ datasets from federal, state, local, tribal, university, and nonprofit publishers, searchable by topic, geography, and publisher with API access.

Datapoints: 543,000+ datasets across health, housing, income/poverty, food, and more; Formats: CSV, JSON, XML, Excel, geospatial; Filter by publisher, geography, and dataset type; API and bulk-access endpoints

Data.gov / GSA Data.gov API (v4)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. General Services Administration (GSA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Programmatic API behind Data.gov, the U.S. government's open-data catalog, exposing metadata and search across hundreds of thousands of federal, state, and local datasets including housing, poverty, food, and health collections.

Datapoints: Catalog of 250,000+ federal/state/local datasets; Dataset metadata (publisher, formats, update cadence); Topic-based discovery (housing, food, poverty, health); CKAN-based search and harvest endpoints

Data.gov — Federal Open Data Catalog & APIs

primary-govnationalapiU.S. General Services Administration (GSA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

The U.S. government's central open-data catalog, now CKAN-based, federating dataset metadata from federal, state, local, and tribal governments. Provides a Catalog API for programmatic dataset discovery (metadata only, with links to the underlying data).

Datapoints: dataset metadata records; publishing organization; topic/tag taxonomy; resource format (CSV/JSON/API); geographic coverage; harvested agency inventories

Data.gov Catalog API (v4)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Technology Transformation Service / Data.gov PMOOpen data, APIs & aggregators

REST API providing programmatic access to metadata for datasets published by federal, state, local, and tribal governments across the Data.gov catalog. Supports searching and filtering by organization, keyword, and geography, returning full DCAT-US metadata for each dataset.

Datapoints: DCAT-US dataset metadata records; Search/filter by organization, organization type, keyword, location; Harvest records showing dataset ingestion; Base URL https://api.gsa.gov/technology/datagov/v4/ (free api.data.gov key)

Data.gov API (CKAN catalog API)

primary-govnationalapiU.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Office of Enterprise Data & Privacy ManagementOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Developer documentation for the Data.gov catalog API, a CKAN-powered interface to metadata for the U.S. government's open datasets, enabling programmatic discovery of federal data on housing, food, poverty, health, and more.

Datapoints: base endpoint https://api.gsa.gov/technology/datagov/v3/; package_search action for dataset discovery; requires x-api-key (DEMO_KEY for testing); returns dataset metadata only

SBA Open Data Portal

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Small Business AdministrationOpen data, APIs & aggregators

SBA's open-data portal publishing datasets on SBA loan programs (7(a), 504, disaster), federal contracting, and small-business assistance, useful for community/economic-development analysis.

Datapoints: SBA 7(a) and 504 loan data; disaster loan data; federal contracting/procurement data; small-business assistance program data

SDA Survey Documentation and Analysis (SCF combined 2022)

primary-academicnationaltoolUC Berkeley Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Online statistical analysis interface for the combined Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 microdata, enabling crosstabs, means, and regressions on household wealth and finance variables without local software.

Datapoints: On-demand crosstabs and means of SCF wealth/income/debt variables; Custom comparisons by demographic and economic characteristics; Combined (multiply-imputed) SCF 2022 dataset access

National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA)

primary-academicnationaldatasetUniversity of Michigan Institute for Social Research (hosted on ICPSR)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Free, theoretically-derived contextual measures of the physical and social environment for U.S. neighborhoods, ready to link to other data by census tract, ZCTA, county, or block group.

Datapoints: socioeconomic disadvantage & affluence index; walkability; crime; land use; fast-food & grocery access; healthcare access; libraries / recreation centers; public transit; housing; climate; 1990-2022 coverage

ICPSR — Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of Michigan, Institute for Social ResearchOpen data, APIs & aggregators

The world's largest archive of social-science research data, holding hundreds of thousands of files across topics including poverty, housing, health, crime, and aging; hosts both restricted and open (openICPSR) collections.

Datapoints: survey microdata archives; longitudinal studies; restricted-use health/admin data; thematic collections (poverty, aging, health, criminal justice); openICPSR self-deposit repository; codebooks & documentation

Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology (CSDE) — University of Washington

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUniversity of WashingtonOpen data, APIs & aggregators

UW research center providing demographic data resources, training, and curated guides to population, health, and spatial datasets for social-science researchers.

Datapoints: population & demographic data guides; GIS/spatial data resources; linked survey datasets; data training & workshops; research computing access

Urban Institute Data Catalog

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUrban InstituteOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Open-data catalog for discovering and downloading datasets and data tools produced by Urban Institute researchers, browsable by topic including Housing and Housing Finance and Poverty, Vulnerability, and the Safety Net.

Datapoints: State-by-State Homelessness and Housing Inventory Data Tools (2015-2024); Catalog of National Small-Area Data (sub-city geographies); Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey (material hardship); Data and Tools for Fair Housing Planning; Mobility Metrics Data for the Upward Mobility Framework; Rental Assistance Priority Index

National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP)

othernationalorg-hubUrban Institute (NNIP network)Open data, APIs & aggregators

A cross-city network coordinated by the Urban Institute that builds and democratizes neighborhood-level data, with catalogs of national small-area datasets and guides for using data on housing, poverty, and community change.

Datapoints: Catalog of national datasets available at small-area/neighborhood level; Guides on measuring neighborhood change and displacement; Local partner data systems across U.S. cities

USAFacts

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUSAFacts (nonpartisan nonprofit)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Nonpartisan civic platform that standardizes and visualizes open data from 60+ government agencies into accessible reports and metrics on government finances, population, and outcomes.

Datapoints: government revenue & spending; population demographics; poverty & income; housing; crime; education outcomes; health; state/county comparisons

USC Equity Research Institute (ERI)

primary-academicnationalorg-hubUSC Dornsife / Equity Research InstituteOpen data, APIs & aggregators

University research institute producing data and analysis on racial equity, economic inclusion, and immigrant justice, and co-producer (with PolicyLink) of the National Equity Atlas. Publishes reports and regional equity data portals.

Datapoints: Economic inclusion, immigrant inclusion, and social-movement research streams; CA Immigrant Data Portal and State of Immigrants in LA County reports; Partner on the National Equity Atlas

Racial Equity Index

othernationaldashboardUSC Equity Research Institute (ERI) & PolicyLinkOpen data, APIs & aggregators

A composite data tool scoring metro areas on nine equity indicators, measuring both racial gaps and overall population outcomes to help localities target efforts to dismantle structural racism.

Datapoints: Nine indicators: wages, unemployment, poverty, educational attainment, disconnected youth, school poverty, air pollution, commute time, housing burden; Scores for both racial disparity and overall outcome

USDA ERS — Food and Nutrition Assistance national data sets catalog

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Economic Research ServiceOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Catalog enumerating the major national datasets used in food-assistance and food-security research, with descriptions and access notes for each source.

Datapoints: SNAP Data System (state/county SNAP participation time series); SNAP Policy Database (1996-2020); SNAP Quality Control (SNAP-QC) file; FoodAPS National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey; CPS Food Security Supplement; NHANES/FCBS; SIPP; ATUS Eating and Health Module; PSID; SNAP Retailer Locator

USDA ERS — SNAP Data System

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research ServiceOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Time-series data on SNAP participation and benefits at the state and county level, with companion state-policy variables, enabling local analysis of program reach including for NC and Buncombe County.

Datapoints: State and county SNAP participants and households; Total and average monthly benefits; SNAP participation as a share of population; State SNAP policy variables (eligibility, outreach, EBT); Annual and monthly time series

NC OSBM — LINC (Log Into North Carolina) data explorer & asset catalog

primary-govstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and ManagementOpen data, APIs & aggregators

North Carolina's interactive data retrieval service covering 900+ data items for the state and all 100 counties (some to municipality, tract, and township level), with poverty, population, and housing assets sourced from Census/ACS.

Datapoints: Percentage in poverty for NC and all counties (ACS-derived); Census population and housing tables (LINC); County-level demographic, labor, and income series; Bulk download, mapping, and visualization tools; Buncombe County and WNC county comparisons

BetaNYC RADAR Data Help Desk

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubBetaNYCOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Civic-technology nonprofit whose RADAR (Research and Data Assistance Requests) help desk and Mapping for Equity program help community organizations turn open data into maps and analyses for equity, environmental justice, and neighborhood needs. A model for community open-data assistance rather than a direct housing/food dataset source.

Datapoints: RADAR community data-request help desk; Mapping for Equity (M4E) program; Boundaries Map and Urban Heat / flood-risk portals; open-data training (School of Data, Open Data Week); Urban Heat Portal mapping heat vulnerability in low-income communities; RADAR community data help desk responding to open-data requests; Boundaries Map of community districts and service areas; Mapping for Equity (M4E) spatial equity analysis program; NYC Urban Heat Portal (climate/heat exposure); Floodgen flood-risk tool; Administrative Boundaries Map; RADAR research and data assistance request service

Buncombe County Transparency & Performance Dashboards

primary-govlocal-AVLdashboardBuncombe County Government, NCOpen data, APIs & aggregators

County hub of performance dashboards, reports, documents, and outcome measures covering budget, programs, and community indicators for Buncombe County / Asheville.

Datapoints: county budget & spending; program performance measures; community outcome indicators; open checkbook/financials; strategic-plan metrics

Buncombe County GIS Open Data Explorer

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County, NC (GIS)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Buncombe County's public ArcGIS open-data portal for exploring and downloading county geospatial data, refreshed daily, including post-Helene recovery layers.

Datapoints: parcels & property; addresses; zoning & land use; municipal/county boundaries; post-Helene imagery; parks & cemeteries; voting/precinct boundaries; downloadable GIS & REST services

Who Owns What (JustFix)

otherlocal-AVLinteractive-mapJustFixOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Searchable landlord/building-ownership research tool that links buildings to their associated portfolios, complaints, and displacement risk. A leading example of public landlord-accountability data tooling.

Datapoints: Maps building-to-landlord ownership networks (NYC data); Surfaces buildings, violations, and ownership patterns; Includes Area Alerts (weekly displacement-risk email by neighborhood); Landlord portfolio and building ownership linkages; Displacement-risk Area Alerts; Worst Evictors database

Ledberg & Reitan 2022 — Post-Discharge Mortality from Compulsory Care (Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

primary-academicglobalreportDrug and Alcohol Dependence (Elsevier / ScienceDirect)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Swedish national-registry retrospective cohort (7,929 individuals discharged from compulsory SUD care, 2000-2017) finding death risk 2.6 to 3.7 times higher in the first two weeks post-discharge, driven by external-cause (overdose) deaths among those under age 36.

Datapoints: 7,929 discharged; 494 deaths; overall mortality 7.1 per 100 person-years; First-two-weeks hazard ratio 2.6 (1.3-5.0) to 3.7 (2.4-5.9); PMID 35617775; Drug Alcohol Depend 236:109492

Our World in Data

established-research-orgglobaldashboardGlobal Change Data Lab / University of OxfordOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Open-licensed research platform with ~14,600 interactive charts across 126 topics and data explorers, with underlying datasets published openly via GitHub and a catalog/API.

Datapoints: poverty & inequality; economic growth & government spending; life expectancy & child mortality; education & literacy; hunger & food; CO2/energy/climate; democracy & human rights; downloadable CSV per chart

World Bank Developer Data API (Indicators API)

primary-intlglobalapiThe World BankOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Documented REST API for programmatic access to World Bank indicators (World Development Indicators and related databases), supporting country, indicator, and date queries in JSON/XML.

Datapoints: Indicator codes (e.g., poverty, undernourishment, GNI per capita); Country and aggregate region queries; JSON/XML responses, paging, multiple databases

pipr — R client for the World Bank PIP API

primary-intlglobaltoolWorld BankOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Official R package that wraps the World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform API, letting analysts compute poverty and inequality indicators for 160+ countries from household surveys.

Datapoints: Headcount ratios, poverty gap, poverty severity; Gini and inequality indices; Country/region/aggregate poverty estimates at any poverty threshold; Historical series spanning multiple decades

World Bank PIP API (poverty/inequality data)

primary-intlglobalapiWorld BankOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Programmatic access to the World Bank's Poverty and Inequality Platform, computing poverty and inequality indicators for 160+ countries and regions from household survey data.

Datapoints: poverty headcount ratio; poverty gap; Gini and inequality measures; query by country/year/poverty line; Poverty headcount ratios at configurable poverty lines; Poverty gap and poverty severity; Gini coefficient, Mean Log Deviation, polarization indices; Income/consumption deciles and quantiles; Mean and median welfare statistics; Population, GDP, household final consumption expenditure

World Bank Poverty and Equity Database

primary-intlglobaldatasetWorld Bank (Global Poverty Working Group)Open data, APIs & aggregators

Compilation of the latest poverty and inequality indicators for over 100 countries, drawn from officially recognized international sources, spanning 1963-2023 with annual updates. Available via DataBank, API, and bulk download.

Datapoints: Poverty headcount ratio at international and national poverty lines; Poverty gap; Number of poor; Gini index; Income/consumption distributions

World Bank Poverty & Equity Data Portal

primary-intlglobaldashboardWorld Bank GroupOpen data, APIs & aggregators

Interactive portal for exploring poverty, inequality, and shared prosperity indicators by country, region, and income grouping. Legacy portal now superseded by the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) but still a recognized reference for historical poverty data.

Datapoints: Poverty headcount ratio (international poverty lines $1.90 / $3.20 / $5.50 PPP); Gini index; Shared prosperity (consumption growth of bottom 40%)

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

othernationalorg-hubAlfred P. Sloan FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Independent grantmaking foundation funding impartial research in science, technology, and economics; its Economics program and data/computational-research grants underwrite work on labor, working families, and civic data infrastructure relevant to economic insecurity.

Datapoints: Economics program and a Grants Database of funded research; Completed programs include Workplace, Workforce & Working Families and Working Longer; Funded the Civil Justice Data Commons eviction/debt data work; Founded 1934; publishes impact reports

KIDS COUNT Data Book (2026)

established-research-orgnationalreportAnnie E. Casey FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Annual report ranking all 50 states on 16 key measures of child well-being across four domains, with national context and policy recommendations.

Datapoints: state rankings on child well-being; child poverty rate (13% in 2024); economic well-being domain (poverty, parental employment, housing cost burden, teens not in school/working); education, health, and family/community domains

KIDS COUNT Data Center - Topics index

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubAnnie E. Casey FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Topical entry point to all KIDS COUNT indicators grouped by domain (economic well-being, education, family/community, health, safety/risky behaviors, demographics), each linking to the underlying state-and-county data tables.

Datapoints: economic well-being indicators (poverty, employment, housing cost burden); health indicators; family and community indicators; demographic breakdowns

Bipartisan Policy Center - Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubBipartisan Policy Center (J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Housing policy program producing reports, polling, and case studies on housing supply, affordability, and homelessness, plus analysis of federal legislation.

Datapoints: housing supply case studies (four cities); BPC/NHC/Morning Consult housing affordability poll; homelessness and housing-market local lessons; 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act analysis

Enterprise - Preservation and Production Impact Area

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubEnterprise Community PartnersPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Program hub detailing Enterprise's work and data on preserving and producing affordable rental housing, including its preservation equity funds.

Datapoints: homes preserved/produced; preservation fund investment totals; average years of affordability extended; communities served

Enterprise Community Partners - Learning Center / Resource Library

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubEnterprise Community PartnersPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Research and report library from a leading national affordable-housing intermediary, covering preservation, production, insurance costs, social return on investment, and innovation.

Datapoints: affordable housing preservation/production metrics; Social Return on Investment analysis; multifamily insurance cost trends; Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge findings; homes preserved and affordability terms extended

A Vision for Equitable Data: Recommendations from the Equitable Data Working Group

primary-govnationalreportExecutive Office of the President / Equitable Data Working Group (The White House)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Federal report (EO 13985) charting how federal agencies should collect, disaggregate, and use equitable data to measure and improve equity for underserved communities; foundational for social-determinants and equity data practice. The original whitehouse.gov URL now resolves only via the archived Biden White House domain.

Datapoints: Three priority uses: disaggregated statistical estimates, expanded research/community data access, and equity assessments of federal programs; Recommendations for increased federal-state-local data sharing; Guidance on increasing use of underused federal data and accountability to the public

Map the Meal Gap 2025 Report & Methodology

established-research-orgnationalreportFeeding AmericaPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Annual county- and congressional-district-level study of food insecurity in the United States, using modeled estimates that account for state-specific SNAP gross-income limits. Releases roughly two years behind the data year.

Datapoints: county and congressional-district food insecurity estimates; weighted cost of a meal; food budget shortfall; demographic disaggregation methodology; About 21 million people (~44% of those food insecure) likely earn too much to qualify for SNAP (2023 data, MMG 2025); Across the Carolinas, ~45.5% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP; National food budget shortfall ~$32 billion/year (~$22.37 per food-insecure person per week); Child food insecurity near one in five nationally; up to ~50% in some counties; 2024 data edition scheduled for release late July 2026

HAC Rural Data Central

othernationalinteractive-mapHousing Assistance Council (HAC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

HAC's primary data portal providing housing, demographic, and economic data on and for rural communities to guide investment by government, philanthropy, and private partners. Reached via HAC's ruralhome.org / infogram data hub.

Datapoints: rural demographic and housing indicators by geography; poverty and income data; housing stock and tenure; place-level rural classifications; rural housing stock and tenure; cost burden; income and poverty; demographics and population change; access to jobs, transportation, and amenities; Rural housing affordability and condition; Rural poverty rates; Rural demographics and population change; USDA Rural Development loan and grant activity

HAC Taking Stock: Rural America Report & Tool

othernationalinteractive-mapHousing Assistance Council (HAC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

HAC's decennial report (published since 1984) on social, economic, and housing trends for rural places and rural people, with downloadable rural-county data including persistent-poverty and high-need rural regions such as Appalachia.

Datapoints: rural population and demographic trends; rural housing conditions and cost burden; rural poverty rates by place; substandard/overcrowded housing; data from Decennial Census, ACS, and Household Pulse; rural population and migration trends; rural housing conditions and affordability; persistent-poverty rural counties; minority and Native American rural housing; rural homeownership rates; Rural poverty and persistent-poverty counties; Substandard and overcrowded rural housing; Rural cost burden and affordability; High-need rural regions (Appalachia, etc.)

Housing Assistance Council - Data & Research Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubHousing Assistance Council (HAC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

HAC's data hub for rural housing, poverty, and demographic conditions, gathering its data portals, the decennial Taking Stock report, veterans housing data, and infographic briefs hosted on Infogram (ruralhome.infogram.com).

Datapoints: USDA rural housing loan & grant obligations; rural poverty, homelessness, and broadband infographics; Native American / fair housing / senior rural housing data; USDA Section 502/515 program activity; rural housing cost burden and condition; rural poverty and demographics; USDA Rural Development loan/grant obligations; Native American rural housing; rural homelessness and broadband; rural housing conditions and affordability; rural poverty; USDA rural housing loan/grant obligations; veteran housing characteristics; Native American housing; broadband access

LISC Affordable Housing - Data & Mapping (assisted-housing database)

established-research-orgnationaltoolLocal Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Property-level database and mapping technical assistance identifying location, characteristics, and availability of federally assisted (HUD and LIHTC) affordable housing to support preservation.

Datapoints: HUD-assisted and LIHTC property inventory; property physical/financial characteristics; preservation opportunity identification; geographic availability of assisted units

LISC Affordable Housing Initiative

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubLocal Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Hub for LISC's affordable-housing work, a national community development financial institution funding housing development, home repair, and homeownership access, including a Rural LISC program. Pairs financing data with research and capacity-building resources.

Datapoints: Strategic goal: $5.2 billion in housing investment and 57,000 units through 2027; Average U.S. home value $357,445 (up 33% in five years); More than 12 million renter households spend over 50% of income on housing; Programs: home repair, homeownership readiness, developer training

LISC Resource Library

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubLocal Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Searchable library of reports, case studies, and tools from a major CDFI/community development intermediary, filterable by topic (affordable housing, economic development, financing, lending) and 35+ geographies.

Datapoints: State of Affordable Housing (five gaps analysis); CDFI impacts on wealth and assets; community land trust lending guidance; Yes In God's Back Yard / faith land report; Heirs' Property Playbook

2025 Homelessness Data Dashboards (toolkit)

established-research-orgnationaldashboardNational Alliance to End HomelessnessPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Toolkit version of the homelessness dashboards with downloadable graphics and state-level homeless assistance capacity data for advocacy use.

Datapoints: state homeless assistance capacity; PIT counts by state; system performance measures; shareable data graphics

State of Homelessness Dashboards (State & CoC)

established-research-orgnationaldashboardNational Alliance to End HomelessnessPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Interactive dashboards summarizing homelessness by state and subpopulation (including veterans), synthesizing HUD PIT/AHAR data into accessible visual trend tools.

Datapoints: number experiencing homelessness by CoC; rate per 10,000; 2015-2024 trend lines; unsheltered/sheltered/chronic/youth breakdowns; shelter bed capacity and utilization; Fair Market Rent comparison; Veteran homelessness counts and rates by state; National trend lines (sheltered/unsheltered/chronic); Per-capita and demographic comparisons; Year-over-year change

National League of Cities - Housing & Community Development

othernationalorg-hubNational League of Cities (NLC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Tools and resources helping cities address homelessness, housing stability, and supply, with a focus on equipping smaller cities that lack data capacity.

Datapoints: housing stability and homelessness resources; ARPA and housing stability guidance; Federal Grant Equity Dashboard; data tools for cities (City Health Dashboard linkage)

National Science Foundation (NSF) - Data and Statistics

primary-govnationalorg-hubNational Science Foundation (independent U.S. federal agency)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

NSF is the federal agency funding non-medical research; its Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences directorate and award databases support much of the academic infrastructure behind poverty, housing, and food-security research, and its statistical arm NCSES publishes official S&E data.

Datapoints: FY2024 budget ~$9.06B; ~93% to research, education, and related activities; Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate funds social-science research; Award Search database of funded projects; Funds infrastructure such as the Civil Justice Data Commons

City Health Dashboard

othernationaldashboardNYU Langone Department of Population Health (referenced by NLC)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Neighborhood- and city-level dashboard of 30+ health, social, and economic measures for US cities, including food insecurity (CDC PLACES) and housing-related metrics.

Datapoints: food insecurity metric (CDC PLACES, 39 states); children in poverty; housing cost burden; life expectancy; park access; 30+ measures down to census-tract/city boundaries

County Health Rankings - Housing & Transit Measures

established-research-orgnationalguidelineRobert Wood Johnson Foundation & UW Population Health InstitutePhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Measure definitions and evidence base for the housing and transportation factors in County Health Rankings, including how severe housing cost burden and severe housing problems are calculated.

Datapoints: severe housing problems definition; severe housing cost burden (50%+ of income); homeownership; commute/transit measures; evidence and citations per measure

The Century Foundation (TCF)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubThe Century FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Independent progressive think tank publishing research on housing, ending poverty, the care economy, and economic opportunity, including widely cited analyses such as the child care funding cliff and Child Tax Credit impacts.

Datapoints: Housing affordability and exclusionary-zoning research; Safety-net and economic-security policy reports; Education and housing inequality case studies; Child care cliff estimates (3.2M children at risk); Child Tax Credit poverty-reduction analysis; Housing and food security policy research

Understanding Exclusionary Zoning and Its Impact on Concentrated Poverty

established-research-orgnationalarticleThe Century FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Explainer documenting how exclusionary zoning drives income segregation and concentrated poverty, with data on the growth of high-poverty neighborhoods and disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic Americans.

Datapoints: Poor living in high-poverty neighborhoods rose from 10.3% (2000) to 14.4% (2013); Americans in high-poverty neighborhoods nearly doubled from 7.2M (2000) to 13.8M (2013); 1-in-4 poor Black Americans and 1-in-6 poor Hispanic Americans live in high-poverty neighborhoods

The Century Foundation - Housing topic hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubThe Century Foundation (TCF)Philanthropy & national intermediaries

Topic hub aggregating The Century Foundation's research and commentary on housing affordability, exclusionary zoning, fair housing, and housing stability for low-income families.

Datapoints: Exclusionary zoning and concentrated poverty analyses; Fair housing / source-of-income discrimination; Housing affordability policy reports; Zoning reform case studies

The SCAN Foundation

othernationalorg-hubThe SCAN FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Philanthropic foundation publishing policy briefs and analyses on aging well at home, long-term care, and economic security for older adults, with attention to people of color, lower-income, and rural residents. Relevant to aging-related poverty and social-determinant policy.

Datapoints: Priority areas: long-term care, Medicare health and social supports, Medicare-Medicaid integration, multisector plans for aging; Focus on lower-income, rural, and people-of-color older adults; Policy briefs and insights on long-term care financing and Medicaid

Bay Area Equity Atlas

otherglobalinteractive-mapPolicyLink, USC Equity Research Institute, and The San Francisco FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Regional data platform tracking 21 equity indicators across the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area on the People/Place/Power framework, including housing burden, poverty, income, and economic insecurity. Serves as a model for local equity-data dashboards.

Datapoints: ~80% of renters below 350% of poverty are rent burdened; rents +24% vs renter incomes +9% (2000-2016); 480,000 economically insecure renter households; housing burden indicator; poverty and income by race/ethnicity

Transform Drug Policy Foundation — Drug Decriminalisation in Portugal: Setting the Record Straight

otherglobalreportTransform Drug Policy FoundationPhilanthropy & national intermediaries

Data-rich account of Portugal's 2001 drug decriminalization outcomes (overdose deaths, HIV diagnoses, incarceration, treatment uptake), a key reference for the harm-reduction-vs-criminalization debate.

Datapoints: Overdose deaths fell sharply after 2001 decriminalization; New injecting-drug-use HIV diagnoses collapsed from ~900-1,287 to ~16-18; Drug-offense imprisonment fell from ~3,863 (1999) to ~1,140; Outpatient treatment units grew 50 to ~79 (2000-2009); Overdose deaths fell sharply post-2001; Drug-injection HIV diagnoses collapsed; Imprisonment for drug offences fell; treatment access rose

CRS — Homelessness in brief (IF12985)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service (CRS) via Congress.govFederal & global frameworks / policy

A short CRS primer summarizing how homelessness is defined, counted, and addressed federally, including the PIT count and major HUD programs.

Datapoints: federal homelessness definitions (HUD categories); PIT count basis; >650,000 on a single night (Jan 2023); CoC/ESG program overview

CRS — SNAP and Related Nutrition Programs in P.L. 119-21: An Overview (R48552)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service (CRS) via Congress.govFederal & global frameworks / policy

CRS analysis of how the FY2025 budget reconciliation law restructured SNAP funding, cost-sharing, and eligibility, with CBO spending estimates.

Datapoints: ~$187B 10-year SNAP/nutrition spending reduction (CBO); state cost-share changes; work-requirement / categorical-eligibility changes; utility allowance rules

CRS — SNAP: A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits (R42505)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service (CRS) via Congress.govFederal & global frameworks / policy

The standing CRS reference explaining SNAP eligibility rules, benefit calculation, and participation, updated across Congresses.

Datapoints: gross/net income tests (130%/100% FPL); asset limits; maximum allotments; benefit computation (Thrifty Food Plan); categorical eligibility; ~42.4M monthly participants (FY2025 partial)

CRS Insight: Estimates of a "Housing Shortage" (IN12628)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service (Library of Congress)Federal & global frameworks / policy

A December 2025 CRS Insight comparing the leading methodologies and estimates of the U.S. housing supply shortage, contrasting aggregate-unit estimates with affordable-housing-specific shortfalls. A concise, authoritative reconciliation of widely cited but divergent shortage figures.

Datapoints: Freddie Mac shortage estimate: 3.7 million units (Q3 2024); Zillow: 4.7 million units (2023); Brookings: 4.9 million units (Q4 2023); National Association of Realtors: 5.5 million units (2020); NLIHC: 7.1 million rental homes needed for extremely low-income renters; 35 affordable/available units per 100 extremely low-income households; Small homes (<1,400 sq ft) fell from 35% of new construction (1976) to 7% (2020), 10% (2024)

First Nations — Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool (2nd Edition)

othernationaltoolFirst Nations Development InstituteFederal & global frameworks / policy

Framework and instrument helping Native communities measure and assess local food access, land use, and food policy. Widely used for community-level food-systems data collection in Indigenous communities.

Datapoints: Tools and framework to measure food access, land use, and food policy; Used in hundreds of trainings and in Indigenous communities worldwide; Downloadable PDF instrument

Healthy People 2030 — Food Insecurity literature summary & objectives

primary-govnationalguidelineHHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)Federal & global frameworks / policy

The national health-objective framework treating food insecurity as a social determinant of health, with measurable targets to reduce household food insecurity and eliminate very low food security among children.

Datapoints: NWS-01 reduce household food insecurity and hunger; NWS-02 eliminate very low food security in children; ~18 million U.S. households food insecure (2023); links food insecurity to chronic disease

Healthy People 2030 — Housing Instability literature summary & objective SDOH-04

primary-govnationalguidelineHHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)Federal & global frameworks / policy

National objective framing housing instability (cost burden, frequent moves, eviction, doubling-up) as a social determinant of health, with a target to reduce families spending more than 30% of income on housing.

Datapoints: SDOH-04 reduce share of families with >30% income on housing (cost burden); components: cost burden, instability, evictions, overcrowding; five SDOH domains; Definitions of housing instability dimensions; Cost burden and eviction health links; Disparities by income and race/ethnicity; Cited peer-reviewed evidence base

BEA Regional Economic Accounts

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisFederal & global frameworks / policy

BEA's hub for state, metro, and county economic data, providing a consistent framework to compare local economies on income, output, employment, and regional price levels.

Datapoints: GDP by state, metro, and county; Personal income by state and county (wages, dividends, rents, proprietors' income); Regional Price Parities (RPP); Employment by county/metro/nonmetro with industry detail

U.S. Census Bureau — Household Pulse Survey (Food & Housing modules)

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Census BureauFederal & global frameworks / policy

Program page for the near-real-time Household Pulse Survey (now part of HTOPS), measuring how emergent social and economic issues affect households, with downloadable tables and public-use files on food, housing, and economic hardship.

Datapoints: food scarcity (sometimes/often not enough to eat); household food sufficiency; behind on rent/mortgage; eviction/foreclosure likelihood; by state and demographic; Food security: food sufficiency and infant formula access; Housing security and rental housing pressure; Economic hardship: household spending, inflation concerns, expense difficulty; Health, employment, and social-isolation indicators; National, state, and 15-largest-metro estimates

Detailed 2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines (PDF)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, ASPEFederal & global frameworks / policy

Printable detailed tables of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states/DC, Alaska, and Hawaii by household size.

Datapoints: 2026 guideline dollar amounts by household size (1-8+ persons); Separate tables for Alaska and Hawaii; Per-additional-person increment

GAO — Hunger and Homelessness: Funding Distribution for Key Programs (GAO-23-105458)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)Federal & global frameworks / policy

GAO review of how funding for five key food/housing programs (CoC, ESG, EFSP, SNAP, TEFAP) is distributed, finding allocations often misaligned with homelessness, rent, and inequality measures.

Datapoints: per-capita CoC funding by state; ESG CARES Act formula targeting; 5 key federal food/housing programs; ~970,000 SNAP households experiencing homelessness

GAO: TANF — Enhanced Reporting Could Improve HHS Oversight of State Spending (GAO-25-107235)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)Federal & global frameworks / policy

GAO audit of how states budget and spend TANF block grant funds, documenting the shift toward non-assistance spending, rising unspent balances, and reporting gaps that limit HHS oversight.

Datapoints: Non-assistance spending rose 40.8% to 44.2% of TANF expenditures (2015-2022); Cash assistance spending fell 27.2% to 25.2%; Unspent TANF balances nearly doubled, $4B to $9B; 7 of 31 states had incomplete FY2022 narrative reporting (as of March 2024)

USICH Prevent Homelessness strategy pillar

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Federal & global frameworks / policy

The prevention pillar of the federal strategic plan, detailing strategies to keep people from entering homelessness through upstream intervention and benefit access.

Datapoints: primary prevention strategies; targeted homelessness diversion; income/benefit stabilization actions

Urban Institute Upward Mobility Dashboard

established-research-orgnationaldashboardUrban Institute (Mobility Metrics / Upward Mobility Framework)Federal & global frameworks / policy

Interactive dashboard tracking 24 predictors of upward mobility from poverty and racial equity across five pillars, for every U.S. county and 480+ cities, including housing, neighborhood, work, education, and health-access metrics. Updated June 2026.

Datapoints: 24 mobility metrics across 5 pillars; rewarding work; opportunity-rich and inclusive neighborhoods; healthy environment and access to good health care; county and city geographies (incl. Buncombe/Asheville)

USDA ERS — Definitions of Food Security

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)Federal & global frameworks / policy

The canonical U.S. definitions distinguishing the four food-security ranges and the labels used in all federal reporting since the 2006 relabeling.

Datapoints: high food security; marginal food security; low food security; very low food security; food insecurity = household-level economic/social condition of limited or uncertain access

USDA ERS — Food Security in the U.S. (topic hub)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)Federal & global frameworks / policy

USDA's authoritative national measurement of household food security, derived from the annual Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement and the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. The USDA homepage (usda.gov) is the parent hub; this ERS topic page is the most direct food-insecurity data resource.

Datapoints: food security category definitions (high/marginal/low/very low); annual national prevalence rates; child food insecurity; very low food security; use of federal nutrition assistance; 13.7% of households food insecure in 2024; 8.3% low food security; 5.4% very low food security; 18.4% of households with children food insecure; 30-year national monitoring series via CPS-FSS; Share of U.S. households food secure vs. food insecure (86.3% secure / 13.7% insecure in 2024); Very low food security rate (5.4% of households, 2024); People in food-insecure households (47.9 million, 2024); Children in food-insecure households (14.1 million, 2024); Food insecurity by household type (female-headed single-parent 36.8%), region (South 15.0%), and metro status (urban 16.0%, rural 15.9%, suburban 11.9%); Food and nutrition assistance program participation (SNAP, WIC; ~1 in 4 people in a typical year)

Benefits.gov / USDA FNS SNAP Eligibility

primary-govnationaltoolUSDA Food and Nutrition Administration (formerly Food and Nutrition Service)Federal & global frameworks / policy

The official SNAP eligibility reference and pathway to apply, including income tests, the SNAP state directory, and the toll-free information line — the federal program-finder layer for food assistance.

Datapoints: income eligibility guidelines; citizenship/lawful-presence rules; state office lookup; 1-800-221-5689 info line; benefit calculation factors; Gross income limit generally 130% of federal poverty line (~$41,800 for a family of four, 2025); some states up to 200% (~$64,300); About 12% of SNAP-eligible people do not participate (88% participation rate, FY2022); SNAP reached ~41.7 million people/month (~1 in 8 Americans) in FY2024; About 9 of every 10 meals in the U.S. hunger response come from SNAP; Each $1 in SNAP generates ~$1.50 in economic activity (per Feeding America)

NC Coalition to End Homelessness — Data, Research & Publications

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)Federal & global frameworks / policy

The lead data agency (HMIS lead) for North Carolina's Balance of State, Durham, and Orange CoCs; publishes NC PIT summaries, HIC summaries, dashboards, and handles HMIS data requests. The authoritative NC-state homelessness data hub.

Datapoints: NC statewide PIT counts; NC Balance of State CoC data; HMIS-derived trend reports; subpopulation breakdowns; NC Balance of State CoC PIT summaries by county and by region; HIC inventory summaries for NC-502 (Durham), NC-503 (Balance of State), NC-513 (Orange); multi-year mini PIT dashboard; HMIS data (via Data Use Agreement); veteran-homelessness and special studies; annual Point-in-Time homeless count; Housing Inventory Count (HIC) / bed inventory; HMIS system performance measures; statewide homelessness trend (11,626 in 2024 PIT, +19% over 2023); sheltered vs unsheltered breakdown; regional / CoC-level data; NC PIT count (11,626 individuals, +19% YoY); Balance of State CoC counts; sheltered/unsheltered breakdown; subpopulation data (veterans, youth, chronic); HMIS system performance; NC Balance of State CoC PIT count (e.g., Jan 29, 2025); Veteran subpopulation counts by region/county; Sheltered vs. unsheltered breakdowns; Multi-year NC homelessness trends

NCDHHS — Strategic Housing Plan / Healthy Opportunities (Social Drivers of Health)

primary-govstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)Federal & global frameworks / policy

North Carolina's state strategy linking housing and health, plus the Healthy Opportunities Pilots that fund non-medical interventions (housing, food) through Medicaid; the NC-state policy layer.

Datapoints: 1.2M+ North Carolinians lacking affordable housing; 1 in 28 children under 6 homeless (~26,000); Healthy Opportunities food/housing service categories; standardized SDOH screening questions

FAO — The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)

primary-intlglobalreportFAO / IFAD / UNICEF / WFP / WHOFederal & global frameworks / policy

The UN's annual flagship report on global hunger, food security, and nutrition, with updated prevalence-of-undernourishment estimates and analysis of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, informing SDG 2 monitoring.

Datapoints: Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU); Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) moderate/severe; cost and affordability of a healthy diet; child stunting/wasting/overweight; four dimensions: availability, access, utilization, stability; ~673M people (8.2%) facing hunger in 2024; Prevalence of undernourishment by region; Cost and affordability of a healthy diet; Trend vs. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger); Global undernourishment headline estimate; Food security status (FIES-based); Cost and affordability of healthy diets; Regional/disaggregated hunger analyses; Global prevalence of undernourishment (8.2% in 2024, down from 8.5% in 2023); People facing hunger (638-720 million in 2024); Regional undernourishment (Africa >20%, Western Asia 12.7% in 2024); Food insecurity (moderate/severe) via FIES

FAO/WHO — Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) & food security glossary

primary-intlglobalguidelineFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Federal & global frameworks / policy

FAO's experience-based metric used for the SDG 2.1.2 indicator (prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity), enabling internationally comparable measurement of food access.

Datapoints: SDG indicator 2.1.2 (moderate or severe food insecurity, FIES); 8-item household/individual scale; moderate vs. severe thresholds; global comparable prevalence

Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC)

otherglobalorg-hubGlobal Network Against Food Crises (EU, FAO, WFP and partners)Federal & global frameworks / policy

Alliance of humanitarian and development actors working to prevent, prepare for, and respond to food crises; co-publishes the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).

Datapoints: Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC); Acute food insecurity populations in crisis countries; Famine and IPC Phase 5 classifications; Cross-partner food-crisis coordination

Poverty Data Explorer (Our World in Data)

established-research-orgglobalinteractive-mapOur World in Data (University of Oxford / Global Change Data Lab)Federal & global frameworks / policy

Interactive explorer of World Bank poverty and inequality indicators, allowing comparison of poverty headcounts at multiple international poverty lines across countries and over time.

Datapoints: Poverty headcount at multiple international poverty lines; Income (post-tax/benefit) or consumption per capita measures; Poverty gap and shared prosperity indicators; Country and year coverage from the World Bank PIP

OHCHR — Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing

otherglobalorg-hubUN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)Federal & global frameworks / policy

OHCHR resource defining the international human right to adequate housing, its normative content, and the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur. Reference for housing-as-a-right framing and standards (security of tenure, affordability, habitability, accessibility).

Datapoints: 7 elements of adequate housing (security of tenure; availability of services; affordability; habitability; accessibility; location; cultural adequacy); forced-eviction guidance; >1 billion in inadequate housing; ICESCR Art. 11.1 / UDHR Art. 25 basis; Seven elements of adequate housing (security of tenure, availability of services, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, cultural adequacy); State obligations under ICESCR Article 11; Special Rapporteur thematic reports

SDG Indicator 1.1.1 Metadata (international poverty line)

primary-intlglobalguidelineUN Statistics Division / World BankFederal & global frameworks / policy

Official metadata defining SDG Indicator 1.1.1, the proportion of the population living below the international poverty line, including measurement methodology and PPP-based poverty thresholds.

Datapoints: International poverty line definition (PPP terms); Proportion of population below poverty line; Measurement methodology (consumption/income); Disaggregation by sex, age, employment, geography

World Bank — Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP)

primary-intlglobaldashboardWorld BankFederal & global frameworks / policy

The World Bank's authoritative platform for global, regional, and country-level poverty and inequality estimates, consolidating the legacy PovcalNet and Poverty & Equity Data Portal. Provides harmonized household-survey estimates with charts, maps, an API, and fully open-source reproducible code.

Datapoints: population below international poverty line ($2.15/day etc.); Gini index; shared prosperity; by country/region/income group; downloadable tables, maps, API; Share of population below the international poverty line ($3.00/day, 2021 PPP); Higher poverty lines ($4.20 and $8.30/day, 2021 PPP); Poverty headcount, gap, and severity; Gini index and inequality measures; Country, regional, and global aggregates; API access (pipR, pip.ado); National poverty headcount ratios; Inequality (Gini) by country; Shared prosperity (growth of bottom 40%); Poverty trends over time; $2.15/day international (extreme) poverty line; $3.65 and $6.85/day higher poverty lines; number of people in poverty by country/region; Gini coefficient; custom poverty-line calculator; Global poverty headcounts at international poverty lines ($2.15, $3.65, $6.85 2017 PPP); Gini and other inequality measures by country/region/year; Aggregates for regional, income, and World Bank lending groups; Public PIP data API plus R (pipR) and Stata (pip.ado) wrappers; Extreme poverty headcounts at international poverty lines; Country, regional, and global poverty/inequality estimates; Distributional and shared-prosperity indicators; Global, regional, and country poverty headcount ratios at international poverty lines; Inequality (Gini) and welfare distribution estimates from harmonized household surveys; Breakdowns by age, gender, education, urban/rural, and infrastructure access; Open API plus R/Stata wrappers; open-source R calculation code on GitHub; Global/regional/national poverty headcount at $2.15, $3.65, and $6.85/day (2017 PPP) lines; Gini index and income/consumption distribution data; Number of poor and poverty gap by country and year; Shared prosperity and median income estimates; Poverty headcount ratios at the international poverty lines ($2.15, $3.65, $6.85 per day, 2017 PPP); Poverty gap and poverty severity measures; Gini index and other inequality indicators; Country-, regional-, and global-level estimates for 160+ economies; Global and regional poverty nowcasts (extrapolations to current year); Downloadable CSV underlying every chart; programmatic access via PIP API, pipR (R) and pip.ado (Stata)

June 2025 Update to the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP)

primary-intlglobalreportWorld Bank GroupFederal & global frameworks / policy

Technical documentation of the June 2025 data and methodology update to the World Bank's Poverty and Inequality Platform, describing revisions to the global poverty estimates, survey coverage, and poverty-line series.

Datapoints: Revised global and regional poverty estimates; Survey data coverage and vintage changes; Methodological notes on PPP and poverty-line updates

World Bank Poverty, Prosperity and Planet Report

primary-intlglobalreportWorld Bank GroupFederal & global frameworks / policy

World Bank flagship report (successor to Poverty and Shared Prosperity) assessing global progress toward ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, including post-pandemic trends and the interaction of poverty with climate.

Datapoints: Global extreme-poverty trends (~831M in extreme poverty); Shared prosperity and inequality assessment; Poverty-climate interactions

Screening for Food Insecurity in Six VA Clinics for the Homeless (CDC PCD)

primary-govnationalreportCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (Preventing Chronic Disease)Veterans housing & food

CDC peer-reviewed study screening food insecurity among veterans at six VA homeless clinics, documenting high prevalence at the housing/food intersection that informed the national VA screener.

Datapoints: Food insecurity prevalence among veterans at VA homeless clinics (Jun-Dec 2015); Association between homelessness/housing instability and food insecurity; Single-item screening tool validation; Clinic-level results across six sites

Congressional Research Service: Veterans and Homelessness (RL34024)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research Service / Library of CongressVeterans housing & food

Nonpartisan CRS report synthesizing data, program history, funding, and policy on veteran homelessness, an authoritative reference for how HUD-VASH, SSVF, and GPD are funded and have performed.

Datapoints: Program funding histories (HUD-VASH, SSVF, GPD); Trend data on veteran homelessness counts; Risk factors and policy issues; Federal interagency strategy and legislation

HAC Veterans Data Central

othernationaldashboardHousing Assistance Council (sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.)Veterans housing & food

Interactive dashboard of social, economic, and housing characteristics of U.S. veterans at national, state, and county levels (metro vs. non-metro), including veteran homelessness and housing affordability.

Datapoints: County-level veteran population and housing characteristics; State veteran fact sheets (infographic format); Margin-of-error / reliability color coding on estimates; Maps for selected state and county measures; Veteran population and demographics; Veteran housing characteristics and cost burden; Rural vs. urban veteran comparisons; Veteran population counts and demographics; Veteran employment, income, and occupation; Veteran homeownership/rental status and housing affordability; VA loan originations and lending patterns; Veteran homelessness statistics

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV)

othernationalorg-hubNational Coalition for Homeless VeteransVeterans housing & food

The only national organization solely focused on ending veteran homelessness; runs a referral helpline, publishes fact sheets and policy analysis, and connects 2,100+ community-based veteran service providers.

Datapoints: Network of 2,100+ community-based homeless veteran service providers; Veteran homelessness fact sheets and statistics; Annual report and policy/legislative analysis; Referral helpline for veterans at risk of homelessness

NCHV Veteran Homelessness statistics page

othernationalarticleNational Coalition for Homeless VeteransVeterans housing & food

NCHV's summary of the scale and drivers of veteran homelessness, synthesizing VA and HUD estimates with risk factors and the case for federal programs.

Datapoints: Estimated veterans homeless on a given night and over a year; Drivers/risk factors (poverty, lack of support networks, PTSD, substance use); Subpopulation estimates (e.g., post-9/11 veterans); Links to VA/HUD primary data

National Homeless Information Project - Veterans Data

othernationaldatasetNational Homeless Information Project (Technical Assistance Collaborative)Veterans housing & food

Repository of veteran-specific homelessness data files and analytic tools, including HUD-VASH utilization and allocation by public housing authority and program exit studies.

Datapoints: HUD-VASH allocation by housing authority (historical); HUD-VASH utilization by PHA (all ~500 PHAs); HUD-VASH cost analysis by PHA; HUD-VASH Exit Study (7,000+ veterans, 2009-2014); Functional Zero federal benchmark generation tool

Studying Veteran food insecurity longitudinally via EHR data and NLP (study)

primary-govnationalreportNIH National Library of Medicine (PMC) / medRxivVeterans housing & food

Peer-reviewed study using VA electronic health record data and natural language processing to track veteran food insecurity over time, advancing measurement beyond the point-in-time screener.

Datapoints: Longitudinal food insecurity prevalence among veterans; NLP extraction of food-insecurity signals from clinical notes; Persistence/transitions in food insecurity status; Correlation with housing instability and health outcomes

Risk factors for Veteran food insecurity: National VA Food Insecurity Screener (study)

primary-govnationalreportPublic Health Nutrition / NIH National Library of Medicine (PMC)Veterans housing & food

Peer-reviewed analysis of the national VA food insecurity screener identifying prevalence and risk factors for food insecurity among screened veterans, a primary-source benchmark for the topic.

Datapoints: National food insecurity prevalence among screened veterans; 3,513,321 screens completed in first 18 months after national rollout; Risk factors (mental health, income, housing instability, demographics); Screening implementation timeline

HUD-VASH - HUD.gov program page

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentVeterans housing & food

HUD's authoritative page on the Housing Choice Voucher component of HUD-VASH, including voucher allocation, public housing authority (PHA) administration, and program rules.

Datapoints: Cumulative HUD-VASH voucher awards (116,000+ since 2008); Tribal HUD-VASH rental subsidies; PHA administration in every state, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam; Voucher allocation methodology

HUD Exchange - VA / VASH programs and HMIS participation

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Exchange)Veterans housing & food

HUD Exchange technical hub for how VA homeless programs participate in HMIS and coordinated entry, with guidance, data standards, and program resources used by CoCs and grantees.

Datapoints: HMIS data standards for VA programs (SSVF, GPD, HCHV); Coordinated entry and by-name-list guidance; Federal partner data-sharing requirements; HUD-VASH program resources and toolkits

Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA program providing outreach, exams, treatment, referrals, and contracted residential treatment that serves as a gateway connecting homeless veterans to VA and community services.

Datapoints: Outreach and case management contacts; Contracted residential (community) treatment beds; Linkage to clinical and housing programs; Coordinated entry / gateway function

HUD-VASH (HUD-VA Supportive Housing) - VA program page

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA's page for the permanent supportive housing program that pairs HUD Housing Choice Vouchers with VA case management and clinical services for homeless veterans.

Datapoints: Program model: HCV rental subsidy + VA case management; Eligibility and referral pathway; Over 116,000 HUD-VASH vouchers awarded since 2008 (incl. Tribal HUD-VASH); Availability in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam

National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans (NCHAV)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA's research and policy center (established 2009) on veteran homelessness, conducting population-based studies, developing program models, and disseminating best practices through briefs, publications, reports, and training materials with 35+ affiliated researchers.

Datapoints: Returns-to-homelessness rates among veterans (2018-2022); Predictive models for homelessness among transitioning service members; Risk-factor and intervention research; Practice/implementation models and toolkits; Epidemiology of veteran homelessness; Mental and physical health outcomes among homeless veterans; Program evaluation (HUD-VASH, HCHV, Grant & Per Diem); Research briefs, publications, and training resources

NCHAV Research Publications library

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

Curated library of peer-reviewed publications and longer reports on veteran homelessness produced by NCHAV researchers and affiliates.

Datapoints: Rates and Predictors of Returns to Homelessness Among Veterans, 2018-2022; Predicting Homelessness Among Transitioning U.S. Army Soldiers; Housing instability and homelessness risk-factor studies; Health-services research on homeless/unstably housed veterans

Point-in-Time (PIT) Count - VA Homeless Programs

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA's explainer and results page for the annual HUD-led Point-in-Time count of veterans experiencing homelessness on a single January night, the primary national measure of progress toward ending veteran homelessness.

Datapoints: Single-night count of veterans experiencing homelessness (32,495 in Jan 2025); Sheltered vs. unsheltered split (18,877 sheltered / 13,851 unsheltered, 2025); Record low since measurement began in 2009; 56.1% reduction since 2010; Year-over-year trend; next count scheduled January 2027

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) - VA overview

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA's overview of SSVF, which funds community grantees to deliver homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing to very low-income veteran families.

Datapoints: Program model: rapid re-housing + homelessness prevention; Eligibility (very low-income veteran households); Grantee network across the country; Program launch date (Oct 1, 2011)

VA Homeless Programs (program hub)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA's central hub for 14 homeless-veteran programs and services, including housing, health care, employment, and justice outreach, with national Point-in-Time count data on veteran homelessness trends.

Datapoints: Links to HUD-VASH, SSVF, Grant & Per Diem (GPD), Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV); Point-in-Time count results and trend articles; Annual demographics breakdown of veterans assessed for VA homeless programs; National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans (NCHAV) portal; 2025 Point-in-Time Count: veteran homelessness down 56% since 2010; Programs: HUD-VASH, SSVF, GPD, HCHV, HPACT, NCHAV, Veterans Justice Programs; Research briefs on veteran hospital usage and program outcomes; National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (877-424-3838)

VA Homeless Programs Demographics Breakdown (annual)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

Annual demographic profile of veterans assessed for VA homeless programs, broken out by characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, gender, and service era, drawn from FY administrative data.

Datapoints: Counts of veterans assessed for VA homeless programs by fiscal year; Race/ethnicity distribution; Age and gender breakdowns; Service-connected and program-enrollment characteristics

VA Homeless Providers Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans housing & food

VA's largest transitional housing program, awarding grants to community-based organizations since 1994 to provide transitional housing with wraparound services for veterans experiencing homelessness.

Datapoints: Grant types: Per Diem Only, Special Need, Transition-In-Place (TIP), Case Management; Special Need target populations (women, chronic mental illness, frail elderly, caregivers of minors); Per diem reimbursement rates; Grantee/provider network

VHA Food Security Office

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration, Nutrition & Food Services)Veterans housing & food

VHA office responsible for veteran food security through partnerships, data management, research, and education, including the national food insecurity clinical screener and food-access initiatives.

Datapoints: VA food insecurity clinical reminder/screener (single-item since 2017; validated 2-item since April 2021); Over 10 million screenings of ~7 million veterans since 2017; Positive-screen referral pathway (social worker / dietitian; 3-month rescreen); Food is Medicine, VA Food Hub Pilot, onsite food pantries

VA Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) Program

primary-govnationaltoolU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VHA Nutrition & Food Services)Veterans housing & food

National VA program teaching veterans nutrition knowledge and cooking skills through in-person and virtual classes, a key food-security and chronic-disease intervention paired with food insecurity screening.

Datapoints: Class formats (demonstration, hands-on, cook-along; in-person and VA Video Connect); Eligibility (VA-enrolled veterans plus a support person); Site coverage across VA facilities nationwide; Nutrition/cooking curriculum

Mecklenburg County Housing & Homelessness Dashboard - Veteran homelessness

otherstate-NCdashboardMecklenburg County / UNC Charlotte Urban InstituteVeterans housing & food

County-level interactive dashboard and articles tracking veteran homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a model NC by-name-list reporting system useful as a methodological comparator for WNC.

Datapoints: Active veterans experiencing homelessness (e.g., 138 as of Sep 30, 2025); Chronically homeless veteran count (37); By-name-list / functional zero tracking; Housing placements and inflow/outflow

NC BoS Regional Veteran Resource Guide 2025

local-authoritystate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NC Balance of State CoC)Veterans housing & food

Directory mapping veteran housing, SSVF, HUD-VASH, and support resources by region across the NC Balance of State Continuum of Care, including Western NC providers.

Datapoints: Region-by-region veteran service provider directory; SSVF grantee coverage areas in NC; HUD-VASH and VA medical center contacts; Crisis/helpline numbers for veterans

NC Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs - Housing programs guide

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NCDMVA)Veterans housing & food

State government guide to homelessness prevention, NC housing agencies, and VA housing programs available to North Carolina veterans.

Datapoints: NC housing agency contacts for veterans; VA housing program eligibility summaries; Homelessness prevention resources; State-level veteran benefits linkages

ABCCM Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM)Veterans housing & food

246-bed transitional housing facility in Asheville for male veterans experiencing homelessness, providing meals, case management, counseling, and transportation to VA appointments, a key local GPD/transitional resource.

Datapoints: 246-bed transitional housing capacity; Meals, case management, counseling, computer lab; Transportation to Charles George VAMC; Skill-building, education, and employment pathways to permanent housing

ABCCM Veterans Services of the Carolinas (SSVF grantee)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM)Veterans housing & food

Asheville-based ABCCM division and VA SSVF grantee delivering housing, employment, outreach, and call-center coordination for veterans across North Carolina; operates traditional SSVF and Shallow Subsidy programs.

Datapoints: Veteran households rapidly re-housed and prevented from homelessness (e.g., 163 re-housed / 165 prevented in 2021); SSVF and Shallow Subsidy program activity; Employment and outreach service coordination; NCServes Western Network coordination

Homeward Bound of WNC - Veterans Programs

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubHomeward Bound of WNCVeterans housing & food

Buncombe County housing-first nonprofit whose veterans programs provide short-term financial support and case management to veterans and families at imminent risk of, or already experiencing, homelessness.

Datapoints: Short-term financial assistance for at-risk veterans; Case management and rapid re-housing in Buncombe County; Coordinated entry participation; Housing-first model outcomes

VA Asheville Health Care - Homeless Veteran Care services

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Charles George VAMC / WNC VA Health Care System)Veterans housing & food

Local services page for homeless and at-risk veterans served by the Charles George VA Medical Center covering a 23-county Western NC area, including immediate food/shelter, transitional, and permanent housing help.

Datapoints: Service catchment: ~49,000 veterans across 23 WNC counties; Immediate food and shelter coordination; HUD-VASH, GPD, and HCHV access locally; Outpatient clinic locations (Franklin, Hickory, Forest City)

Chapin Hall — Voices of Youth Count (youth homelessness national estimates)

primary-academicnationalreportChapin Hall at the University of ChicagoChildren, schools & youth

A national research and policy initiative on youth and young-adult homelessness in the United States, producing the first nationally representative prevalence estimates and a series of research-to-impact briefs. The original voicesofyouthcount.org domain now resolves to Chapin Hall, which hosts the body of work.

Datapoints: 1 in 10 young adults (18-25) experience homelessness over a year; 1 in 30 adolescents (13-17) experience homelessness over a year; National survey of 26,161 respondents; Risk factors and subgroup disparities (LGBTQ, Black/Hispanic youth, parenting youth); About 1 in 30 youth ages 13-17 experience some form of homelessness annually; About 1 in 10 young adults ages 18-25 experience homelessness annually (~3.5 million young adults); LGBTQ youth at 120% higher risk; Black youth at 83% higher risk; unmarried parenting youth at 200% higher risk; lacking a high school diploma/GED is the single strongest correlate; 1 in 10 young adults ages 18-25 experience some form of homelessness over a 12-month period; 1 in 30 adolescents ages 13-17 experience homelessness unaccompanied by a parent or guardian over a year; Approximately 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness annually; Elevated risk for Black and Hispanic youth, LGBTQ youth, young parents, and those without a high school diploma; 1 in 30 adolescents (13-17) experience homelessness over a year (~700,000 minors); 4.3% prevalence rate for households with 13-17 year-olds; Broad-definition measures including couch-surfing and running away; 1 in 10 young adults (18-25, 9.7%, ~3.5M) experience homelessness in a year; 1 in 30 adolescents (13-17, 4.3%, ~700,000) experience homelessness in a year; elevated risk for Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ youth, young parents, and non-high-school-completers; broad definition including running away and couch surfing; 1 in 30 adolescents ages 13-17 experience homelessness annually; Elevated risk for LGBTQ youth, Black/Hispanic youth, and those without a high school diploma; Prevalence of couch-surfing and hidden homelessness undercounted by point-in-time methods

Children's HealthWatch — Research Findings & Data

primary-academicnationalorg-hubChildren's HealthWatch (pediatrician/researcher network; Boston Medical Center and partner hospitals)Children, schools & youth

Nonpartisan network collecting data in urban hospitals on infants and toddlers in economically hard-pressed families, documenting links between food insecurity, housing instability, energy insecurity, and child health/development.

Datapoints: Food insecurity prevalence among young children and their households; Cumulative hardship (food + housing + energy) effects on child health; Housing instability and homelessness child-health outcomes; Hidden / underreported food stress findings; 27+ years of harmonized data (Democratizing Our Data)

Feeding America — Map the Meal Gap (Child Food Insecurity, county-level)

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapFeeding AmericaChildren, schools & youth

The only study providing local (county and congressional-district) estimates of food insecurity and food costs, with a dedicated child food insecurity layer. Buncombe County (NC) child view linked; the tool covers every U.S. county.

Datapoints: Child food insecurity rate and number of food-insecure children by county; Children eligible vs. likely ineligible for federal nutrition programs; Cost per meal and food budget shortfall; Overall (all-ages) food insecurity rate for comparison

FRAC — School Breakfast Scorecard & Reach Reports

established-research-orgnationalreportFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)Children, schools & youth

FRAC's annual analyses of school meal reach, including the School Breakfast Scorecard, the Reach of School Breakfast and Lunch report, and Healthy School Meals for All tracking, comparing participation across states and districts.

Datapoints: School breakfast participation (e.g., ~15.4M children, SY2023-24); Free/reduced-price breakfast participation (~12.2M); Breakfast-to-lunch ratio (58.1 per 100, SY2023-24); Federal dollars lost by under-serving low-income students; State Healthy School Meals for All adoption

NCES — Public School Students Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (Fast Facts & COE indicator)

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES)Children, schools & youth

NCES indicator and Fast Facts tracking the concentration of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL) as the standard school-level poverty measure, with high-poverty/low-poverty school classifications.

Datapoints: Number/percent of public school students eligible for FRPL; School poverty concentration tiers (low <=25%, mid-low, mid-high, high >75%); FRPL eligibility thresholds (free <=130% FPL; reduced <=185% FPL); Distribution of students/schools by poverty level and locale

NCES — Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (Condition of Education indicator)

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationChildren, schools & youth

NCES Condition of Education indicator presenting trends in the number and share of public-school students identified as homeless, with breakdowns by nighttime residence and student group.

Datapoints: Number/percentage of public school students experiencing homelessness over time; Distribution by primary nighttime residence; Breakdowns by selected student characteristics

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) — Data Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubNational Center for Homeless Education (U.S. Dept. of Education-funded technical assistance center, SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro)Children, schools & youth

The federally funded clearinghouse for data on children and youth experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act. Hosts the annual federal data summaries, topic-specific briefs, and an editable national/state/local data sheet drawn from ED's EDFacts collection.

Datapoints: Number of students experiencing homelessness identified/enrolled (national + state); Primary nighttime residence / housing type (doubled-up, shelters, hotels/motels, unsheltered); Subgroup counts (unaccompanied youth, children with disabilities, English learners, migratory); Chronic absenteeism among homeless students; Graduation rates (4-, 5-, 6-year adjusted cohort) for homeless students; Early childhood (young children) homelessness counts; McKinney-Vento subgrant award counts and served students

Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness — Federal Data Summary SY 2021-22 to 2023-24

primary-govnationalreportNational Center for Homeless Education / U.S. Department of EducationChildren, schools & youth

The most recent annual federal data summary on student homelessness, analyzing EDFacts state-reported data across three school years. The authoritative national count of students experiencing homelessness and their characteristics.

Datapoints: Total students experiencing homelessness identified per school year; Demographic characteristics and subgroup breakdowns; Housing situations / primary nighttime residence distribution; Chronic absenteeism rates; Early childhood homelessness; Graduation outcomes

No Kid Hungry — Center for Best Practices (School Breakfast & program data)

othernationalorg-hubNo Kid Hungry / Share Our StrengthChildren, schools & youth

No Kid Hungry's practitioner hub aggregating national learning, data, and implementation tools on school breakfast, summer meals, afterschool meals, and SNAP, for schools, districts, and state agencies.

Datapoints: School breakfast participation and best-practice models (breakfast after the bell, etc.); Summer and afterschool meals program guidance and reach; Child hunger statistics and program funding context

Annie E. Casey Foundation — KIDS COUNT Data Center & Data Book

established-research-orgnationaldashboardThe Annie E. Casey FoundationChildren, schools & youth

The premier national/state/local child well-being data system, with hundreds of indicators and an annual Data Book ranking states on 16 measures across Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family & Community.

Datapoints: Child poverty rate (national/state/county); Children in food-insecure households; Education, health, and family/community indicators; State rankings and the 0-1000 well-being score (2026 method); Local-level filtering via the Data Center

Ed Data Express — McKinney-Vento Homeless Students Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Department of Education (EDFacts / Ed Data Express)Children, schools & youth

Interactive federal dashboard of homeless student data drawn from the EDFacts collection, filterable by state, district, and school year (2010-11 onward). Includes a data-download tool for the underlying figures.

Datapoints: Number of homeless enrolled students by primary nighttime residence over time; Program appropriations / funding by fiscal year; Proficiency gap between all students and homeless students (reading/math); State- and district-level filtering; EDFacts File Specifications 118, 170, 175, 178 (Data Groups 655, 818, 583, 584)

USDA ERS — Child Nutrition Programs / National School Lunch Program (research & data)

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)Children, schools & youth

ERS research topic page with historical participation and cost data for the National School Lunch Program and related child nutrition programs, with downloadable national data sets.

Datapoints: Annual NSLP participation (children, schools); Meals served by category (free/reduced/paid); Federal program costs over time; Community Eligibility Provision context

USDA FNS — Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceChildren, schools & youth

Hub for the federal program that reimburses meals and snacks served to children in child care centers, family day care homes, Head Start, afterschool programs, and emergency shelters.

Datapoints: Meals/snacks served in child care and afterschool settings; Participating centers and family day care homes; At-risk afterschool meals component; Reimbursement tiers and eligibility

USDA FNS — School Breakfast Program

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceChildren, schools & youth

Official hub for the federal School Breakfast Program providing free and reduced-price breakfasts, with program data, eligibility rules, and reimbursement rates.

Datapoints: Breakfasts served and children participating; Free/reduced-price breakfast participation; Reimbursement rates and severe-need rates; Eligibility thresholds

USDA FNS — Summer Nutrition Programs (SFSP, SUN Meals & SUN Bucks/Summer EBT)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceChildren, schools & youth

Hub for federal summer child nutrition programs covering the Summer Food Service Program (SUN Meals) and the newer Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) grocery benefit, including eligibility, state participation, and program data.

Datapoints: Summer meals served and sites/sponsors; Summer EBT benefit amount ($120 per eligible child) and participating states/Tribes/territories; Eligibility linkage to NSLP/SBP and SNAP/TANF/FDPIR; Rural non-congregate (to-go) meal options

USDA Food & Nutrition — National School Lunch Program (program & data hub)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (now Food and Nutrition Administration)Children, schools & youth

Official program hub for the National School Lunch Program, the federal entitlement providing free and reduced-price lunches in ~100,000 schools. Links to participation/meals-served data, reimbursement rates, and eligibility rules.

Datapoints: Lunches served per year (4.8+ billion FY2024) and total program cost; Free / reduced-price / paid meal counts; Eligibility thresholds (130% and 185% of federal poverty line); National average payment / reimbursement rates by school year

NC Child — Data Center & 2025 County Data Dashboard

local-authoritystate-NCdashboardNC Child (North Carolina's KIDS COUNT partner)Children, schools & youth

North Carolina's child well-being data center with 35+ measures statewide and for all 100 counties (including Buncombe), spanning health, education, early childhood, and family economic security including child food insecurity.

Datapoints: Children in food-insecure households (~19% NC, 2023); Child poverty rate by county; Health, education, and early childhood indicators; County-level and legislative-district filtering; Children in poor/low-income households (~40% in 2023); Children in food-insecure households (~19% in 2023); Subsidy-eligible children, child-care facilities by county; Pediatric behavioral-health visits

NC DPI — Homeless Education & McKinney-Vento Programs

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Public InstructionChildren, schools & youth

NC DPI's official page for McKinney-Vento administration, including subgrant RFPs, Title I set-aside guidance for homeless children/youth, and links to state coordination.

Datapoints: State McKinney-Vento subgrant application/award information; Title I set-aside requirements for homeless students; State homeless education coordinator contact; Compliance and monitoring guidance

NC DPI Office of School Nutrition — Data & Reports

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Office of School NutritionChildren, schools & youth

NC's state office for child nutrition program data, including school meal participation, free/reduced-price eligibility, and Community Eligibility Provision participation across NC districts.

Datapoints: NC school meal participation (breakfast/lunch) by district; Free/reduced-price eligibility data; Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) participating schools; Program operations and financial reports; Free/reduced-price meal eligibility by district; Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) participation; Meals served and program participation; School meal debt

North Carolina Homeless Education Program (NCHEP)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubSERVE Center at UNC Greensboro (under contract with NC Dept. of Public Instruction)Children, schools & youth

The state-level office implementing McKinney-Vento in North Carolina, providing law/guidance, district liaison support, training, and state data on students experiencing homelessness.

Datapoints: NC counts of students experiencing homelessness; McKinney-Vento subgrant awards to NC LEAs; District liaison directory and eligibility guidance; Local district profiles and case examples

Asheville City Schools — McKinney-Vento / Youth in Transition

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubAsheville City SchoolsChildren, schools & youth

Local district program for students experiencing homelessness, with the district's McKinney-Vento liaison, eligibility information, and the services provided to identified students.

Datapoints: 176-192 McKinney-Vento-eligible students identified annually (district ~4,400 students); Predominant situation: doubled-up housing; Services: transportation to school of origin, supplies, clothing, tutoring, FAFSA help; District liaison / Youth in Transition coordinator contact

Buncombe County Schools — Homeless Education

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County SchoolsChildren, schools & youth

Buncombe County's district homeless education program page covering McKinney-Vento rights, eligibility, the district liaison, and supports for students experiencing homelessness in the county's largest school system.

Datapoints: District identification of students experiencing homelessness; McKinney-Vento rights and enrollment protections; District homeless liaison contact and services; Referral and support resources

MANNA FoodBank — Children & Food Insecurity (MANNA Packs for Kids)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMANNA FoodBank (Asheville, NC)Children, schools & youth

The regional Feeding America food bank for 16 WNC counties plus the Qualla Boundary, operating the MANNA Packs for Kids weekend backpack program for students on free school meals, with local child hunger data.

Datapoints: ~25,000 children food-insecure in WNC; 1 in 4 WNC children food-insecure; MANNA Packs for Kids serves 4,800+ WNC students weekly (1M+ packs cumulative); 16-county + Qualla Boundary service area; Partner network distribution volume

AARP Livability Index

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapAARP Public Policy InstituteAging & disability

Free interactive tool that scores any U.S. community across seven livability categories using 61 indicators (40 metrics + 21 policies), drawing on more than 50 data sources. Users can search by address, compare communities, and customize the weighting of categories.

Datapoints: Housing affordability and accessibility scores by locality; Transportation, health, and engagement metrics; Comparison to national averages; 61 indicators from 50+ national data sources; Searchable by address/ZIP for AVL; Seven categories: Housing, Neighborhood, Transportation, Environment, Health, Engagement, Opportunity; 61 indicators (40 metrics, 21 policies); scores 0-100 with 50 as the national average; 23 metrics scored at the neighborhood scale (census block, block group, tract, or high school district); Housing affordability and accessibility, transit frequency/coverage, walkability, healthcare access, jobs, environmental quality, civic amenities, natural hazard exposure

ACL Food Insecurity (Senior Nutrition)

primary-govnationalarticleAdministration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. HHSAging & disability

ACL overview of food insecurity among older adults, summarizing prevalence, root causes (fixed incomes, trade-offs between food, health care, and utilities), and at-risk groups, with links to federal nutrition programs.

Datapoints: Older adults food-insecure count and share; Disproportionate impact on older adults of color, those living alone, with disabilities, and veterans; Financial root-cause framing (fixed incomes)

ACL Senior Nutrition — Data & Reports

primary-govnationalorg-hubAdministration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. HHSAging & disability

ACL's hub linking the authoritative datasets, surveys, and dashboards behind the Older Americans Act (Title III-C) nutrition programs that fund congregate and home-delivered meals nationwide.

Datapoints: Links to AGID program data portal; National Survey of OAA Participants (NSOAAP) results; OAA Title III allocation tables by state; Profile of Older Americans demographic report; Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard; National Core Indicators - Aging and Disabilities

AGID — AGing, Independence, and Disability Program Data Portal

primary-govnationaldatasetAdministration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. HHSAging & disability

ACL's primary data portal offering data, maps, and statistical reports on aging and disability, including programmatic information on Older Americans Act services (nutrition, home-delivered/congregate meals) and demographic/racial profiles of people served in all 50 states and territories.

Datapoints: State Program Reports (SPR) on OAA services; Home-delivered and congregate meals served by state/territory; Number of OAA program participants and units of service; Demographic and racial profile of clients served; Census/ACS population reference data for aging; Custom tables, maps, and report builder

National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants (NSOAAP)

othernationaldatasetAdministration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. HHSAging & disability

Annual nationally representative survey of recipients of OAA-funded services (home-delivered meals, congregate meals, case management, transportation, caregiver support), used to assess outcomes and demographics of those served.

Datapoints: Self-reported health improvement among meal recipients; Average age of congregate and home-delivered meal clients; Food security and ADL/IADL status of participants; Service satisfaction and reliance on the program; Demographics (income, living alone, race/ethnicity)

Profile of Older Americans

primary-govnationalreportAdministration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. HHSAging & disability

ACL's annual statistical profile of the 65+ U.S. population, compiling Census/ACS data on demographics, income, poverty, living arrangements, health, disability, and housing.

Datapoints: Population 65+ size and growth; Poverty rate among older adults; Living-alone share; Disability prevalence by age; Median income and income sources; Housing tenure and cost burden

Feeding America — The State of Senior Hunger in America

established-research-orgnationalreportFeeding America (research by Drs. James P. Ziliak & Craig Gundersen)Aging & disability

Annual study estimating food insecurity among adults 60+ at the national, state, and large-metro levels, the canonical academic source for senior food-insecurity rates and disparities.

Datapoints: National count and rate of food-insecure adults 60+; State-level senior food insecurity rates (ND lowest to LA highest); Rates for 51 large metro areas; Disparities by race/ethnicity, income, marital status, disability, renter vs owner; Trend vs prior years

FRAC — Hunger Among Older Adults

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubFood Research & Action Center (FRAC)Aging & disability

FRAC's senior-hunger hub linking primers, SNAP participation analysis, and a state SNAP map (with AARP Foundation) on household participation among adults 60+.

Datapoints: ~13.5% of adults 60+ food insecure (post-COVID, ~60% increase); ~42% SNAP participation among eligible seniors vs 83% overall; Senior household food insecurity ~9.5%; LA highest, ND lowest; State SNAP participation among 60+ households

Harvard JCHS — Housing America's Older Adults 2023

primary-academicnationalreportHarvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)Aging & disability

Biennial signature report on the housing conditions, affordability, and accessibility needs of the aging U.S. population, warning the country is unprepared to house and care for a soaring older-adult population.

Datapoints: Population 65+ grew 34% in a decade (43M to 58M, 2012-2022); ~11.2 million older adults cost burdened (>30% income on housing); Affordability of paid caregiving / assisted living (14% / 13% of single 75+); Racial home-equity gap ($123K Black vs $251K white older homeowners); Accessibility and aging-in-place housing supply; ~11.2 million older adults cost burdened in 2021 (all-time high; >30% of income on housing); About 1 in 3 older households is cost burdened; Share of homeowners 80+ carrying a mortgage rose from 3% (1989) to 31%; Only 13% of adults 75+ across 97 metros could afford assisted living without drawing down assets; Nearly 11.2 million older adults cost burdened in 2021 (all-time high, >30% of income on housing); Population 65+ grew 34% over the decade, from 43M (2012) to 58M (2022); Older renters hold only 2% of the net wealth of older homeowners; Older Black homeowners' housing equity $123,000 vs. $251,000 for older white homeowners; Cost burdens concentrated among renters, homeowners with mortgages, and households 80+; U.S. population 65+ grew 34% from 43M (2012) to 58M (2022); Fastest coming-decade growth among those over 80; Nearly 11.2 million older adults cost burdened in 2021 (all-time high); Cost-burden threshold: spending >30% of income on housing; Accessible/affordable/service-coordinated housing supply gaps

Justice in Aging — Senior Poverty & Economic Security

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubJustice in AgingAging & disability

National legal advocacy organization's research and issue briefs on senior poverty, economic security (Social Security/SSI), housing, and homelessness among low-income older adults, with an equity lens.

Datapoints: ~5 million older Americans living on less than $1,000/month; Over 8 million seniors in poverty; Social Security/SSI lifting 16.5M+ older adults out of poverty; Older-adult homelessness and eviction trends; Disparities for women, people of color, LGBTQ+ elders

Meals on Wheels America — Research and Data Library

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubMeals on Wheels AmericaAging & disability

The national network's research library of evidence on senior hunger and isolation, including fact sheets, evaluation studies, and state-by-state data drawn from Census and OAA-funded provider data.

Datapoints: Seniors who worry about having enough food (~14 million); Evidence base for meal delivery reducing isolation and hospitalization; Provider network reach and waitlist data; At-risk subgroups (older adults of color, living alone, disabled, veterans)

NCOA — Get the Facts on Food Insecurity and Older Adults

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Council on Aging (NCOA)Aging & disability

NCOA's continuously updated fact page on senior food insecurity, aggregating prevalence, disability disparities, renter vs owner gaps, and projected growth, with citations to federal and academic sources.

Datapoints: ~7 million older Americans food insecure (2022); projected ~9 million by 2050; ~7.4 million seniors 60+ food insecure (2023); Disability disparity: 16.2% vs 6.9% for non-disabled peers; Renters 3x more likely food insecure than homeowners; Health consequences (diabetes, depression, ADL limits)

NCOA — Get the Facts on SNAP and Senior Hunger

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Council on Aging (NCOA)Aging & disability

NCOA fact page on SNAP and older adults, documenting how the majority of SNAP-eligible seniors do not enroll and the mobility/technology/stigma barriers behind low participation.

Datapoints: Over half of SNAP-eligible adults 60+ do not participate; ~6.5 million low-income adults 60+ rely on SNAP; Barriers: mobility, technology, stigma, program myths; Average senior SNAP benefit

U.S. Census Bureau — Older Population and Aging

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Census BureauAging & disability

Census Bureau hub for data, reports, and county-level maps on the 65+ population, including the report 'Older Americans With a Disability' and ACS-based profiles covering disability, living arrangements, poverty, and housing.

Datapoints: Population 65+ size (55.8M in 2020, +38.6% since 2010); Disability prevalence among 65+ and 90+; Living-alone, poverty, and homeownership rates; County-level maps of the 65+ population and disability; ACS 1-year and 5-year estimates

HUD — Multifamily Housing for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (Section 202 & 811)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Aging & disability

HUD's program hub for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly (62+) and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, covering capital advances, Project Rental Assistance, and eligibility.

Datapoints: Section 202 eligibility (very-low-income, 62+); Section 811 eligibility (disability, 18-61); Capital advance + PRAC structure; Program inventory of subsidized units

USAging (formerly n4a) — National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging / AAA Chartbook

othernationalreportUSAging (formerly National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, n4a)Aging & disability

Triennial national survey (with Scripps Gerontology Center) documenting trends across the Aging Network of Area Agencies on Aging, the organizations that administer OAA services locally, including the 2023 'More Older Adults, More Complex Needs' chartbook.

Datapoints: Share of AAAs providing home-delivered/congregate meals; Share providing transportation (89%) and home modification/repair (61%); Average partnerships per AAA (~17); Service gaps and waitlists; Funding-source mix for the aging network

USDA FNS — Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)Aging & disability

Federal program improving the health of low-income people 60+ with monthly USDA food packages; in WNC it is distributed locally via MANNA FoodBank and the Council on Aging of Buncombe County to homebound and low-income seniors.

Datapoints: Eligibility: low-income, age 60+; Monthly ~30-lb shelf-stable food box contents; Caseload allocations by state; Nutrition education component

Cornell DisabilityStatistics.org — Annual Disability Status Reports

othernationaldashboardYang-Tan Institute / Northeast ADA Center, Cornell University ILR SchoolAging & disability

Annual report series (2008-2024) summarizing population size, disability prevalence, employment, earnings, and household income for the working-age population with and without disabilities, for every U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Available in English and Spanish.

Datapoints: Disability prevalence by state/locality and age group (incl. 65+); Employment and earnings of people with disabilities; Household income and poverty by disability status; Disability type breakdowns; ACS 1-year custom estimates; Topics: disability prevalence, employment rate, earnings, household income, poverty, SSI receipt, education, health insurance, veterans service-connected disability; Demographic breakdowns by race, sex, education, and disability type; ACS 1-year PUMS-based custom estimates (national/state) and ACS 5-year table estimates (county/small area); Geographies down to census place (30,000+) and congressional district; Disability prevalence, employment rate, median earnings, and household income by state; Working-age comparisons: people with vs. without disabilities; Coverage: all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands; Years 2008-2024; bilingual (English/Spanish); Disability prevalence by type and age; Employment rate of people with disabilities; Median earnings and household income by disability status; State-level (incl. NC) estimates; Annual Disability Status Reports; Topics: prevalence, employment, full-time/full-year work, annual earnings, household income, poverty, SSI, education, health insurance, veterans' service-connected disability; Geography down to counties and 30,000+ census places (NC and Buncombe-level estimates available); Annual Disability Status Reports for 2008-2024; Built from ACS PUMS 1-year and Census ACS 5-year data; ACS disability estimates; employment by disability status; poverty by disability status; county-level disability prevalence; downloadable tables/maps; disability prevalence by type and geography; employment rate of people with disabilities; poverty rate among people with disabilities; ACS-based county and state estimates

Meals on Wheels America — America's Aging Population State Fact Sheets

established-research-orgstate-NCreportMeals on Wheels AmericaAging & disability

Customized state fact sheets (all 50 states + DC) presenting demographic trends, health statistics, and senior nutrition program utilization rates; includes a North Carolina sheet usable as the state-layer reference.

Datapoints: State 60+/65+ population projections; Senior food insecurity rate by state; Seniors living alone and in poverty; OAA meal program service-utilization rates; Health indicators (chronic conditions, isolation)

The State of Older Adult Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in North Carolina

primary-govstate-NCreportNC DHHS Division of Aging & Adult Services / NC Senior Hunger InitiativeAging & disability

NC-specific report from the NC Senior Hunger Initiative quantifying older-adult food insecurity and malnutrition statewide and outlining contributing factors and cross-sector solutions.

Datapoints: NC ranked 14th-highest in older-adult food insecurity (2020); Nearly 8% of adults 60+ food insecure in NC; Contributing factors: poverty, chronic conditions, living alone, isolation; Food-is-medicine / hospital-readmission pilot results

NC DHHS Division of Aging — Congregate and Home-Delivered Meals

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult ServicesAging & disability

NC's state administering agency for OAA nutrition services, describing the home-delivered and congregate meal programs funded through the Home and Community Care Block Grant and the providers (incl. Land of Sky region) that deliver them.

Datapoints: Eligibility for home-delivered meals (60+, frail/homebound/isolated); Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) structure; List of home-delivered meal agencies by county; Congregate meal site network

America's Health Rankings — Food Insecurity, Age 60+ (North Carolina)

otherstate-NCdashboardUnited Health Foundation (America's Health Rankings)Aging & disability

Interactive measure page showing North Carolina's senior (60+) food insecurity rate over time, with national ranking, demographic breakdowns, and comparison to other states.

Datapoints: NC food insecurity rate for adults 60+; National rank and trend; Breakdowns by race/ethnicity, income, and other factors; State-to-state comparison

Land of Sky Regional Council — Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubLand of Sky Regional CouncilAging & disability

The federally designated Area Agency on Aging for Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania Counties (the Asheville/WNC region), which plans and administers OAA and HCCBG services including home-delivered and congregate meals for older adults.

Datapoints: Four-county service area (Buncombe/Asheville, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania); FY26 HCCBG administration for the region; Nutrition, transportation, family caregiver, and in-home services; Local aging-services planning and needs assessment

MANNA FoodBank — What We Do (WNC senior food distribution)

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMANNA FoodBankAging & disability

The sole food bank serving Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary, whose partner-agency network and senior programs (including CSFP boxes with the Council on Aging) reach food-insecure older adults across the Asheville region.

Datapoints: WNC + Qualla Boundary service footprint; Partner agency network composition (pantries, senior programs, etc.); Senior-directed distribution (CSFP, home delivery partners); Pounds of food distributed regionally; 16 counties + Qualla Boundary served (6,434 sq mi); ~120,000+ food-insecure people in WNC (incl. ~25,000 children); 1 in 5 regional food-insecurity estimate; 158,775 people served per month avg (2023/24); 21.1M lbs / ~17.5M meals distributed; 47,945 meals/day; people food-insecure in WNC (120,000+, ~25,000 children); pounds of food distributed daily (50,000+); partner-agency network size (200+); 16-county WNC service area; 120,000+ food-insecure people in WNC; ~25,000 food-insecure children; 21.1M pounds of food distributed (2023/24); 300+ partner agencies; 16-county service area; Serves 16 WNC counties (incl. Buncombe, Henderson, Madison) plus the Qualla Boundary; FY2024-25: 22.8 million pounds of food distributed (~19 million meals); ~170,000 individuals served per month; Network of 200-300+ partner agencies; moves 50,000+ lbs/day

Meals on Wheels of Asheville & Buncombe County (MOWABC)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubMeals on Wheels of Asheville & Buncombe CountyAging & disability

Independent local nonprofit that for 45+ years has delivered weekly meals to homebound older adults across Asheville and Buncombe County, pairing nutrition with a safety check on isolated seniors.

Datapoints: Number of homebound older adults served weekly in Buncombe; Meals delivered per year; Volunteer driver network; Wellness-check safety component; ~700 homebound seniors served each weekday (more than any point in its ~50-year history); ~61% of seniors served live alone; 50 routes across ~660 square miles of county; added its 50th route in its 50th year; Expanded meal capacity ~70% since the pandemic, still keeps ~50 people on a waitlist; ~700 seniors served every week; 61% of those served live alone; 200+ pets fed weekly through the Pet Care program; 146,428 meals delivered last year (record high)

Appalachian Regional Commission - Food Insecurity in Appalachia

primary-govnationalreportAppalachian Regional CommissionRural & tribal

ARC analysis of food insecurity across the 423-county Appalachian region (which includes Western North Carolina), documenting disparities relative to national rates and county-level patterns.

Datapoints: Appalachian food-insecurity rates vs. U.S.; county-level food insecurity in Appalachia; rural vs. metro Appalachian disparities; child food insecurity in the region

USDA Rural Housing Programs: An Overview (CRS Report R47044)

primary-govnationalreportCongressional Research ServiceRural & tribal

Authoritative explainer of USDA rural housing programs, their statutory basis, funding levels, and the policy shift away from new Section 515 construction toward preservation.

Datapoints: program-by-program funding and authority; Section 502/504/515/521/514 structure; income eligibility rules; preservation vs. new-construction policy trends

St. Louis Fed - Investing in Rural Prosperity

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (with the Board of Governors)Rural & tribal

A comprehensive framework and case-study volume for successful rural development, addressing housing, capital access, and community wealth-building in rural America.

Datapoints: rural development framework (TECHS); rural housing and capital constraints; case studies of rural community investment; community-wealth strategies

Federal Reserve - Rural Community and Economic Development

primary-govnationalorg-hubFederal Reserve Board of GovernorsRural & tribal

The Fed's rural community-development hub, gathering research, surveys, and the Rural Learning Community covering rural housing, labor, and economic constraints.

Datapoints: rural economic disparities and structural challenges; loss of rural banks/hospitals; Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (rural cut); Small Business Credit Survey (rural); rural population stagnation

USDA Rural Development Housing Activity / Recent Obligations Reports

established-research-orgnationaldatasetHousing Assistance Council (tabulating USDA RHS data)Rural & tribal

Monthly and year-end tabulations of USDA Rural Housing Service loan and grant obligations by program and state, derived from data reported by RHS.

Datapoints: Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed loan obligations; Section 515 Rural Rental Housing; Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing; Section 504 repair loans/grants; obligations by state and fiscal year

Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs

primary-govnationalreportHUD USER / Urban Institute (for HUD PD&R)Rural & tribal

Congressionally mandated, landmark study including the first national survey of AIAN households in tribal areas, documenting overcrowding, physical housing deficiencies, and housing-cost burden.

Datapoints: overcrowding and doubled-up households; physical/plumbing/heating deficiencies; housing cost burden among AIAN households; homeownership and tenure in tribal areas; survey of 1,340 households across 38 tribal areas

Rural Health Information Hub - Food Access Toolkit

othernationaltoolRural Health Information Hub (Federal Office of Rural Health Policy)Rural & tribal

Evidence-based toolkit for designing rural food-access programs, with rural-specific food-insecurity statistics and program models addressing distance, transportation, and capacity barriers.

Datapoints: rural food-insecurity rate (15.5% vs 12.5% urban); rural-specific access barriers; program models and implementation guidance; funding and sustainability strategies

USDA Rural Housing by Tract (HUD/USDA GIS layer)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD GIS)Rural & tribal

Census-tract GIS layer identifying USDA Rural Housing assets and rural-eligible areas, usable for mapping rural housing investment geographically.

Datapoints: USDA rural housing assets by census tract; rural eligibility designation; geographic/spatial boundaries

FY2024 Report to Congress on Native American Housing (NAHASDA)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (ONAP)Rural & tribal

HUD's statutorily required (NAHASDA Section 407) annual report to Congress on the performance and outcomes of Native American housing block-grant programs.

Datapoints: IHBG funding by tribe/region; housing units produced and rehabilitated; program outcomes and challenges; NAHASDA implementation status

HUD Office of Native American Programs (CodeTalk)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (ONAP)Rural & tribal

The official hub for HUD's tribal housing programs, administering primary federal housing funding to nearly 600 sovereign Tribal nations, primarily through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG).

Datapoints: Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) allocations; Indian Community Development Block Grant; Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee; Title VI loan guarantees; IHBG performance tracking

ONAP Reports & IHBG Performance Data

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (ONAP)Rural & tribal

Collection of ONAP performance reports and the IHBG performance-tracking database, updated from Annual Performance Reports submitted by tribal housing recipients.

Datapoints: IHBG units developed/assisted; grant expenditure and obligation rates; Annual Performance Report (APR) metrics; recipient-level performance tracking

USDA ERS Rural Poverty & Well-Being

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Economic Research ServiceRural & tribal

ERS topic page tracking nonmetro poverty trends, persistent-poverty counties, and well-being indicators, with companion county-level datasets and the Poverty Area Measures product.

Datapoints: nonmetro poverty rate (approx. 13.7%); persistent-poverty counties; child poverty in rural areas; high/extreme/enduring poverty area measures; county-level poverty datasets

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceRural & tribal

Federal food-distribution program serving income-eligible households on reservations and in approved near-reservation/Oklahoma areas, with data on participating tribes and self-determination food sourcing.

Datapoints: number of participating tribes (~276); FDPIR participation/caseload; Self-Determination Demonstration Project sourcing; USDA Foods package composition; Native food insecurity (~1 in 4 Native Americans)

USDA Rural Development Datasets

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Rural DevelopmentRural & tribal

Official USDA RD open-data landing page providing program investment data (archived on Data.gov at least annually) across housing, community facilities, and rural infrastructure.

Datapoints: RD program investments by state/county; housing program obligations; community facilities and infrastructure investment; annual archived data releases

USDA Rural Development Single Family & Multifamily Housing Programs

primary-govnationalorg-hubUSDA Rural Development (Rural Housing Service)Rural & tribal

Official program hub for USDA's rural housing loan, grant, and rental-assistance programs, the primary federal financing channel for housing in places under 35,000 population.

Datapoints: Section 502 Direct/Guaranteed homeownership loans; Section 504 home repair loans and grants; Section 515 Rural Rental Housing; Section 521 Rental Assistance; income/area eligibility thresholds

USDA Rural Development Multifamily Section 515/514 Property & Tenant Characteristics

primary-govnationaldatasetUSDA Rural Development (via Data.gov)Rural & tribal

Open dataset of USDA Multifamily Direct Loan properties (Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and Section 514 Farm Labor Housing) with locations and tenant characteristics.

Datapoints: property address, latitude/longitude; development type and number of units; date of operation and profit type; management agent and loan program; tenant income and demographic characteristics

NC Housing Snapshot (NC Housing Finance Agency)

otherstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Housing Finance AgencyRural & tribal

Interactive tool bringing affordable-housing data to life across all 100 NC counties, including rural counties where unaffordable-housing burdens reach 60%+ of low-income households.

Datapoints: county-level cost-burdened households; share of low-income households in unaffordable housing; housing trends over time by county; rural vs. urban affordability gaps

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - Cherokee Indian Housing Division

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubEastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI)Rural & tribal

The tribal housing authority for the only federally recognized tribe in NC (Qualla Boundary, Western NC), providing rental housing and multifamily/homeownership development across four WNC counties.

Datapoints: tribal rental housing inventory (100+ rentals); housing across Jackson, Swain, Graham, and Cherokee counties; multifamily development pipeline; homeownership and lot programs; NAHASDA/IHBG-funded tribal housing

MANNA FoodBank - Hunger in WNC

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMANNA FoodBankRural & tribal

The Feeding America member food bank serving 16 mostly rural Western North Carolina counties plus the Qualla Boundary, publishing regional hunger data and mobile-market access information.

Datapoints: people served across 16 WNC counties (100,000+); meals per dollar donated; mobile market locations/calendar; Qualla Boundary food distribution; regional food-insecurity context

Collateral Consequences of the SNAP Drug Felony Ban: Food Insecurity among Returning Citizens

primary-govnationalarticleAlliance to End HungerReentry & justice-involved

Brief documenting the very high food-insecurity rate among formerly incarcerated people and how the SNAP drug-felony ban deepens it.

Datapoints: ~91% of formerly incarcerated people are food insecure; SNAP access shown to reduce likelihood of food insecurity by ~30%; Lifetime ban applies to drug felonies absent state opt-out

National Recidivism and Reentry Data Program

primary-govnationaldatasetBureau of Justice Statistics (U.S. DOJ)Reentry & justice-involved

Ongoing BJS data program linking criminal-history, parole/probation, employment, wage, and death records to study reentry outcomes beyond simple recidivism.

Datapoints: Linked administrative data: criminal history, probation/parole, unemployment insurance, wage, death records; Longitudinal release-cohort recidivism series; Post-release employment and earnings outcomes

Recidivism and Reentry topic page

primary-govnationaldatasetBureau of Justice Statistics (U.S. DOJ)Reentry & justice-involved

Federal statistical hub for prisoner-release, recidivism, and reentry data, including the major multi-state longitudinal recidivism follow-up studies.

Datapoints: Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 States in 2012 (5-year follow-up); Three-year prison return rate fell from ~50% to 39%; People released at 24 or younger 64% more likely to be reincarcerated by year five than those 40+; Rearrest: 44% within 1 year, 68% within 3 years, 83% within 9 years (2005 release cohort)

How SNAP Can Better Serve the Formerly Incarcerated

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Reentry & justice-involved

Policy analysis of the SNAP drug-felony ban and enrollment barriers facing returning citizens, with state-by-state variation and reform recommendations.

Datapoints: 1996 federal lifetime SNAP/TANF ban for drug felonies; Over 20 states still restrict SNAP for some drug-felony convictions; South Carolina lifetime ban; More than half of states have fully opted out of the ban; SNAP access associated with ~10% lower recidivism for those with prior drug offenses

Beyond Recidivism: Redefining Measures to Understand Reentry Success

established-research-orgnationalreportCouncil of State Governments Justice CenterReentry & justice-involved

Framework report arguing for measuring reentry success through health, housing, and employment outcomes rather than recidivism alone.

Datapoints: Housing stability as a reentry success metric; Employment and earnings indicators; Health and behavioral-health outcome measures

Housing (CSG Justice Center topic hub)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubCouncil of State Governments Justice CenterReentry & justice-involved

Topic hub collecting CSG Justice Center publications, guides, and technical-assistance tools on connecting justice-involved people, especially those with behavioral health needs, to permanent housing.

Datapoints: Zero Returns to Homelessness explainer and TA guide; Building Connections to Housing During Reentry (national DOC survey); Reducing Homelessness for People with Behavioral Health Needs Leaving Prisons and Jails; Assessing Housing Needs and Risks screening questionnaire

Zero Returns to Homelessness Resource and Technical Assistance Guide

established-research-orgnationalguidelineCouncil of State Governments Justice CenterReentry & justice-involved

Practitioner guide for corrections and housing leaders aiming to eliminate releases into homelessness, paired with the DOJ/HUD Zero Returns to Homelessness initiative.

Datapoints: Cross-system implementation steps for corrections-housing partnerships; Data-sharing and discharge-planning practices; Performance targets for housing at release

Building Connections to Housing During Reentry: Results from a DOC Questionnaire

established-research-orgnationalreportCouncil of State Governments Justice Center / Bureau of Justice AssistanceReentry & justice-involved

First national survey of state Department of Corrections reentry coordinators on housing screening, collaboration, post-release supports, and barriers; 37 states plus DC responded.

Datapoints: Responses from 37 of 50 states plus DC; Four topical areas: screening/assessment, cross-system collaboration, post-release housing supports, barriers/gaps; Policies on post-release addresses and homelessness-risk screening

Reentry 2030

othernationaldashboardCSG Justice Center / Correctional Leaders AssociationReentry & justice-involved

National initiative and tracking site uniting states around measurable reentry goals (education, employment, housing, recidivism), with per-state commitments and progress pages.

Datapoints: Goal: reduce recidivism 30% by 2030; State-by-state reentry commitments and metrics; Education, employment, and housing access targets

Reentry and Housing Stability: Final Report

primary-govnationalreportHHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)Reentry & justice-involved

Federal research report examining housing stability outcomes during reentry and the intersection of corrections, homelessness, and supportive housing systems.

Datapoints: Housing instability trajectories after release; Role of supportive housing and case management; Cross-system (corrections, HUD, Medicaid) coordination gaps

Formerly Incarcerated People Are Nearly 10 Times More Likely to be Homeless

established-research-orgnationalarticleNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Reentry & justice-involved

NLIHC summary amplifying the Prison Policy Initiative finding and connecting it to affordable-housing-shortage and tenant-screening policy.

Datapoints: Nearly 10x homelessness risk for formerly incarcerated people; Affordable-housing shortage as a driver; Tenant-screening and criminal-record barriers

Housing Access for People with Criminal Records (Advocates' Guide)

established-research-orgnationalguidelineNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Reentry & justice-involved

Advocates' Guide chapter summarizing federal rules, fair-housing disparate-impact doctrine, and reform options governing housing access for people with criminal records.

Datapoints: Mandatory vs discretionary federal denial categories; Disparate-impact liability under the Fair Housing Act; Look-back periods and individualized-assessment recommendations

National Reentry Resource Center - Housing resources

othernationalorg-hubNational Reentry Resource Center (BJA, U.S. DOJ)Reentry & justice-involved

Federally funded clearinghouse of reentry housing resources, toolkits, and webinars established under the Second Chance Act; the primary national reentry information source.

Datapoints: Reentry housing toolkit for local coalitions; Webinars, podcasts, and practice briefs; Categorized resources: housing, health, employment, family, substance use

Homelessness rates among formerly incarcerated people (data graph)

established-research-orgnationaldatasetPrison Policy InitiativeReentry & justice-involved

Standalone data graphic and underlying numbers for homelessness and marginal-housing rates among the formerly incarcerated, reusable for citation.

Datapoints: Homelessness rate 203 per 10,000 formerly incarcerated; Marginal housing (hotels/motels/rooming houses) 367 per 10,000; Combined housing insecurity 570 per 10,000

Nowhere to Go: Homelessness among formerly incarcerated people

established-research-orgnationalreportPrison Policy InitiativeReentry & justice-involved

First national estimate of homelessness among formerly incarcerated people, drawn from the 2008 National Former Prisoner Survey, with detailed breakdowns by gender, race, recidivism history, and time since release.

Datapoints: Formerly incarcerated people ~10x more likely to be homeless than the general public (203 per 10,000 vs ~21 per 10,000, 2008); First incarceration only: 141 per 10,000; multiple incarcerations: 279 per 10,000; Men 195 per 10,000; women 264 per 10,000; Black 240, Hispanic 191, White 148 per 10,000; Sheltered 98 vs unsheltered 105 per 10,000; Less than 2 years since release 242 per 10,000; 4+ years 85 per 10,000; Housing insecurity including marginal housing: 570 per 10,000

Reentry and recidivism (research hub)

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubPrison Policy InitiativeReentry & justice-involved

Curated hub aggregating Prison Policy Initiative research on the barriers people face after release, including housing, employment, debt, and post-release supervision.

Datapoints: Links to housing, employment, and recidivism reports; Post-release barrier analyses; Reentry policy briefs

The revolving door between homeless shelters and prisons in Connecticut

established-research-orgnationalreportPrison Policy InitiativeReentry & justice-involved

Analysis using linked Connecticut administrative data documenting the bidirectional cycle between incarceration and homelessness, with multiplier estimates for repeat incarceration.

Datapoints: People incarcerated once experience homelessness ~7x the general-public rate; People incarcerated more than once experience homelessness ~13x the general-public rate; Bidirectional flow: homeless people more likely to be jailed; released people more likely to become homeless

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness and Jail

othernationalreportSafety and Justice Challenge (MacArthur Foundation)Reentry & justice-involved

Brief synthesizing evidence on the overlap between jail incarceration and homelessness and the case management and diversion interventions that reduce both.

Datapoints: Overrepresentation of homeless people in local jails; Case management linked to housing stability and lower reincarceration; Pretrial and diversion strategies

Barred from Housing: Discriminatory Impacts of Criminal History in Tenant Screening

othernationalreportThurgood Marshall Institute, NAACP Legal Defense FundReentry & justice-involved

Research report documenting how tenant-screening reliance on criminal records produces racially disparate housing exclusion and proposing screening-reform remedies.

Datapoints: Disproportionate exclusion of Black and Latino applicants; Use of arrest records and blanket bans in tenant screening; Policy remedies: ban-the-box, look-back limits, individualized review

Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing (Proposed Rule)

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Federal Register)Reentry & justice-involved

2024 proposed HUD rule revising admission and termination standards for applicants with criminal records, requiring individualized assessment of recency and relevance before discretionary denial.

Datapoints: HUD does not require 'one-strike' admission denials or automatic eviction; Proposed requirement to weigh recency and relevance of prior criminal activity; Individualized assessment and reduced look-back periods

Connecting People Returning from Incarceration with Housing and Homelessness Assistance

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Reentry & justice-involved

Federal guidance resource on coordinating reentry programming with the homeless-services system and targeting housing interventions to people leaving criminal-justice settings.

Datapoints: Discharge planning and homeless-system coordination practices; Targeted housing/services interventions for people leaving jails and prisons; Links to DOJ/HUD Zero Returns to Homelessness

Spotlight on the Jail-to-Homelessness Pipeline

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)Reentry & justice-involved

Federal brief in USICH's homelessness-prevention series describing the jail-to-homelessness pipeline and evidence-based diversion and reentry housing strategies.

Datapoints: ~9 million people exit local jails annually; Problem-solving courts (mental health, drug, veteran) as diversion; Crisis intervention teams and case management reduce reincarceration

Home After Incarceration: A Reentry Housing System Assessment in North Carolina

primary-govstate-NCreportNC Department of Adult Correction / Justice Reinvestment / CSG Justice CenterReentry & justice-involved

2025 statewide assessment of North Carolina's reentry housing system, mapping gaps in transitional and permanent housing for people leaving NC prisons and jails.

Datapoints: NC transitional and permanent reentry housing capacity and gaps; Discharge-to-homelessness risk among NC releases; Cross-agency coordination recommendations for NC corrections and housing

North Carolina's Reentry Action Plan

primary-govstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Department of Adult CorrectionReentry & justice-involved

State plan setting NC's reentry priorities and measurable targets across housing, employment, health, and documentation for justice-involved residents.

Datapoints: NC reentry priority areas and benchmarks; Housing and documentation access goals; Local reentry council coordination

Reentry 2030 (NC DAC program page)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Adult CorrectionReentry & justice-involved

Official NC Department of Adult Correction page on the state's Reentry 2030 commitment to expand housing, health care, and employment access for people leaving incarceration.

Datapoints: NC joined Reentry 2030 in January 2024; Statewide goals for housing, health care, and jobs at reentry; Whole-of-government coordination structure

Transition Services (NC DAC)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Adult CorrectionReentry & justice-involved

NC corrections page describing pre-release transition planning and transitional housing options for people leaving prison or under community supervision who are homeless or unstably housed.

Datapoints: Transitional housing eligibility for releasees and supervisees; Pre-release transition planning services; 31 local reentry councils serving 53 NC counties

NCDHHS Expands Investment in Reentry Services for People Involved in the Justice System

primary-govstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesReentry & justice-involved

NCDHHS announcement of expanded reentry investments, including pre-release Medicaid and behavioral-health linkages that support housing stability for justice-involved North Carolinians.

Datapoints: Expanded reentry service funding; Pre-release Medicaid / behavioral-health connection; Coordination with NC reentry councils

Reentry (NC DPS overview)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Public SafetyReentry & justice-involved

NC Department of Public Safety reentry landing page linking statewide reentry councils, services, and partner programs addressing housing, employment, and basic needs.

Datapoints: Statewide local reentry council network; Service categories: housing, employment, transportation, substance use, documentation; Recidivism-prevention framing

2025 Summary of North Carolina Expunctions

local-authoritystate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Justice CenterReentry & justice-involved

Plain-language summary of current NC expunction law, a key path for removing the criminal-record barriers that block housing and employment for people with prior convictions.

Datapoints: Current NC expunction eligibility categories; Multiple-offense and misdemeanor relief under the 2020 Second Chance Act; Procedural steps and waiting periods

Relief from a Criminal Conviction: Digital Guide to Expunctions and Certificates of Relief in NC

primary-academicstate-NCtoolUNC School of GovernmentReentry & justice-involved

Authoritative digital guide to North Carolina expunctions, certificates of relief, and other procedures that reduce the collateral consequences (including housing and employment barriers) of a conviction.

Datapoints: Certificate of relief (G.S. Chapter 15A, Article 6) eligibility and effect; Expunction categories and waiting periods (incl. 2020 Second Chance Act changes); Note: relief does not reach federal housing/SNAP bans

Jail Diversion & Re-Entry Services (Buncombe County)

primary-govlocal-AVLorg-hubBuncombe County Government (NC)Reentry & justice-involved

Local directory connecting Western North Carolina residents to reentry resources spanning housing, jobs, public benefits, healthcare, legal issues, food, and reentry support programs. Companion to the county's Jail Diversion and Re-Entry Services program.

Datapoints: JUST post-booking jail-diversion program for serious mental illness; RHA Health Services contract for diversion/reentry support; Reentry linkage to housing, employment, treatment, transportation; WNC reentry support program directory; Housing, food, and employment resource categories; Local treatment and basic-needs linkages; WNC resource categories: housing, employment, public benefits, healthcare, legal, food; Buncombe County Reentry Council contacts (828-250-6409 / 828-250-6423)

Deep Time / Sojourner Program (Asheville second-chance employment)

otherlocal-AVLarticleWLOS (coverage of Deep Time, Asheville)Reentry & justice-involved

Profile of Deep Time, an Asheville nonprofit coffee enterprise whose nine-month Sojourner Program provides paid workforce training and reentry support to people returning from incarceration.

Datapoints: Nine-month Sojourner Program structure; Paid stipend plus coffee-roasting workforce training; Local second-chance employment model in Asheville

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) - Program Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubHHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF)Immigrant & refugee

Federal hub for the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Administers Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA), Refugee Support Services (RSS), and oversees domestic resettlement, including housing, employment, and benefit navigation for newcomers.

Datapoints: Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) program rules; Reception & Placement partner network (10 national agencies, 340+ affiliates); Eligibility categories for ORR-served populations; Time-limited cash/medical and up-to-5-year resettlement services

ORR Refugee Arrival Data

primary-govnationaldatasetHHS Office of Refugee Resettlement / data.govImmigrant & refugee

Federal dataset of refugee arrivals used for resettlement planning and state allocations. Underpins where resettlement (and associated housing/food support) is concentrated.

Datapoints: Refugee arrivals by state and fiscal year; Arrivals by nationality/country of origin; Historical arrival counts for trend analysis

Overview of Immigrants' Eligibility for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP

primary-govnationalreportHHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)Immigrant & refugee

Federal ASPE reference report mapping noncitizen eligibility rules across SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP, including qualified-immigrant categories and exceptions to the five-year bar.

Datapoints: Definition of qualified vs non-qualified immigrants; Five-year-bar applicability by program; Refugee/asylee exemptions; State options for covering lawfully residing children/pregnant women

Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants

established-research-orgnationalreportKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Immigrant & refugee

KFF reference on immigrant health-coverage rates and the interaction of immigration policy with Medicaid/CHIP enrollment, including chilling effects that spill over to food and housing program avoidance.

Datapoints: 24 million noncitizen immigrants in the U.S. (2024); ~1.8 million uninsured eligible for Medicaid/CHIP in noncitizen households (incl. 500k+ citizen children); Immigrant adults worried about detention/deportation: 26% (2023) to 41% (2025); 12% of immigrant adults avoided applying for government assistance (2025)

Migration Data Hub

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubMigration Policy Institute (MPI)Immigrant & refugee

MPI's central data portal with interactive tools, state immigration data profiles, and demographic/economic facts on immigrants nationally and by state. Primary entry point for immigrant demographic context behind food/housing access.

Datapoints: Foreign-born population size, share, origin countries by state; Citizenship and legal status estimates; Refugee resettlement ceilings and admissions 1980-present; Income, poverty, and labor-force indicators for immigrants

SNAP Access and Participation in U.S.-Born and Immigrant Households (PDF brief)

established-research-orgnationalreportMigration Policy Institute (MPI)Immigrant & refugee

Full PDF of MPI's 2023 SNAP data brief detailing participation rates by household nativity/eligibility composition and the policy drivers of under-participation among eligible immigrant families.

Datapoints: State-level and national SNAP participation gaps by household nativity; Share of immigrant households that are mixed-eligibility; Eligible-but-not-participating estimates

SNAP Access and Participation in U.S.-Born and Immigrant Households: A Data Profile

established-research-orgnationalreportMigration Policy Institute (MPI)Immigrant & refugee

Data profile comparing SNAP eligibility, access, and participation across all-U.S.-born, all-eligible-immigrant, and mixed-eligibility immigrant households. Quantifies how mixed-status family structure suppresses uptake even among eligible members.

Datapoints: SNAP participation among poor all-U.S.-born households: ~50% (2019); Participation in all-eligible immigrant households: ~47%; Participation in mixed-eligibility immigrant households: ~46%; Breakdown of household eligibility composition (all-eligible vs mixed-status); Citizen children in mixed-status households and SNAP under-enrollment

Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs

established-research-orgnationalguidelineNational Immigration Law Center (NILC)Immigrant & refugee

NILC's authoritative, regularly updated overview of which immigrants are eligible for major federal benefit programs (SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, SSI, housing assistance, ACA subsidies), including the effects of the 2025 reconciliation act restrictions.

Datapoints: Eligibility by immigration status across major federal programs; Five-year bar rules for qualified immigrants; 2025 OBBBA restrictions (SNAP/Medicaid limited to LPRs, Cuban/Haitian entrants, COFA); Staggered effective dates 2025-2027; Eligibility by immigration status across 23+ federal programs; Qualified-immigrant categories and the five-year bar; Post-H.R.1 (2025) restrictions on SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and ACA premium tax credits; Privacy, public-charge, and language-access considerations

Eligibility for Housing Assistance Based on Immigration Status (FAQ) + Mixed-Status Rule Coverage

established-research-orgnationalguidelineNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Immigrant & refugee

NLIHC FAQ and advocacy hub on immigrant eligibility for HUD housing assistance, prorated assistance in mixed-status families, and the proposed rule that would separate mixed-status households.

Datapoints: Eligible noncitizen categories for federal housing assistance; Ineligible statuses (TPS, student visas) despite legal presence; Prorated subsidy rules for mixed-status families; Proposed mixed-status rule impact: ~80,000 families (incl. ~37,000 children) at risk

Immigrant Households and Federal Housing Programs (Advocates' Guide chapter)

established-research-orgnationalguidelineNational Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)Immigrant & refugee

Chapter from NLIHC's Advocates' Guide explaining how immigration status governs access to public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and other HUD programs for immigrant and mixed-status households.

Datapoints: Program-by-program immigrant eligibility for HUD assistance; Verification requirements and proration mechanics; Policy history of mixed-status family rules

Refugee Housing Solutions - Housing Hub & Directory

othernationaltoolRefugee Housing Solutions (Church World Service, ORR-funded)Immigrant & refugee

Searchable hub of housing resources, toolkits, and a directory connecting resettlement providers and landlords to housing solutions for refugees and other newcomers.

Datapoints: Housing toolkits and landlord-engagement guides; Affordable-housing resource directory; Promising practices for refugee housing stabilization

Switchboard - Refugee Services Resource Hub & Data Resources

othernationalguidelineSwitchboard (International Rescue Committee, ORR-funded)Immigrant & refugee

ORR-funded technical-assistance hub that catalogs state and local data sources for planning refugee services across housing, health, employment, and social services, plus toolkits for community needs assessment.

Datapoints: Curated list of federal/state/local data sources for refugee service planning; Guidance on assessing community capacity (housing, food, health systems); ORR eligibility navigation resources

Refugee Processing Center - Admissions & Arrivals Reports

primary-govnationaldashboardU.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)Immigrant & refugee

Official, monthly-updated interactive reports and data on refugees admitted through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), drawn from the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS). Includes admissions by country of chargeability, primary applicant nationality, month, and U.S. state of initial resettlement.

Datapoints: National Admissions Report by country of chargeability and month; Refugee Arrivals by State and Nationality (current fiscal year); Monthly updates posted by the 5th of each month; Historical archives of admissions data; Refugee Admissions Report by country of chargeability and month (Excel); Refugee Arrivals by State and Nationality (incl. North Carolina); Amerasian arrivals by nationality and state; Iraqi/Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) arrivals by state; Admissions by nationality and fiscal year; Admissions by U.S. state and city of placement; Demographic breakdowns (age, gender, religion); Refugee admissions by country of chargeability and month of admission (current fiscal year); Refugee arrivals by U.S. state and primary-applicant nationality; SIV (Iraqi/Afghan) arrivals by nationality and state; refugee arrivals by state of resettlement (including North Carolina); arrivals by primary nationality and religion; monthly and fiscal-year admissions totals; annual refugee admissions ceiling vs. actual admissions; Refugee admissions for the current fiscal year by country of chargeability and by month; Refugees resettled in each U.S. state for the current fiscal year; Total refugees admitted via USRAP for each fiscal year from FY2012 onward, by state of resettlement and nationality; Reports posted on the 5th of each month (or following Monday)

Amid Confusion over the Public Charge Rule, Immigrant Families Continued Avoiding Public Benefits in 2019

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban InstituteImmigrant & refugee

Analysis from Urban's Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey documenting the chilling effect of the public charge rule, with eligible immigrant families avoiding SNAP, Medicaid/CHIP, and housing assistance out of immigration fears.

Datapoints: 15.6% of adults in immigrant families avoided noncash benefits in 2019; 26.2% among low-income immigrant families; Rise from 21.8% (2018) to 31.0% (2019) among families with a non-permanent-resident member; ~50% avoided SNAP or Medicaid/CHIP; ~33% avoided housing subsidies; Only 22.7% knew the rule does not apply to citizenship applications

One in Six Immigrant Families Avoided Public Programs in 2022 (Chilling Effects Fact Sheet)

established-research-orgnationalreportUrban InstituteImmigrant & refugee

Urban Institute fact-sheet series tracking persistence of public-charge chilling effects after the rule's repeal, including the share of mixed-status families still avoiding safety-net programs.

Datapoints: 1 in 5 adults in immigrant families with children reported chilling effects (2019); ~14% of adults in immigrant families avoided programs over green-card concerns (2023); ~25% in mixed-status families avoided programs (2023); SNAP most-cited benefit avoided (46.0%), Medicaid/CHIP (42.0%), housing assistance (33.4%)

Effects of Immigration on WIC and NSLP Caseloads (CCR-63)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)Immigrant & refugee

ERS research on how immigration affects participation in WIC and the National School Lunch Program, two child-nutrition programs accessible to citizen children in immigrant households.

Datapoints: Immigrant-household share of WIC and NSLP caseloads; Citizen-children eligibility pathways; Caseload sensitivity to immigration trends

Household Food Insecurity Across Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. (EIB-269)

primary-govnationalreportUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)Immigrant & refugee

ERS bulletin decomposing food insecurity by race/ethnicity and nativity, including how immigration status, household composition, and state of residence shape food-insecurity disparities.

Datapoints: Food insecurity by race/ethnicity and citizenship status; Hispanic subpopulation differences by origin and status; Naturalized (16.6%) vs U.S.-born Hispanic citizens (19.1%) vs noncitizens (24.4%); State and metro/nonmetro variation

SNAP Eligibility for Non-Citizens

primary-govnationalguidelineUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)Immigrant & refugee

Primary federal source on which noncitizens qualify for SNAP, how mixed-status household budgeting works, and recent guidance restricting eligibility.

Datapoints: Qualified noncitizen categories eligible for SNAP; Treatment of ineligible members in household budgets (proration); Children and the five-year-bar exception; 2025 federal restriction guidance

Immigrants in North Carolina (State Fact Sheet)

otherstate-NCreportAmerican Immigration CouncilImmigrant & refugee

Fact sheet quantifying the demographic and economic role of immigrants in North Carolina, including population share, labor-force participation, and tax contributions. Useful for situating immigrant food/housing needs within state economic context.

Datapoints: NC foreign-born population: ~868,000 (~8% of residents), eightfold growth since 1990; Top origins: Mexico (28%), India (9%), Honduras (4%), China (3%), El Salvador (3%); 39% naturalized citizens; Immigrant share of farming/fishing/forestry workers (~1/3); ~24,050 active DACA recipients (2020); ~915,200 immigrants = 8.6% of NC population (2022); Immigrants pay ~$9.8 billion in taxes annually ($3.2B state/local, $6.6B federal); Immigrant share of farming/fishing/forestry and computer/math occupations; Undocumented-immigrant workforce share and tax payments

Profile of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population: North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCdatasetMigration Policy Institute (MPI)Immigrant & refugee

MPI estimates of NC's unauthorized immigrant population by origin, length of residence, employment, and family composition (including U.S.-citizen children) -- the population most exposed to benefit ineligibility and chilling effects.

Datapoints: Estimated unauthorized population in NC; Share with U.S.-citizen children; Top countries of origin; Labor-force participation and industries

State Demographics Data - North Carolina

established-research-orgstate-NCdashboardMigration Policy Institute (MPI)Immigrant & refugee

Interactive state profile of North Carolina's immigrant population: demographics, top origins, language, income, and poverty. State-layer context for NC immigrant food and housing need.

Datapoints: NC foreign-born population count and share; Top countries of origin; Limited-English-proficiency share; Immigrant household income and poverty rates

North Carolina Refugee Service Providers Directory

primary-govstate-NCdatasetNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)Immigrant & refugee

Official directory of NC's contracted refugee resettlement and service-provider agencies with addresses and contacts, including providers serving the Asheville/WNC region.

Datapoints: Names, addresses, phones of NC refugee service providers; Geographic coverage by region; Provider type (resettlement, social services)

NC Refugee Services (Refugee Assistance Program)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Social ServicesImmigrant & refugee

NC's State Refugee Office hub administering Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), and Refugee Services Programs (employment, case management, housing navigation, language training) through contracted nonprofit providers.

Datapoints: RCA/RMA: up to 12 months of assistance from eligibility date; Refugee Services Programs scope (employment, transportation, citizenship); Network of contracted nonprofit service-provider agencies; State use of WRAPS data to identify impacted regions; Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA): short-term cash tied to an employability plan, limited to 8 months from entry; Refugee Public Assistance available up to 12 months from date of eligibility/entry; Three service areas: Refugee Public Assistance, Refugee Service Programs, Refugee Support Activities; Applications made through local county Departments of Social Services

NC's Foreign-Born Population Increased Eightfold Since 1990

primary-govstate-NCarticleNorth Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)Immigrant & refugee

Official state analysis of NC immigrant population growth and geographic distribution using Census data -- authoritative state-government framing of the population behind immigrant service demand.

Datapoints: Foreign-born population growth from ~115,000 (1990) to ~868,000 (today); County-level distribution of immigrants; Origin-region shifts over time

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) - North Carolina

otherstate-NCorg-hubU.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)Immigrant & refugee

USCRI's NC field office providing resettlement, employment, housing, and integration services to refugees and immigrants statewide -- a national resettlement-network affiliate operating in North Carolina.

Datapoints: Reception & placement and post-arrival services in NC; Employment and housing assistance; Immigration legal services

Lutheran Services Carolinas - New Americans Program

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubLutheran Services Carolinas (LSC), in partnership with ORR/Global RefugeImmigrant & refugee

Resettlement agency operating in the Asheville/WNC area, helping refugees, asylees, and other newcomers secure housing, employment, benefits, English training, and citizenship -- the local delivery layer for federal/state refugee programs.

Datapoints: Housing placement and stabilization services; Employment and English-language training; Benefits-application assistance for eligible newcomers; WNC Employer Engagement / modular-home build program

MANNA FoodBank - Food Resources (WNC, incl. immigrant/Latinx partnerships)

local-authoritylocal-AVLtoolMANNA FoodBankImmigrant & refugee

Regional food bank serving 16 WNC counties through 250+ partner agencies, with Community Markets hosted with Latinx-serving organizations (Hola Carolina, CIMA) to reach immigrant communities. Includes a food-finder for Buncombe County.

Datapoints: 16-county WNC service area, 250+ partner agencies; Community Markets co-hosted with Latinx organizations; 1 in 4 WNC children experience food insecurity; Projected to feed 250,000+ people/month post-Helene

ACEEE - City Energy Burdens Data Update (2024)

othernationalreportAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)Energy & utility insecurity

Policy brief updating median and high energy-burden estimates across large U.S. cities, with breakdowns by income and demographic group for benchmarking local affordability.

Datapoints: Median energy burden by major U.S. city; Low-income vs. overall burden gaps by city; Racial/ethnic disparities in burden by city; Share of households with high (>6%) and severe (>10%) burden

ACEEE Energy Burden Research Hub

othernationalorg-hubAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)Energy & utility insecurity

ACEEE's research hub on energy burden, documenting disproportionate energy costs for low-income households and communities of color and the role of efficiency/weatherization in reducing them.

Datapoints: Two-thirds of low-income households have high energy burden (>6%); Black households spend 43% more of income on energy; Hispanic 20% more; Native American 45% more; Two in five low-income households have severe burden (>10%); Weatherization can cut low-income energy burden ~25%; City- and metro-level energy burden estimates

Energy & Policy Institute - Utility-Specific Disconnection Data

othernationalarticleEnergy and Policy InstituteEnergy & utility insecurity

Watchdog analysis of the 2024 EIA disconnections dataset, identifying which utilities shut off the most residential customers and contextualizing shutoffs against utility profits.

Datapoints: Highest-disconnection-rate utilities (e.g., AEP PSO at 58 per 100 customers); Investor-owned vs. municipal vs. cooperative comparisons; 13+ million shutoffs amid record utility profits; Cross-reference to North Carolina / Duke Energy disconnections

Energy Justice Lab - Utility Disconnections Dashboard

primary-academicnationalinteractive-mapEnergy Justice Lab (Indiana University & University of Pennsylvania; Sanya Carley & David Konisky)Energy & utility insecurity

Interactive national dashboard mapping residential utility disconnections over time and by utility, alongside state shutoff-protection policies; data fully updated through 2024 and downloadable for research.

Datapoints: Disconnection counts and rates by state and utility company; State customer-protection policies (winter/summer/heat-wave moratoria); Geographic and temporal patterns in shutoffs; North Carolina ranked 2nd-highest in disconnections 2019-2024 (6.76M); ~3 million annual electricity shutoffs for non-payment

LIHEAP Clearinghouse

primary-govnationalorg-hubHHS / Administration for Children and FamiliesEnergy & utility insecurity

Federal clearinghouse describing how LIHEAP operates across states, tribes, and territories, with program design comparisons, state plans, and the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) line that connects households to local offices.

Datapoints: State-by-state LIHEAP program design and benefit comparisons; Crisis/cooling/weatherization component rules by state; Find-help search tool for local LIHEAP offices; Historical program and funding documentation

LIHEAP FY24 Data Dashboard

othernationaldashboardHHS / Administration for Children and Families (ArcGIS Hub)Energy & utility insecurity

Interactive ArcGIS dashboard reporting LIHEAP's current-fiscal-year impact, including funding allocations, Model Plan information, and quarterly report updates by state.

Datapoints: State-by-state LIHEAP funding allocations; Households served and assistance dollars by category; Model Plan status and quarterly performance updates

LIHEAP Fact Sheet - OCS Annual Report FY2024

primary-govnationalreportHHS / Office of Community ServicesEnergy & utility insecurity

Annual fact sheet summarizing the most recent fiscal year of LIHEAP appropriations, households served, and program outcomes nationally.

Datapoints: Total LIHEAP appropriation for the fiscal year; Number of households receiving heating, cooling, and crisis assistance; Average benefit amounts; Demographics of assisted households

NEADA - National Energy Assistance Directors Association (Hub)

othernationalorg-hubNational Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA)Energy & utility insecurity

Association of state LIHEAP directors; publishes the most-cited tracking of household energy arrearages, winter/summer cost projections, and disconnection estimates, and advocates for energy-assistance funding.

Datapoints: National household energy arrearages (~$23.0B by June 2025; up ~31% since Dec 2023); ~21.5 million households behind on energy bills (1 in 6); Estimated annual shutoffs (3.0M 2023, 3.5M 2024, ~4.0M projected 2025); Average low-income energy burden 8.6% vs. 3.0% for others; Winter heating and summer cooling cost forecasts

NEADA Energy Hardship / Affordability Project

othernationaldashboardNational Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA)Energy & utility insecurity

NEADA's ongoing data project tracking energy affordability, arrearages, and disconnections with quarterly updates, drawing on EIA, BLS, HHS, and Census sources.

Datapoints: Average monthly residential electricity bill: $121 (2021) to $156 (2025), +29%; Total utility arrearages trend (quarterly); Share of states with summer shutoff protections (17 of 50); Winter heating cost projection (~9.2% increase); Average summer cooling cost (~$784, 2025)

NEADA Winter Heating Costs Outlook 2025-2026

othernationalreportNational Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) & Center for Energy Poverty and ClimateEnergy & utility insecurity

Annual winter outlook projecting home heating costs by fuel type and the affordability gap facing low-income households for the coming heating season.

Datapoints: Projected winter heating expenditures by fuel (electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil); Year-over-year cost change (electricity +~10%, propane -~5%); Number of households at risk of unaffordable heating; LIHEAP funding adequacy estimates

Seasonal Variation in Food Insecurity and Heating/Cooling Costs (Journal of Nutrition)

othernationalarticleThe Journal of Nutrition (American Society for Nutrition)Energy & utility insecurity

Peer-reviewed study finding that food insecurity among low-income elderly Americans varies seasonally with heating and cooling costs, evidence for the heat-or-eat dilemma among vulnerable households.

Datapoints: Seasonal food-insecurity prevalence tied to extreme-temperature months; Association between heating/cooling expenditures and food hardship; Vulnerability among low-income older adults

LEAD Tool 2022 Update - Open Dataset

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Department of Energy / NREL (data.gov)Energy & utility insecurity

Downloadable underlying dataset behind the LEAD Tool, providing modeled low- and moderate-income household energy expenditure, income, and burden estimates by geography for bulk analysis.

Datapoints: Modeled energy expenditures by AMI/FPL income bracket; Energy burden by tract, county, city, state; Fuel type and housing-type segmentation; Number of households in each LMI category

DOE Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool

primary-govnationalinteractive-mapU.S. Department of Energy, State and Community Energy ProgramsEnergy & utility insecurity

Interactive mapping tool estimating low- and moderate-income household energy burden and housing characteristics down to the census-tract level, built on American Community Survey data; supports custom geographies, heat-maps, and downloads.

Datapoints: Energy burden (% of income spent on energy) by income bracket and geography; Average annual energy expenditures and household income; Fuel type, housing type, and tenure breakdowns; Census tract / county / city / state geographies; High-burden threshold (>=6%) flagging

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) - Program Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community ServicesEnergy & utility insecurity

Official federal hub for the block-grant program that helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills, handle energy crises, weatherize homes, and make minor energy-related repairs. Central entry point for program rules, funding, and the data dashboard.

Datapoints: Annual block-grant funding allocations by state, tribe, and territory; Number of households assisted (heating, cooling, crisis, weatherization); Eligibility thresholds (% of federal poverty / state median income); Share of funds used for heating vs. cooling (~80% heating / 20% cooling)

EIA 2024 Residential Utility Disconnections Report

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)Energy & utility insecurity

First-of-its-kind federal collection of residential electric and gas service disconnections for non-payment, reported by individual investor-owned utilities, public power providers, and cooperatives, with state and utility-level detail for 2024.

Datapoints: 13.4-13.5 million residential electric disconnections in 2024; 1.6 million residential gas disconnections in 2024; ~94.9 million final-notice / past-due notices sent; Disconnections per 100 customers by utility and by state; 93% electric-utility response rate

EIA Today in Energy - 27% of U.S. households had difficulty meeting energy needs (2020)

primary-govnationalarticleU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)Energy & utility insecurity

EIA analysis brief presenting the 2020 RECS energy-insecurity findings, the most-cited national prevalence figures for households struggling to meet energy needs.

Datapoints: 34 million households (27%) reported energy insecurity in 2020; Reducing/forgoing food or medicine to pay energy bills; Keeping homes at unsafe temperatures; Disparities by income, race/ethnicity, and household composition

RECS 2020 - Household Energy Insecurity Data (Table HC11.1)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)Energy & utility insecurity

Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020 housing-characteristics data, including the dedicated household energy insecurity table (HC11.1) measuring difficulty paying bills and unsafe-temperature coping behaviors, broken out by income, tenure, housing type, and climate region.

Datapoints: Households reporting difficulty paying energy bills; Households keeping home at unsafe temperature for cost reasons (27% / 34 million in 2020); Receipt of disconnection / shutoff notices; Forgoing food or medicine to pay energy bills; Breakdowns by income, owner/renter, housing type, climate region

Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) - Program Page

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)Energy & utility insecurity

Landing page for EIA's flagship nationally representative survey of household energy use, expenditures, and energy insecurity, conducted since 1978; the 2024 cycle expands to all 50 states and reports rising energy insecurity.

Datapoints: Household energy consumption and expenditures by fuel and end use; Energy insecurity indicators (bill difficulty, unsafe temperatures, shutoff notices); Appliance, heating, cooling, and structural characteristics; 2024 preliminary estimate: ~1 in 3 households face energy insecurity

USDA ERS - Unexpected Energy Price Hikes Increase Food Insecurity

primary-govnationalarticleUSDA Economic Research Service (ERS)Energy & utility insecurity

ERS Amber Waves research showing that natural gas price shocks raise the probability of food insecurity, quantifying the 'heat or eat' tradeoff where energy bills and food compete for limited household budgets.

Datapoints: Effect of natural gas price shocks (2000-2014) on food-distress indicators; Larger effect among low-income households; Linkage between energy expenditures and food spending; USDA food-security classification context

BPR - Duke Energy Carolinas Disconnections Doubled (Feb 2026)

otherstate-NCarticleBlue Ridge Public Radio (BPR)Energy & utility insecurity

Western NC public-radio reporting on a sharp rise in Duke Energy Carolinas residential disconnections after consecutive winter storms, the most local-facing data point on shutoffs serving Asheville/WNC.

Datapoints: ~10,000 Duke Energy Carolinas customers disconnected in February 2026; Disconnections more than doubled month-over-month; Link to winter-storm cost spikes in the Carolinas

Duke Energy Share the Light Fund / Helping Home Fund

otherstate-NCorg-hubDuke EnergyEnergy & utility insecurity

Utility-administered bill-assistance and home-repair programs (Share the Light Fund, Helping Home Fund) that provide heating/cooling assistance and efficiency upgrades to qualifying Duke Energy customers, including those in Asheville/WNC.

Datapoints: One-time bill-assistance grants for past-due accounts; Energy-efficiency and home-repair (HVAC, weatherization) services; Eligibility criteria and local agency partners; Installment / payment-arrangement options

NC Weatherization Assistance Program (NCWAP)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, State Energy OfficeEnergy & utility insecurity

State page for North Carolina's Weatherization Assistance Program, which delivers no-cost energy-efficiency retrofits to low-income households via local agencies, funded by DOE (including IIJA) and state programs.

Datapoints: Homes weatherized statewide (5,043 homes since 2015 via WAP/SEP); Federal funding totals ($45.7M WAP + $10.7M SEP since 2015; +$89M IIJA); Local weatherization agency network and eligibility; 2025 $10M Home Repair Weatherization Readiness Program

North Carolina LIEAP - Low Income Energy Assistance Program (Detail)

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesEnergy & utility insecurity

Program detail page describing NC LIEAP eligibility, benefit structure, and application timeline for the federally funded one-time heating payment.

Datapoints: Income eligibility (<=130% of federal poverty level); Priority application period for households with elderly/disabled members; One-time vendor payment for heating; Application channels (county DSS, ePASS)

NCDHHS Energy Assistance (LIEAP & Crisis Intervention Program)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social ServicesEnergy & utility insecurity

State hub for North Carolina's energy-assistance programs: LIEAP (one-time annual heating payment to vendors) and the year-round Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) for heating/cooling crises, administered through county DSS offices.

Datapoints: LIEAP one-time heating benefit (~$300-$600 paid to vendor); CIP year-round heating/cooling crisis assistance; Eligibility and application windows (priority for elderly/disabled); County DSS administration and ePASS online application

NC Utilities Commission Public Staff - Consumer Programs & FAQ

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Utilities Commission - Public Staff, Consumer Services DivisionEnergy & utility insecurity

State consumer-protection resource explaining utility disconnection rules, payment-plan rights, complaint processes, and assistance referrals for regulated NC electric and gas customers.

Datapoints: Disconnection notice and reconnection rules for regulated utilities; Cold-weather and medical-hardship protections; Payment arrangement and deposit rules; Complaint filing process against utilities

Buncombe County Utility Assistance Resource Handout

local-authoritylocal-AVLguidelineBuncombe County (North Carolina)Energy & utility insecurity

County-issued directory of utility-assistance options for Asheville and Buncombe County residents, listing the local nonprofits and government programs that help with overdue power, gas, and water bills.

Datapoints: Local providers: ABCCM, Buncombe County HHS, Eblen Charities, Salvation Army; Contact details and eligibility for emergency utility aid; Crisis assistance referral pathways; Energy-efficiency / weatherization referrals

Eblen Charities - Emergency Utility Assistance (Buncombe County)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubEblen CharitiesEnergy & utility insecurity

Asheville nonprofit that, in partnership with Buncombe County Health and Human Services, provides emergency financial assistance for past-due power, gas, water, rent, and heating-oil bills for families in crisis.

Datapoints: Emergency Assistance grants for past-due utility bills (up to ~$600 for families with children); Heating-oil and propane assistance; Partnership with Buncombe County HHS; Crisis-response intake

Energy Savers Network - Free Weatherization (Buncombe & WNC)

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubEnergy Savers Network (Green Built Alliance program)Energy & utility insecurity

Asheville-area nonprofit providing free energy-efficiency weatherization, assessments, and retrofits to low-income households in Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, and Madison counties, funded by Duke Energy, grants, and donations.

Datapoints: Free home energy assessments and weatherization retrofits; Counties served: Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Madison; Estimated energy-bill savings per household; Number of homes served and volunteer model

Carolina Demography (UNC Carolina Population Center)

primary-academicstate-NCorg-hubCarolina Population Center, UNC-Chapel HillLocal journalism & data reporting

Applied-demography unit translating Census and population data into county-level NC analyses on population change, housing cost burden, and demographics; a frequent source for NC data journalists.

Datapoints: County population estimates and growth (2025 estimates); Housing cost-burden analysis by county; Demographic and migration trends

EdNC (EducationNC)

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubEducationNC (nonprofit education newsroom)Local journalism & data reporting

Statewide nonprofit education newsroom whose reporting on school meals, meal debt, and child well-being cites NC DPI School Nutrition data and the NC Child Data Center.

Datapoints: NC statewide school meal debt (~$3M); Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) free-meal coverage; Free/reduced-lunch enrollment; Federal funding cuts to local/fresh school meals

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina - hunger data

otherstate-NCreportFood Bank of Central & Eastern North CarolinaLocal journalism & data reporting

Regional food bank's annual hunger analysis (607,000+ food insecure across its 34-county area) frequently cited by CPP and NC Health News, layering Feeding America data with federal-cut impacts.

Datapoints: 607,000+ food insecure in 34-county service area (highest in ~20 years); Year-over-year increase (~47,000); Racial disparities in food insecurity; Federal hunger-relief cut impacts; people facing food insecurity in 34-county region (607,000+); year-over-year change in regional food insecurity; impact of federal program cuts on demand

NC DHHS - Impact of Proposed Federal SNAP Cuts in North Carolina

primary-govstate-NCreportNC Department of Health and Human ServicesLocal journalism & data reporting

Official NCDHHS analysis quantifying the impact of 2025 federal SNAP cuts on North Carolina households, the primary state source cited by CPP and NC Health News.

Datapoints: ~1.5 million North Carolinians receiving SNAP; Meals removed per month under cuts (~1.5M / 30 days); Average WNC monthly benefit loss (~$210); Households affected by work-requirement and cost-share changes

ncIMPACT Initiative - Food Security in North Carolina

primary-academicstate-NCarticlencIMPACT Initiative, UNC School of GovernmentLocal journalism & data reporting

UNC SOG analysis describing county-level food-insecurity patterns (higher in rural than urban areas) and the drivers behind them; companion to the Hunger Research portal.

Datapoints: All 100 NC counties affected by food insecurity; Rural-vs-urban food-insecurity gap; Drivers: transportation, capacity, resources

North Carolina Data Portal - Food Insecurity

otherstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Data PortalLocal journalism & data reporting

Aggregated NC data portal surfacing food-insecurity indicators (percent of population) at county and ZIP-code level for cross-referencing local reporting.

Datapoints: Percent of population experiencing food insecurity; County and ZIP-code geographic breakdowns; Linked health and economic indicators

North Carolina Health News - hunger & food insecurity coverage

otherstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina Health News (independent nonprofit)Local journalism & data reporting

Independent nonprofit health newsroom whose reporting on child hunger, SNAP, and food assistance cites NCDHHS, USDA, and Feeding America primary data.

Datapoints: ~1 in 5 NC children food insecure; SNAP disruption coverage during 2025 federal shutdown; Child-hunger conference and program reporting

NC Housing Coalition - County Profiles / Fact Sheets

local-authoritystate-NCreportNorth Carolina Housing CoalitionLocal journalism & data reporting

Annual one-page housing-needs profiles for each of North Carolina's 100 counties, summarizing cost burden, wages versus rents, and market changes. Refreshed each year (e.g., 2025 profiles).

Datapoints: Cost-burdened households (28% statewide; 48% of renters, 19% of homeowners); Housing wage / wage needed to afford Fair Market Rent (Buncombe ~$28.19/hr for 2BR); Eviction and foreclosure filings by county; Home price changes and jobs-vs-wages comparison; cost-burdened households (>=30% income on housing); what different jobs pay vs rent; fair market rent; wage needed for a modest 2-bedroom; changes in home prices; foreclosures; evictions

NC Housing Snapshot (NCHFA)

local-authoritystate-NCinteractive-mapNorth Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)Local journalism & data reporting

Interactive data-visualization tool showing housing supply, demand, and affordability for NC statewide and per-county, with filterable maps by geography and year.

Datapoints: Housing costs and cost burden by county; Vacancy rates (incl. LIHTC ~1.4% and subsidized ~0.3%); Demographic trends and housing production; Statewide 764,000-unit supply gap (322K rental / 442K for-sale, 2024-2029)

NC Judicial Branch - Landlord/Tenant & civil court data

primary-govstate-NCguidelineNorth Carolina Judicial BranchLocal journalism & data reporting

Official NC courts source for summary-ejectment (eviction) procedure and the underlying civil-filing records that feed the NC Housing Coalition profiles and Civil Court Data Initiative.

Datapoints: Summary ejectment (eviction) case process; Civil issue filings / order results (source data for eviction counts); Summary ejectment (eviction) process and grounds; 10-day demand-for-rent requirement; Prohibition on self-help eviction (lockouts, utility shutoff); Small claims court / magistrate venue and appeal to District Court

The Assembly NC

otherstate-NCorg-hubThe Assembly (digital magazine)Local journalism & data reporting

Digital-first NC magazine publishing deep, nonpartisan reporting on power and place, including investigations into the state's housing crisis and disaster-recovery programs.

Datapoints: Investigative housing and recovery reporting; Regional/city-level deep reporting partnerships

Hunger Research data table (UNC SOG)

primary-academicstate-NCdatasetUNC School of GovernmentLocal journalism & data reporting

Academic data portal compiling North Carolina food-insecurity statistics by county and over time, aggregating USDA, Feeding America, and Census sources for state and local analysis.

Datapoints: Per-county food insecurity percentage; Child food insecurity; Time-series food-insecurity trend; County-level food insecurity rates in NC; Time-series food-insecurity trends for the state; Demographic and economic correlates; Comparison across NC counties; Links to underlying USDA/Feeding America sources

Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) - Helene Recovery coverage

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubBlue Ridge Public Radio (NPR member station)Local journalism & data reporting

WNC public radio newsroom tracking Hurricane Helene housing and recovery; its data analyses cite FEMA, NC Housing Coalition, and federal recovery-funding figures.

Datapoints: FEMA Helene reimbursement/buyout dollar totals (e.g. $236M release, $29.1M for 62 Buncombe buyouts); ~$11B total federal Helene aid to NC (BPR analysis); Homes damaged/destroyed by Helene in Buncombe (11,488 damaged / 372 destroyed); Post-Helene homeless count (~130 in Buncombe)

Mountain Xpress - Housing coverage

local-authoritylocal-AVLorg-hubMountain Xpress (Asheville alt-weekly)Local journalism & data reporting

Asheville alt-weekly's housing tag aggregating local reporting on affordability, evictions, and the homeless count, often citing city dashboards and county data.

Datapoints: Local rent/affordability reporting; Eviction filing trends in Buncombe County; Coverage of the Asheville PIT count dashboard launch

LSC Justice Gap Report (2022)

primary-govnationalreportLegal Services Corporation (with NORC at the University of Chicago)Health systems & legal aid

LSC's flagship study measuring the gap between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet them, based on a nationally representative survey. Documents how unmet legal needs translate into eviction, homelessness, lost custody, and job loss risk.

Datapoints: 92% of low-income Americans' civil legal problems received no or insufficient help (up from 86% in 2017); 74% of low-income households had 1+ civil legal problem in the prior year; 33% had a problem attributed to COVID-19; Survey of ~5,000 adults via NORC AmeriSpeak panel; Low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems; ~46% who avoided legal help cited cost; 53% doubt they could afford a lawyer; Unmet-need rates: rural 94%, disabilities 91%, seniors/veterans/DV survivors/families 90%+; Methodology: NORC AmeriSpeak survey of ~5,000 adults, supplemented by LSC grantee data

National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership (NCMLP)

othernationalorg-hubMilken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington UniversityHealth systems & legal aid

The national hub for the medical-legal partnership (MLP) model, embedding lawyers on health-care teams to address health-harming legal needs. Produces research, surveys, literature reviews, and a map of MLP sites.

Datapoints: Number of MLP sites (~500 health care organizations); Outcomes data (e.g. 86% of MLPs reported improved patient health outcomes; 64% improved treatment compliance, 2016 survey); HRSA health-center MLP adoption (150-200 established, 100-150 in pipeline); MLP literature review 2013-2020

County Health Rankings — Medical-Legal Partnerships (What Works for Health)

established-research-orgnationalguidelineUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute / RWJFHealth systems & legal aid

Evidence-rated strategy brief on medical-legal partnerships, summarizing the research base, expected beneficiaries, and likely impact on health equity and outcomes.

Datapoints: Evidence rating for MLPs; Likely population-health and equity impacts; Summary of supporting studies

NCCARE360 — statewide closed-loop referral network

otherstate-NCtoolFoundation for Health Leadership & Innovation / Unite Us / NC DHHSHealth systems & legal aid

The first statewide digital care-coordination network connecting health and human-service providers with a shared resource directory, call center/navigators, and closed-loop electronic referrals that track whether needs are met.

Datapoints: Statewide resource directory of community-based services; Closed-loop referral counts and resolution rates; Referral domains (housing, food, transportation, etc.); Navigator and call-center activity

Medicaid Spending and Health-Related Social Needs in the NC Healthy Opportunities Pilots (JAMA, 2025)

primary-govstate-NCreportJAMA / via NIH PubMed CentralHealth systems & legal aid

Peer-reviewed evaluation of whether North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots reduces Medicaid spending by funding non-medical services for food and housing needs. Finds spending rose at enrollment then fell, matching the counterfactual by month 8, alongside reduced emergency department use.

Datapoints: Total health care cost change (-$85 per participant per month); ED visit reduction (~6 per 1,000 participant-months; 22 fewer for 12+ month enrollees); Hospital admissions (2 fewer per 1,000 participant-months for non-pregnant adults); Comparison to Medicaid members with social needs outside pilot regions; $687 per-beneficiary spending increase at HOP enrollment; $85/month subsequent spending decrease relative to counterfactual; 89% of enrollees received at least one service; 85% food-related; 146,256 food boxes and 197,323 total services delivered to 13,227 enrollees; ED visits down 6 per 1,000 person-months; Health care costs $85 lower per participant per month; ED visits reduced ~6 per 1,000 participant-months (22 fewer at 12+ months enrollment); 2 fewer hospital admissions per 1,000 participant-months (non-pregnant adults); 13,227 HOP enrollees vs 73,469 comparison Medicaid beneficiaries (Mar 2021-Nov 2023)

Legal Aid of North Carolina — impact & annual reports

local-authoritystate-NCorg-hubLegal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.Health systems & legal aid

Statewide nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services in all 100 NC counties through 23 local offices. Annual impact reports quantify cases handled, people impacted, evictions prevented, and DV protective orders secured.

Datapoints: Cases handled (27,000+ in 2024); People impacted (69,000+ in 2024; children and seniors served); Evictions prevented (5,900+ reported for 2025); Domestic violence protective orders (2,500+); Statewide footprint (23 offices, all 100 counties)

NC Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP)

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC DHHS (NC Medicaid)Health systems & legal aid

First-in-the-nation Medicaid program (launched March 2022) reimbursing non-medical services across food, housing, transportation, and interpersonal-violence/toxic-stress domains via regional CBO networks. Hub for program design, fee schedule, and evaluation.

Datapoints: Four service domains (food, housing, transportation, IPV/toxic stress); Regional network/CBO participation; Service utilization and reimbursement (fee schedule); Rapid-cycle assessments and evaluation findings; Enrollment and member characteristics; Service authorizations and delivery by domain; Network/CBO readiness and capacity; Early implementation lessons; enrollment (31,000+ through Nov 2024); services by domain (food, housing, transportation); reduction in food/housing/transportation needs; health-care cost change (-$85 per member per month); ED visit reductions; Service utilization by domain (housing, food, transportation, safety); Enrollment and member engagement metrics; Implementation progress across pilot regions

NC State Center for Health Statistics — Community Health Assessment program

primary-govstate-NCorg-hubNC DHHS, Division of Public Health, State Center for Health StatisticsHealth systems & legal aid

State hub hosting every North Carolina county's Community Health Assessment, plus the standardized core dataset and guidance counties (and partnering hospitals) use to produce them.

Datapoints: All 100 county Community Health Assessments; Standardized core CHA dataset and indicators; State of the County's Health (SOTCH) reports; CHA/CHIP guidance and timelines

NC Equal Access to Justice Commission — Statewide Civil Legal Needs Assessment

primary-govstate-NCreportNC Judicial Branch / NC Equal Access to Justice CommissionHealth systems & legal aid

North Carolina's first comprehensive statewide civil legal needs assessment in nearly two decades (with the Equal Justice Alliance and UNC Greensboro's Center for Housing and Community Studies), measuring unmet civil legal need and the access-to-justice gap.

Datapoints: Share of low-income families with 1+ civil legal problem per year (71%); Share of civil legal needs that go unmet (86%); Cost cited as a barrier (91.2% of clients); Most underserved practice areas (family law, immigration, housing); Identification of legal deserts

NC Judicial Branch — Data & Statistics (Case Statistics Dashboard)

primary-govstate-NCdashboardNorth Carolina Judicial BranchHealth systems & legal aid

The NC Judicial Branch's public case-statistics dashboard reports civil caseloads in district and superior courts by case type, including summary ejectment (eviction) filings, across all 100 North Carolina counties. The main nccourts.gov data hub also documents the Remote Public Access program for civil case data.

Datapoints: Filings, dispositions, and case-aging by court type; Case categories including summary ejectment (eviction); Jurisdiction-level comparisons; Statewide and county trend visualizations; Cases filed, disposed, and pending by fiscal year (July 1 - June 30); Civil caseloads in district and superior courts by case type/category; Dispositions by type (trials, judgments) and disposition times; County, district, and statewide comparisons; Downloadable open datasets via data.nccourts.gov (caseload disposition, inventory, median, ranked event); Civil filings by case type and category (district and superior court); Summary ejectment (eviction) case filings; Coverage of all 100 NC counties; Overview, Criminal, Civil, and Compare views; Remote Public Access (RPA) to VCAP civil case data; Civil filings by case type and category (incl. summary ejectment / eviction); Dispositions and case-aging metrics; County-level and statewide caseload comparisons; District and superior court civil caseloads

Implementation of NCCARE360 — evidence from the COVID-19 Support Services Program (NC Medical Journal)

otherstate-NCreportNorth Carolina Medical JournalHealth systems & legal aid

Peer-reviewed analysis of NCCARE360 referral performance, comparing periods with and without dedicated funding to quantify how navigator capacity affects whether referrals resolve.

Datapoints: Referral volume with vs. without funding (3,220 vs. 860 cases); Resolution rate with vs. without funding (88% vs. 30%); Capacity constraints among CBOs/social-service agencies

NC IOLTA — Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (civil legal aid funder)

otherstate-NCorg-hubNorth Carolina State Bar / NC IOLTAHealth systems & legal aid

The state mechanism (est. 1983) that generates revenue from lawyers' trust accounts to fund civil legal-services providers; a key funding-flow and grantee data source for the NC legal-aid ecosystem.

Datapoints: Grants to civil legal aid organizations; Funded legal-services grantees across NC; Equal Access to Justice community partners

NC 211 — Data & 211 Counts dashboard

otherstate-NCdashboardUnited Way of North Carolina (NC 211)Health systems & legal aid

NC 211's data hub and the 211 Counts interactive dashboard, providing near-real-time, geographically filterable counts of calls for help with food, housing, healthcare, and other basic needs across all 100 counties.

Datapoints: Call/need volume by category (housing, utilities, food, healthcare, etc.); Filterable by ZIP, county, region, legislative/congressional/school district; Trend comparisons over time (data as recent as yesterday); 150,000+ NC residents call 211 annually

Mission Health (HCA Healthcare) — WNC hospital system hub

otherlocal-AVLorg-hubMission Health / HCA HealthcareHealth systems & legal aid

The region's dominant hospital system (HCA-owned since Feb 2019), whose community benefit / Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and implementation strategies are legally required and feed the WNC Healthy Impact process. Hub for facility locations and community-benefit reporting.

Datapoints: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and implementation strategy filings; Hospital and ER facility footprint across WNC; Community benefit reporting

WNC Health Network — Data (WNC Dataset & Healthy Impact)

local-authoritylocal-AVLdatasetWNC Health Network (WNC Healthy Impact)Health systems & legal aid

Described as the premier source of county-level health data for Western North Carolina. Provides a downloadable regional dataset (Excel workbook), regional survey methodology, and topical data stories on housing, food insecurity, mental health, substance use, and climate and health.

Datapoints: County-level health indicators across 18 WNC counties (downloadable Excel workbook); 2024 WNC Community Health Survey primary data (Mar-Jun 2024); Topic data stories: mental health, substance use, housing, food insecurity, climate & health; Regional demographic profile; 2024 county-level WNC dataset (primary + secondary sources); Data stories on housing and food insecurity; 2024 Community Health Survey collected March-June 2024; Methodology documentation; WNC Dataset 2024 (county-level Excel workbook; registration required); Regional survey data collection methods and limitations; Data stories on Housing, Food Insecurity, Climate and Health, Mental Health, Substance Use; Mountain DEEP data resource

Eurostat - Housing cost overburden rate (ilc_lvho07a)

primary-intlglobaldatasetEurostat (European Commission)International comparators

EU-SILC-based dataset measuring the share of the population living in households spending 40% or more of disposable income (net of allowances) on housing, disaggregated by age, sex, and poverty status across EU/EFTA/candidate countries.

Datapoints: Housing cost overburden rate (>40% of disposable income on housing); Disaggregation by age, sex, poverty status; Tenure-status breakdowns (owner vs tenant); Country comparisons (e.g., Greece 28.9%, Denmark 14.6%, EU 8.2% in 2024)

Eurostat - Housing in Europe interactive publication (2025 edition)

primary-intlglobalinteractive-mapEurostat (European Commission)International comparators

Annual interactive digital publication synthesizing EU housing statistics: tenure, costs, quality, overcrowding, and deprivation, with charts and country comparisons drawn from EU-SILC and related sources.

Datapoints: Tenure distribution (ownership vs rent); Housing cost overburden; Overcrowding rate; Severe housing deprivation rate; House price and rent trends

Eurostat - Living conditions in Europe: housing (Statistics Explained)

primary-intlglobalarticleEurostat (European Commission)International comparators

Statistics Explained article documenting EU housing and material-deprivation indicators with definitions, methodology, and the latest cross-country figures from EU-SILC.

Datapoints: Severe housing deprivation rate; Overcrowding rate; Housing cost overburden rate; Inability to keep home adequately warm (energy poverty); Material and social deprivation

FEANTSA / Fondation Abbe Pierre - Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe

established-research-orgglobalreportFEANTSA & Fondation pour le Logement des DefavorisesInternational comparators

Annual flagship European report quantifying homelessness and housing exclusion across the EU, including estimates of people rough sleeping or in emergency/temporary accommodation, plus affordability and deprivation indicators.

Datapoints: Estimated number of people homeless in Europe (~1.28 million in the 9th Overview); Housing cost overburden among the poor; Energy poverty / inability to keep home warm; Severe housing deprivation and overcrowding by country

FEANTSA - ETHOS European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion

established-research-orgglobalguidelineFEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless)International comparators

Standard conceptual framework (launched 2005) defining homelessness and housing exclusion in four categories: Rooflessness, Houselessness, Insecure Housing, and Inadequate Housing. ETHOS Light (2017) is a streamlined version for statistical/data-collection purposes; available in 23+ languages.

Datapoints: ETHOS conceptual categories (4 concepts, operational sub-categories); ETHOS Light operational categories 1-6; Physical / social / legal domains of 'home'; 4 conceptual categories; 13 operational categories; ETHOS Light for statistics; common cross-national homelessness definition; Four categories: Rooflessness, Houselessness, Insecure housing, Inadequate housing; ETHOS Light variant for statistical harmonization; Available in 23+ languages; Launched 2005; Four categories: rooflessness, houselessness, insecure housing, inadequate housing; Built on three domains of 'home': physical (adequate dwelling), social (privacy/relations), legal (legal title to occupation); Launched 2005; used as a common transnational language for measuring homelessness; Insecure housing includes those threatened by eviction or domestic violence; ETHOS Light provides a harmonized statistical definition for measurement

FAO SDG Indicators Data Portal - Food Insecurity (2.1.2 FIES)

primary-intlglobaldashboardFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)International comparators

Interactive portal for the experience-based food-insecurity indicator (FIES), giving internationally comparable estimates of the share of the population facing moderate or severe difficulty accessing food, sourced from the Gallup World Poll (140+ countries).

Datapoints: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity; Prevalence of severe food insecurity; Country, regional, global series; Disaggregation by sex where available

FAOSTAT - Suite of Food Security Indicators

primary-intlglobaldatasetFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)International comparators

FAO's machine-readable database of food security indicators for 245+ countries and territories from 1961 to present, the underlying data source for the SOFI report and SDG 2 monitoring.

Datapoints: Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU); Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (FIES); Average dietary energy supply adequacy; Cost and affordability of a healthy diet (CoAHD); Dietary energy supply, protein supply

Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC)

otherglobalreportGlobal Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) / Food Security Information Network (FSIN)International comparators

Annual consensus report on acute food insecurity in the world's worst food-crisis countries, using the IPC/CH phase classification; the reference for emergency-level (as opposed to chronic) food insecurity.

Datapoints: People in IPC/CH Phase 3+ (Crisis or worse) - ~266 million in 47 countries (2025); Population in Phase 5 (Catastrophe/Famine); Drivers: conflict, weather extremes, economic shocks; Acute malnutrition among children; Nine-plus years of trend data

IPC - Integrated Food Security Phase Classification

otherglobalinteractive-mapIPC Global Partners (FAO, WFP, FEWS NET, UNICEF, NGOs)International comparators

The standardised five-phase scale and interactive analysis platform/mapping tool for classifying acute and chronic food insecurity and acute malnutrition by area and population, feeding the GRFC and humanitarian response.

Datapoints: IPC Acute Food Insecurity phases 1-5 by area; Population estimates per phase; Acute malnutrition classification; Chronic food insecurity classification; Interactive country/area maps and downloadable analyses

OECD Affordable Housing Database (AHD)

primary-intlglobaldatasetOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

The OECD's central cross-country housing database, grouping indicators into three dimensions: housing market (HM), housing conditions and affordability (HC), and public policies toward affordable housing (PH). Each indicator includes data, definitions, methodology and comparability notes, with downloadable XLSX/PDF per indicator.

Datapoints: HM1.1 housing stock and construction; HM1.2 house prices; HM1.3 housing tenure distribution (owner / private rent / social rent); HM1.4 living arrangements by age; HM1.5 housing stock by dwelling type; HC1.2 housing costs over income (housing cost-to-income ratios); HC2.1 housing space (rooms per person, overcrowding); HC2.2 households without indoor flushing toilet; HC2.3 severe housing deprivation; HC3.1 population experiencing homelessness; PH public spending on housing allowances and social rental housing

OECD AHD - HC3.1 Population Experiencing Homelessness

primary-intlglobalreportOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

The OECD's flagship cross-country homelessness indicator, drawing on the 2023 Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH). Maps national figures onto ETHOS Light categories 1-3 (rough sleeping, emergency accommodation, temporary accommodation) per 10,000 people, with extensive comparability caveats.

Datapoints: Number of people experiencing homelessness by country (40 countries); Homelessness rate per 10,000 population; At least ~2 million people homeless across the OECD (2024 or latest year); Breakdown by ETHOS Light categories where reported; Trend over time per country

OECD Better Life Index - Housing dimension

primary-intlglobalinteractive-mapOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

Interactive well-being tool letting users compare countries across 11 dimensions; the housing dimension covers affordability, space, and basic facilities, with an indicator on satisfaction with housing affordability.

Datapoints: Housing expenditure as share of household disposable income; Rooms per person; Share of dwellings with basic facilities (private indoor flushing toilet); Satisfaction with housing affordability

OECD Data Explorer - Income Distribution Database

primary-intlglobaldashboardOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

Interactive query and visualization interface to the OECD Income Distribution Database, with downloadable series and SDMX API access for poverty and inequality indicators by country and year.

Datapoints: Gini index time series by country; Poverty headcount at 50% median by demographic group; Mean and median disposable income; Downloadable CSV / SDMX API

OECD Homelessness topic hub

primary-intlglobalorg-hubOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

OECD's policy hub on homelessness, linking the HC3.1 data, the monitoring framework, and policy analysis on causes, prevention, and Housing First approaches across member countries.

Datapoints: Cross-country homelessness counts and rates; Policy responses (Housing First, prevention); Drivers of homelessness (housing affordability, mental health, displacement)

OECD Income (IDD) and Wealth (WDD) Distribution Databases

primary-intlglobaldatasetOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

Standardised cross-country indicators of income inequality and relative poverty based on equivalised household disposable income, updated two to three times per year. The benchmark source for comparing relative poverty rates across rich countries.

Datapoints: Gini coefficient (before and after taxes/transfers); Relative income poverty rate (50% / 60% of median); Poverty rate by age group (children, working age, elderly); Income shares by decile / P90-P10 ratios; Redistribution impact of taxes and transfers

OECD Monitoring Framework to Measure Homelessness (2025)

primary-intlglobalreportOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International comparators

Methodological report proposing a harmonised framework for measuring homelessness across countries, aligned to ETHOS Light, to address persistent definitional and data-comparability problems.

Datapoints: Recommended ETHOS Light operational categories; Data source typology (street counts vs administrative data); Comparability and undercount caveats; Recommendations for national statistical offices

Our World in Data - Hunger and Undernourishment

established-research-orgglobalinteractive-mapOur World in Data (Global Change Data Lab)International comparators

Curated, citable data hub with interactive charts on global hunger sourced from FAO and the Global Hunger Index, useful for plain-language country comparisons and long-run trends.

Datapoints: Share of population undernourished by country/region; Global Hunger Index scores; Number of undernourished people over time; Regional disparities (Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia vs North America/Europe <2.5%)

Our World in Data - Poverty Data Explorer & Homelessness page

established-research-orgglobalinteractive-mapOur World in Data (Global Change Data Lab)International comparators

Interactive explorers for global poverty (built on the World Bank PIP) and a companion homelessness page that compiles OECD cross-country homelessness rates, enabling quick visual country comparisons.

Datapoints: Poverty headcount at multiple international poverty lines; Reported share of people experiencing homelessness by country (from OECD); Inequality measures (Gini, income shares); Downloadable underlying data

UN-Habitat - Global Monitoring of Slums (SDG 11.1.1)

primary-intlglobaldashboardUN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)International comparators

Dedicated dashboard tracking the share and number of urban dwellers living in slums and informal settlements, with regional concentration data and definitions of the slum-deprivation criteria.

Datapoints: Number and share of urban population in slums (by region/country); Regional concentration (Central/Southern Asia, Eastern/SE Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa); Slum deprivation criteria: durable housing, living space, secure tenure, water, sanitation

UN-Habitat Urban Indicators Database

primary-intlglobaldatasetUN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)International comparators

UN-Habitat's global database for monitoring urban development and SDG 11, the custodian source for slum and informal-settlement indicators, with disaggregation down to the city level in 320+ cities.

Datapoints: SDG 11.1.1 proportion of urban population in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing; Access to safe water and sanitation in urban areas; Secure tenure / durable housing / sufficient living space; City-level slum estimates (City Prosperity Initiative)

UN Global SDG Indicators Database (UNSD)

primary-intlglobaldatasetUnited Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)International comparators

The official global repository for the 17 SDGs (234 unique indicators), updated quarterly with country, regional, and global series and an SDMX API; the single integrating source across SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 2 (hunger), and SDG 11 (cities).

Datapoints: SDG 1.1.1 below international poverty line; SDG 1.2.1 national poverty headcount; SDG 2.1.1 prevalence of undernourishment; SDG 2.1.2 moderate/severe food insecurity (FIES); SDG 11.1.1 urban population in slums/informal settlements/inadequate housing; SDMX API and bulk CSV download

UN Data Commons for the SDGs

primary-intlglobaltoolUnited Nations Statistics Division (with Google.org)International comparators

Search-driven platform integrating authoritative SDG data and insights from across the UN system into a single public repository with natural-language query and visualization for poverty, hunger, and housing indicators.

Datapoints: Cross-goal SDG indicator search (poverty, hunger, cities); Country profiles and comparisons; Natural-language querying of UN statistical series

AARP Livable Communities Map (Network of Age-Friendly States & Communities)

established-research-orgnationalinteractive-mapAARPOther traced sources

Interactive national map showing hundreds of towns, cities, and counties enrolled in AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities and the AARP Community Challenge grant program, with projects categorized by livability domain.

Datapoints: Locations of communities in the Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities; AARP Community Challenge grant projects (annual quick-action grants launched 2017); Project domains: community engagement, housing options, transportation options, public spaces, smart-cities solutions; National coverage with state and local layers

AARP Livability Index Methods & Sources

established-research-orgnationalguidelineAARP Public Policy InstituteOther traced sources

Methodology documentation for the AARP Livability Index, explaining how the 61 indicators are scored, the geographic scales used, and the local/state/federal/private data sources behind each category. Per-category fact sheets (PDFs) detail the indicators.

Datapoints: 61 indicators = 40 metrics + 21 policies across 7 categories; Neighborhood-scale metrics use census block/block group/tract/high-school-district geographies; Higher-level metrics use metro area, city, or county geographies; Downloadable per-category fact sheets and indicator definitions

AARP LTSS Choices Resources and Practices Library

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubAARP Public Policy InstituteOther traced sources

Curated library of AARP Public Policy Institute reports and research on long-term services and supports, the direct care workforce, family caregiving, and equity in aging services.

Datapoints: National Inventory of Self-Directed Long-Term Services and Supports Programs (2023); Examining the Direct Care Workforce Supporting Older Adults and Individuals With Physical Disabilities (2023); Advancing Racial and Ethnic Equity in Long-Term Services and Supports; Respite Services: A Critical Support for Family Caregivers

LIHEAP Data on Performance Measurements

primary-govnationaldatasetAdministration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community ServicesOther traced sources

Federal source for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) performance data, drawn from a Data Warehouse of grant-recipient reporting since 2001, covering funding, benefits, energy burden, and service restoration/prevention.

Datapoints: Energy burden (income, benefits, energy bills); LIHEAP Benefit Targeting Index and Burden Reduction Targeting Index; Restoration and prevention of home energy service; Sources and uses of LIHEAP funds; average benefits; State-level grant-recipient profiles

State TANF Data and Reports (Office of Family Assistance)

primary-govnationaldatasetAdministration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. HHSOther traced sources

ACF's official source for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families data: caseloads, federal and state MOE expenditures, work participation rates, and recipient characteristics by state, month, and family type.

Datapoints: Caseload data (families/individuals by state, month, family type); Financial data: federal TANF + state MOE expenditures by category; Work participation rates and work-activity engagement; Recipient characteristics, case-closure reasons, financial circumstances; Most recent: FY2024 caseload data (published March 2025)

Nutrition and Aging Resource Center (Senior Nutrition Program)

primary-govnationalorg-hubAdministration for Community Living (HHS)Other traced sources

Federal resource center supporting Older Americans Act senior nutrition programs (congregate meals, home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling) that address food insecurity among older adults.

Datapoints: OAA-funded congregate and home-delivered meals program guidance; Senior nutrition program performance and requirements; Resources on food insecurity and isolation among older adults

National Core Indicators - Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD)

othernationaldatasetADvancing States (formerly NASUAD) in collaboration with Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)Other traced sources

Annual person-centered survey of LTSS recipients across states, combining administrative data with quality-of-life responses to measure outcomes for older adults and people with physical disabilities. The original advancingstates.org link is the initiative's program page.

Datapoints: Minimum 400 respondents per state per annual cycle (July 1-June 30); 42 states have participated; Covers nursing facilities, Medicaid waivers/state plan, PACE, state-funded and Older Americans Act programs; Feeds the federal HCBS Quality Measures Set (HCBS QMS)

National Core Indicators — Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD)

othernationaldatasetADvancing States, in collaboration with Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)Other traced sources

State-level performance measurement program assessing long-term services and supports for older adults and people with physical disabilities, via annual surveys of quality of life, community integration, and person-centered care.

Datapoints: quality of life outcomes; community integration; person-centered care; LTSS program performance; state participation by survey cycle

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

primary-govnationaldatasetAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. HHSOther traced sources

AHRQ's set of large-scale national surveys of families, their medical providers, and employers, described as the most complete source of data on the cost and use of health care and health insurance coverage in the U.S.

Datapoints: Health care expenditures and out-of-pocket costs; Health insurance coverage and availability; Health care utilization (visits, prescriptions, dental, home health); Employer-sponsored insurance and employment data; Nationally representative civilian noninstitutionalized population

AAP: Food Insecurity clinical resources

othernationalguidelineAmerican Academy of PediatricsOther traced sources

AAP's hub for addressing childhood food insecurity in clinical practice, including screening guidance, professional tools, and family-facing resources to connect households to food assistance. Notes that 1 in 7 U.S. children lives in a food-insecure household.

Datapoints: Two-item Hunger Vital Sign food-insecurity screening guidance; Professional tools and referral resources; Family-facing resources on food assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, school meals); Health impacts of food insecurity on children

AAP: Poverty and Child Health resources

othernationalguidelineAmerican Academy of PediatricsOther traced sources

AAP's clinical and advocacy hub on the effects of poverty on children, including policy statements, a messaging guide for pediatricians, screening-and-referral practice tips for unmet basic needs, and the Academic Pediatric Association US Child Poverty Curriculum.

Datapoints: Policy statement: Poverty and Child Health in the United States (Pediatrics 2016); Technical report: Mediators and Adverse Effects of Child Poverty; Screening-and-referral practice tips for social needs; APA US Child Poverty Curriculum (epidemiology, social determinants)

Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households (SHED) - 2024 Report

primary-govnationalreportBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemOther traced sources

Annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) report measuring the financial well-being and fragility of U.S. adults, including the widely cited $400 emergency-expense and 'doing okay financially' indicators.

Datapoints: 73% of adults doing okay or living comfortably (down from 78% in 2021); 63% could cover an unexpected $400 expense with cash/equivalent; 35% of non-retirees feel retirement savings on track; 60% say prices worsened their financial situation; Median rent $1,200 (~10% annual increase since 2022)

Federal Reserve Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) 2024

primary-govnationalreportBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemOther traced sources

Annual household financial-wellbeing survey (2024 edition released May 2025). Source for the share of adults who could cover a $400 emergency expense, broken out by education and race.

Datapoints: 63% could cover a $400 emergency with cash or equivalent (37% could not); 82% with a bachelor's degree or more vs 29% with less than high school could cover it; 71% of white vs 43% of Black adults could cover it; 37% of adults could not cover a surprise $400 expense with cash/equivalent (2024 data, released May 2025); By education: 82% (BA+) vs 29% (<HS) could cover it; by race 71% white vs 43% Black; 73% doing okay or living comfortably financially; 63% could cover a $400 emergency with cash; 60% say inflation worsened finances; 21% experienced financial fraud; labor-market and savings indicators

Survey of Consumer Finances (2022 report, PDF)

primary-govnationalreportBoard of Governors of the Federal Reserve SystemOther traced sources

The Federal Reserve's triennial Survey of Consumer Finances report on the wealth, assets, debts, and income of U.S. households. The authoritative source on household balance sheets and wealth inequality.

Datapoints: Household net worth (median and mean) by income, age, race, education; Asset composition (real estate, retirement, financial assets); Debt levels (mortgages, credit cards, student loans); Homeownership rates and home equity; Wealth distribution and inequality measures

BJA Justice Counts

primary-govnationaldatasetBureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of JusticeOther traced sources

BJA data initiative standardizing and surfacing timely criminal-justice metrics (including jail populations and behavioral-health/justice indicators) to support data-driven decisions affecting justice-involved and vulnerable populations.

Datapoints: Standardized cross-agency justice metrics; Jail, corrections, and reentry indicators; Supports state/local data-driven policy

CLASP Publications Library

othernationalorg-hubCenter for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)Other traced sources

Searchable archive of CLASP reports, briefs, fact sheets, and public comments on public benefits, child care, workforce, immigration, and economic security for low-income people. Filterable by topic and publication type.

Datapoints: Reports and briefs on SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and work supports; Fact sheets on immigrant eligibility for federal benefit programs; Child care and early-education policy analysis; Workforce and labor protections research

CLASP TANF Issue Hub

othernationalorg-hubCenter for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)Other traced sources

CLASP's hub of briefs and fact sheets on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), including the block-grant structure, cash assistance, and how funds are spent. Notes cash assistance has shrunk considerably over 30 years and the block grant is unresponsive to the economy.

Datapoints: TANF block grant structure (TANF 101 series); Decline of cash assistance over 30 years; State misuse/diversion of welfare funds; Share of TANF spent on direct cash aid

The Historical Determinants of Food Insecurity in Native Communities

established-research-orgnationalreportCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)Other traced sources

CBPP report tracing how federal assimilative policies (land allotment, boarding schools, commodity food distribution) produced persistent food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities, with policy solutions including FDPIR self-determination.

Datapoints: ~26% of AIAN people experience food insecurity; 31% experience very low food security; 68% of AIAN school-age children qualify for free lunch; Nearly 1 in 4 AIAN people in poverty (SPM, post-tax/transfer); 63% of AIAN farms have sales + government payments under $5,000/year (vs 44% of all farms); 41% of AIAN farms under $1,000/year (vs 23% of all farms); FDPIR Self-Determination Demonstration Project (2018 Farm Bill); About 1 in 4 Native people experience food insecurity; AIAN food-insecurity rates up to double or triple those of white people; FDPIR average monthly income (2016) ~$1,586 for a 4-person household (78% of FPL); Only 5% of FDPIR households had assets >$500

Child Care Aware - CCR&R Search

othernationaltoolChild Care Aware of America (CCAoA)Other traced sources

Location-based directory that helps families find their local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency by address or ZIP code, including dedicated pathways for military/DoD fee-assistance families.

Datapoints: local CCR&R agencies serving a given address/ZIP; military/DoD fee-assistance program referral; provider business-support resources

Child Trends Research Topic: Poverty & Economic Well-being

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubChild TrendsOther traced sources

Nonpartisan research center publishing national and state indicators and reports on child and family well-being, including poverty and economic well-being, early childhood, families, and health. Its indicator library tracks long-run trends across child outcomes.

Datapoints: child poverty research; public benefits and financial aid outcomes; low-income young adult economic mobility; TANF and benefit-program analysis; Child poverty and economic well-being indicators; Early care and education (ECE) access and affordability; Healthy and Ready to Learn (HRTL) national/state child development data across five domains; Family economics and public-benefit supports for youth

Food Is Medicine Coalition (Community Servings)

othernationalorg-hubCommunity Servings / Food Is Medicine CoalitionOther traced sources

Hub for food-as-medicine policy and research, including studies on medically tailored meals (MTM) for people with chronic illness and food insecurity, and resources for healthcare-food integration.

Datapoints: Medically tailored meals reduce healthcare utilization; Nutrition education and meal-delivery program models; NIH-funded food-as-medicine studies

Cornell ILR EDI Collection (Disability Employment Digital Commons)

primary-academicnationalreportCornell University ILR School / K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and DisabilityOther traced sources

Open-access digital collection of Disability Status Reports and disability statistics publications produced by Cornell's Yang-Tan Institute; individual items redirect to permanent Cornell eCommons handles (hdl.handle.net/1813/...).

Datapoints: disability employment rates; disability poverty rates; ACS-based disability prevalence; state and national status reports

FHWA Office of Highway Policy Information

primary-govnationalorg-hubFederal Highway Administration (U.S. DOT)Other traced sources

Federal hub for travel, commuting, and highway-use statistics. Relevant to cost-of-living and access analyses because transportation cost and commuting burden are core household-expense and economic-mobility factors.

Datapoints: Hosts National Household Travel Survey, Highway Statistics Series, Traffic Volume Trends; Quick-Find data portals for travel, vehicles, motor fuel, highway finance; Data on commuting behavior and transportation usage by demographics; National Household Travel Survey (NHTS): travel behavior by demographics; Highway Statistics Series: annual transportation system statistics; Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS); Traffic Volume Trends

An Introduction to the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel (Staff Report 479)

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkOther traced sources

Staff report documenting the methodology and sample design of the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel (CCP), the longitudinal credit-bureau database underlying the Household Debt and Credit Report. Explains how to compute nationally representative estimates of household liabilities at quarterly frequency from 1999Q1 onward.

Datapoints: CCP sample design and representativeness methodology; Quarterly individual and household liability estimates since 1999Q1; Equifax credit-report data structure

Household Debt Balances Rise Slightly as Delinquency Transition Rates Hold Steady (Q1 2026 release)

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkOther traced sources

Quarterly press release for the Q1 2026 Household Debt and Credit Report (data as of end of March 2026), summarizing total household debt, debt composition by product, and delinquency trends.

Datapoints: Total household debt $18.8 trillion (+$18B, +0.1%) Q1 2026; Mortgage balances $13.191T; auto loans $1.685T; HELOC $446B; Credit card balances $1.252T (-1.96%); student loans $1.658T; Aggregate delinquency 4.8% of outstanding debt; Credit-card early-delinquency transition 8.6% annual; mortgage serious-delinquency 1.5%

New York Fed - Center for Microeconomic Data

primary-govnationaldashboardFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkOther traced sources

Hub for the New York Fed's household-level microeconomic data, including the Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit (Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax) and the Survey of Consumer Expectations. Provides interactive charts, microdata, and questionnaires on consumer debt, credit access, and economic expectations.

Datapoints: Total household debt and components (mortgage, student, auto, credit card); Delinquency transition rates; Consumer inflation, labor-market, and credit-access expectations; Consumer Credit Panel: ~5% sample of credit reports since 1999Q1; SCE: monthly rotating panel of ~1,300 household heads

SCE Credit Access Survey

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkOther traced sources

Triannual module of the Survey of Consumer Expectations tracking households' experiences and expectations with credit demand and access, an indicator of financial strain among lower-income consumers.

Datapoints: Credit application and rejection rates by credit type; Discouraged-borrower share (8.5% in Feb 2025, series high); Expectations of future credit access; Account closures and credit limit changes; Series back to October 2013

FRBNY Consumer Credit Panel (CCP)

primary-govnationaldatasetFederal Reserve Bank of New York, Center for Microeconomic DataOther traced sources

The underlying nationally representative longitudinal panel drawn from anonymized Equifax credit-report data used to compute the Household Debt and Credit Report; tracks individuals' and households' access to and use of credit at quarterly frequency.

Datapoints: Quarterly individual/household debt levels and changes; Mortgage, student loan, credit card, auto loan balances; Delinquency and serious delinquency (90+ days); Credit access and use metrics; Sample of ~44 million individuals per quarter

Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit (Background)

primary-govnationalreportFederal Reserve Bank of New York, Center for Microeconomic DataOther traced sources

Background and methodology for the New York Fed's flagship Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, drawn from the Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax. The authoritative source for US household debt, delinquency, and credit trends bearing on financial insecurity.

Datapoints: Total household debt balances (mortgage, auto, student, credit card); Delinquency and default transition rates; New mortgage originations and credit scores; Foreclosure and bankruptcy flags; Total household debt balances (excluding accounts in bankruptcy); Debt by product: mortgage, credit card, auto loan, student loan, HELOC; Delinquency transition rates (early and serious/90+ days past due); Number of open accounts, newly opened accounts, and closed accounts; Quarterly frequency, nationally representative estimates

findhelp (Aunt Bertha)

othernationaltoolfindhelpOther traced sources

National ZIP-searchable social-services referral directory listing 970,000+ programs, plus a B2B closed-loop referral platform. National and automated rather than curated/local.

Datapoints: 970,000+ programs nationwide; ZIP-code social-services search; 970,000+ programs searchable by ZIP; Categories: food, housing, financial, health, etc.; Free-and-reduced-cost program listings

First Nations — Native Nutrition Policy Report

othernationalreportFirst Nations Development InstituteOther traced sources

Report on the historical context, barriers, and policy landscape affecting nutrition and food access in Native American communities, including federal food-assistance programs.

Datapoints: Historical context and structural barriers to Native nutrition; Policy analysis of federal food-assistance programs serving tribes

First Nations — FDPIR Toolkit (Nutrition Education for Native American Communities)

othernationaltoolFirst Nations Development Institute (with NAFDPIR)Other traced sources

Toolkit of culturally based nutrition-education resources and videos developed for Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) sites, created under First Nations' Nutrition Education for Native American Communities project in partnership with the National Association of FDPIR.

Datapoints: Supports culturally based nutrition education at FDPIR program sites; Preference given to FDPIR sites for participation; Compiled nutrition-education models and videos; FDPIR program operation and best practices; Native household food-access guidance; Nutrition and traditional-foods integration

SAMHSA STREETS NOFO (SM-26-019) — Grants.gov Opportunity

primary-govnationaldatasetGrants.gov / SAMHSAOther traced sources

Official grant opportunity listing for SAMHSA's STREETS NOFO (SM-26-019): $24,000,000 total, 8 expected awards, $3,000,000 per award, due July 17, 2026. Eligibility limited to political subdivisions of states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations.

Datapoints: $24,000,000 total; 8 awards; $3,000,000 each; Application due July 17, 2026; Eligibility: cities/counties, tribes, tribal organizations (nonprofits cannot be prime); $24,000,000 total; ~8 awards; up to $3M; Eligibility: political subdivisions of states, tribes, tribal orgs; Posted June 17, 2026; due July 17, 2026

GreatNonprofits

othernationalorg-hubGreatNonprofitsOther traced sources

National crowd-sourced nonprofit review and discovery directory (1.8M+ organizations). No original explainer or data library.

Datapoints: 1.8M+ nonprofit organizations listed; Crowd-sourced reviews and ratings; Category browsing (e.g. homeless and housing)

LIHEAP Performance Management Website & Data Warehouse

primary-govnationaldashboardHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community ServicesOther traced sources

Federal data warehouse and performance-management portal for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), offering grant-recipient profiles, standard and custom reports, and cross-state comparisons of energy-assistance data.

Datapoints: Households served by LIHEAP (state and national); Fiscal/funding data (sources and uses); Home energy data (fuel type, cost, consumption); Performance/targeting measures; State income standards and poverty-level breakdowns

LIHEAP Reports to Congress

primary-govnationalreportHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community ServicesOther traced sources

Annual statutory reports to Congress on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, with data on funding, households assisted, energy burden offset, and targeting of vulnerable households; archive back to FY 2006.

Datapoints: Sources and uses of LIHEAP funding; Number and income levels of households assisted; Average household benefit amounts; LIHEAP offset of average heating costs; Recipiency targeting performance measures; Households with vulnerable members served

13th TANF Report to Congress

primary-govnationalreportHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family AssistanceOther traced sources

Statutory biennial report on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, covering caseloads, work participation, spending categories, and program characteristics. Authoritative federal source on cash welfare.

Datapoints: TANF caseloads (families, recipients, children); Work participation rates; Spending by category (assistance vs. non-assistance); Characteristics of TANF families

TANF 13th Report to Congress

primary-govnationalreportHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA)Other traced sources

Statutorily required comprehensive report on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program covering expenditures, caseloads, recipient characteristics, and work participation (data through FY2021). Released February 2024.

Datapoints: ~$16.5 billion annual federal TANF block grant; Average monthly TANF cash assistance per family: $517 (FY2021); Adult recipient education levels (56% HS completion; 34.5% less than HS); 15% of TANF families with non-TANF income; State-by-state caseload and expenditure tables

TANF Caseload Data 2024

primary-govnationaldatasetHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA)Other traced sources

FY2024 monthly counts of families and individuals receiving TANF and Separate State Program-Maintenance of Effort (SSP-MOE) cash assistance, by state and family type. Released March 2025 in PDF and Excel.

Datapoints: FY2024 average monthly families: 841,209; Monthly families ranged 826,530 (Jan) to 869,951 (Aug) 2024; Adult vs. child recipients by state; Two-parent / one-parent / no-parent family types; Separate TANF and SSP-MOE caseload tables

Benefits for Refugees (ORR Fact Sheet)

primary-govnationalguidelineHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee ResettlementOther traced sources

Fact sheet summarizing the cash, medical, and social-service benefits available to refugees and other ORR-eligible populations, including eligibility categories and time limits.

Datapoints: Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) for basic needs (food, shelter, transportation); Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) coverage for those ineligible for Medicaid; Eligibility categories and benefit duration; Mainstream-benefit interactions (TANF, Medicaid, SNAP)

National Core Indicators (NCI)

othernationaldatasetHuman Services Research Institute (HSRI) with NASDDDS and ADvancing StatesOther traced sources

Long-running (since 1997) standardized survey program measuring outcomes for people who use state human services, including people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, older adults, and people with physical disabilities. State-comparable performance data relevant to disability, aging, and social-services systems.

Datapoints: NCI-IDD: outcomes for people using state developmental disability services and families; NCI-AD: outcomes for older adults and people with physical disabilities; NCI State of the Workforce: direct-support workforce metrics

Utility Disconnections Dashboard (Energy Justice Lab)

othernationaldashboardIndiana University Energy Justice LabOther traced sources

Interactive national dashboard tracking residential electricity and gas disconnections for nonpayment, plus state-by-state customer shutoff protection policies. A primary source on energy insecurity.

Datapoints: ~15 million Americans experienced electricity shutoffs in 2024; 43 states with winter/extreme cold disconnection protections; 25 states with summer/severe heat protections; Only 4 states protect households with young children; Utility-company-level disconnection rates; ~15 million Americans had electricity shut off in 2024; 43 states with winter/cold-weather disconnection protections; 25 states with summer/heat protections; 4 states protecting households with young children; Utility-company-level disconnection counts

IRS Statistics of Income (SOI)

primary-govnationaldatasetInternal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. TreasuryOther traced sources

IRS program publishing tax-return-based statistics, including individual income data by ZIP code, county, and state, and EITC claims - widely used for local income, poverty, and economic-mobility analysis.

Datapoints: individual income tax statistics by ZIP/county/state; Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims by area; adjusted gross income distributions; migration/inflow-outflow data; exempt organization (nonprofit) statistics

Meals on Wheels America — Research and benchmarking

established-research-orgnationalreportMeals on Wheels AmericaOther traced sources

National benchmarking and waitlist research for home-delivered meal programs serving seniors. Source for provider waitlist prevalence and capacity figures.

Datapoints: 38% of providers report waitlists; ~46,000 people on waitlists; 187 average per provider; Burke County 557 on waitlist; ~700 served locally; Network reaches 2M+ seniors/year; ~2.5M more likely need meals and receive none; 2025 benchmarking: 38% of providers added seniors to a waitlist (up from 28% two years earlier); 2025 waitlist fact sheet: ~46,000 seniors waiting nationally; average list 187 people; average wait ~4 months; Nearly two-thirds of providers with waitlists serve rural areas; longest lists in TX, FL, GA, and the Carolinas; Federal charitable-mileage deduction stuck at 14 cents/mile for two decades

Senior nutrition FY26 funding statement

established-research-orgnationalreportMeals on Wheels America / NANASPOther traced sources

Joint statement on FY26 senior nutrition funding holding flat at $1.059B, with advocacy context on Older Americans Act nutrition programs and projected service cuts.

Datapoints: Senior nutrition funding flat at $1.059B for FY26; Older Americans Act nutrition program context

Common Core of Data (CCD)

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationOther traced sources

The primary annual database on all U.S. public elementary and secondary schools and districts, including enrollment, free/reduced-price lunch eligibility, and finance data used as a poverty proxy.

Datapoints: School and district directory with NCES IDs; Free/reduced-price lunch eligible counts (poverty proxy); Enrollment by grade, race, and locale; School finance and revenue data

NAEP Socioeconomic Status (SES) Index Dashboard

primary-govnationaldashboardNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationOther traced sources

Dashboard presenting NAEP achievement results against a composite socioeconomic status index, allowing analysis of how poverty and family resources relate to student performance.

Datapoints: Achievement results by SES quintile/index; Relationship between SES and test-score gaps; Companion Achievement Gap and Racial/Ethnic Score Gap dashboards

The Nation's Report Card (NAEP)

primary-govnationaldashboardNational Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of EducationOther traced sources

The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports nationally and state-representative student achievement, disaggregated by demographics including poverty/free-lunch eligibility, a marker of childhood disadvantage.

Datapoints: Reading and mathematics scale scores (grades 4, 8, 12); Long-term trend assessments (ages 9 and 13); Results disaggregated by race/ethnicity, income, and free/reduced-price lunch status; State and district performance profiles

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES)

primary-govnationaldatasetNational Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, NSFOther traced sources

NCSES is NSF's federal statistical agency and clearinghouse for science-and-engineering data, offering interactive data explorers, state indicators, and public-use microdata used in workforce, education, and socioeconomic analysis.

Datapoints: Data Explorer, Chart Builder, and Table Builder interactive tools; State Indicators compares ~60 key indicators across states; Public-use microdata files and a resource library; Covers S&E workforce, R&D, higher-education R&D, STEM education

NORC at the University of Chicago

othernationalorg-hubNORC at the University of ChicagoOther traced sources

Independent nonpartisan research organization producing survey data and analysis on health, economics, education, and social conditions, including the nationally representative AmeriSpeak panel used in poverty and food-security research.

Datapoints: AmeriSpeak nationally representative survey panel; Health and economic disparity research and evaluations; Social determinants and program-evaluation datasets; AmeriSpeak probability-based national survey panel; AP-NORC public opinion and well-being polling; Research across economics, education, health, public affairs, society & culture

NRI — Trends in Psychiatric Inpatient Capacity, US, 1970-2014

othernationalreportNRI (NASMHPD Research Institute)Other traced sources

NRI report on US and state-level psychiatric inpatient capacity trends from 1970 to 2014.

Datapoints: State-by-state psychiatric inpatient capacity trends; Long-run bed decline

Food is Medicine Federal Resource Hub - Healthy Teaching Kitchen Program

primary-govnationalguidelineOffice of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), HHSOther traced sources

ODPHP Food is Medicine resource profiling the VA's Healthy Teaching Kitchen program as a replicable model for nutrition education, cooking-skills building, and disease-specific dietary support within Food is Medicine initiatives.

Datapoints: HTK delivery: in-person and via VA Video Connect telehealth; Class topics: nutrition, meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking skills; Disease-specific variants (diabetes carb control, heart health); Positioned as replicable Food is Medicine model

National Equity Atlas - Data and Methods

othernationaldashboardPolicyLink & USC Equity Research Institute (ERI)Other traced sources

Data and policy tool tracking demographic change, racial and economic inclusion, and the economic gains from equity across 731 U.S. geographies (US, 50 states, 150 metros, 100 cities, 430 counties), disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, nativity, and income.

Datapoints: Housing burden by race/ethnicity; Median wages and the working-poor rate; Poverty rate disaggregated by group; Educational attainment and car access; Estimated economic gains from racial equity; Source data: decennial census and ACS microdata via IPUMS USA

National Equity Atlas (indicators & data)

othernationaldashboardPolicyLink and USC Equity Research InstituteOther traced sources

America's most detailed report card on racial and economic equity, with disaggregated indicators for the US overall, all 50 states, the 150 largest regions, 430 large counties, and the 100 largest cities. Data is broken out by race/ethnicity, gender, and nativity.

Datapoints: Housing burden / cost-burdened households; Median hourly wages and working-poor rates; Poverty rates by race and geography; Employment and educational attainment by race; Housing burden: share of households cost-burdened (>30% of income on housing) and severely burdened (>50%); Poverty and neighborhood poverty rates by race; Median wages, wages at $15/hr, and working poor; Homeownership, income growth, income inequality; Unemployment, educational attainment, disconnected youth, commute time, car access

Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA) - Data Downloads

othernationaldatasetStanford University Educational Opportunity Project (CEPA)Other traced sources

Publicly available downloadable archive of U.S. educational achievement data (2009-onward) at school, district, county, metro, commuting-zone, and state levels, with racial/ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic breakdowns. A social-determinant indicator for educational opportunity tied to neighborhood and income.

Datapoints: District/school average achievement (multiple standardization scales); Racial/ethnic and gender achievement gaps; Demographic and socioeconomic covariates; Math and ELA, grades 3-8; Stata/CSV formats; District/school mean achievement in grade-equivalent units; Test scores in standard-deviation units (NAEP- and state-referenced); Socioeconomic and demographic covariates; Geographic levels: school, district, county, MSA, commuting zone, state

STAT News — Involuntary Treatment for Addiction: What the Research Says

othernationalarticleSTAT NewsOther traced sources

Reporting summarizing the weak-to-negative evidence on coerced addiction treatment, including the Massachusetts Section 35 elevated post-commitment overdose risk.

Datapoints: Coerced-treatment outcomes weak-to-negative; Massachusetts Section 35 ~2x fatal-overdose risk vs voluntary

SAMHSA — Assisted Outpatient Treatment grant (SM-26-001)

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Other traced sources

SAMHSA grant announcement funding Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) for adults with serious mental illness, working with civil courts and community partners; budget narrative must not support harm reduction, and required staffing includes a Project Director and Court Coordinator.

Datapoints: Per-award caps: <=$500K (<=50 patients) / <=$750K (>50 patients) per year; Eligible primes: counties, cities, MH systems/authorities, mental-health courts, AOT-authorized entities; Funds court-linked AOT for adults with serious mental illness; Budget narrative must not support harm reduction (per SAMHSA Dear Colleague Letter); Requires Project Director (>=0.50 FTE) and Court Coordinator (>=0.25 FTE); Eligibility: counties/cities/MH authorities/courts; Up to $500K-750K/yr; Required Project Director and Court Coordinator FTEs

SAMHSA — CCBHC Improvement & Advancement grant (SM-26-015)

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Other traced sources

SAMHSA NOFO for CCBHC Improvement & Advancement grants (existing clinics / prior CCBHC-E grantees).

Datapoints: $117,160,647; 117 awards; due Aug 17, 2026; Eligible: existing CCBHCs / prior CCBHC-E grantees; $117,160,647 total; 117 awards; Due August 17, 2026

SAMHSA — CCBHC Planning, Development & Implementation grant (SM-26-014)

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Other traced sources

SAMHSA grant announcement for CCBHC Planning, Development, and Implementation: $94,000,000 total, 94 expected awards, $1,000,000 max, due August 17, 2026. Eligible: community behavioral health nonprofits, local government behavioral health authorities, IHS/tribal organizations.

Datapoints: $94M; 94 awards; <=$1M each; due Aug 17, 2026; Eligible primes: community-based BH nonprofits, local-gov BH authorities, IHS/tribal/Urban Indian Orgs; Applicant must be or become a CCBHC-qualifying clinic; $94,000,000 total; 94 awards; $1,000,000 max; Application due August 17, 2026; Eligible: behavioral health nonprofits, local govt authorities, tribal orgs; $94 million across roughly 94 awards of up to $1 million each; Application deadline August 17, 2026; Open to community-based behavioral-health nonprofits (certification not required); $94M total; ~94 awards; $1M max; Due August 17, 2026; Eligible: behavioral-health nonprofits, local BH authorities, tribal orgs

SAMHSA — Dear Colleague Letter on EO 14321 (July 30, 2025)

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Other traced sources

SAMHSA implementation letter ending 'harm reduction' grant funding via new award terms following EO 14321; initially allowed fentanyl/xylazine test strips while barring syringes, pipes, and sterile water.

Datapoints: Signed by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Art Kleinschmidt; Funds no longer support 'harm reduction'; Fentanyl and xylazine test strips initially allowed; syringes/needles prohibited; Food capped at <=$10/person; SAMHSA funds will no longer support harm reduction; Fentanyl/xylazine test strips initially allowable; syringes/needles not; Harm-reduction funding ban via award terms; Fentanyl/xylazine test strips initially allowable; syringes/needles prohibited

SAMHSA — STREETS NOFO (SM-26-019) grant announcement

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Other traced sources

Official announcement of the STREETS cooperative-agreement NOFO (Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-Based Treatment and Support), the flagship treatment-first street-engagement grant implementing EO 14321. Eligibility is limited to political subdivisions and tribes.

Datapoints: $24M total ($96M over 4 yrs); up to 8 awards; <=$3M/yr; Posted June 17, 2026; due July 17, 2026; Assistance Listing 93.243; Eligibility: cities/counties + tribes/tribal orgs only (not states or nonprofits); Housing assistance contingent on active treatment participation (Housing First disallowed); Contingency Management allowed up to $750/individual; MOU required within 4 months with BH/CCBHC, FQHC, housing agencies, CoC, law enforcement; $24,000,000 total; ~8 awards; up to $3M/yr each; due July 17, 2026; Eligibility limited to political subdivisions/tribes (not nonprofits); Prohibits harm-reduction funding; $24M total; ~8 awards; up to $3M/yr; due July 17, 2026; Eligibility limited to cities/counties/tribes (not nonprofit primes); Housing contingent on active treatment participation; CFDA 93.243

SAMHSA — Updated Dear Colleague Letter on Harm-Reduction Funding (April 24, 2026)

primary-govnationalguidelineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Other traced sources

SAMHSA letter reversing the earlier test-strip allowance: now prohibits HHS funds for test strips of any kind and bars funding for overdose hotlines; naloxone remains fundable.

Datapoints: Signed by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Carroll; Prohibits fentanyl/xylazine test strips of any kind; Newly prohibits funding for overdose hotlines; Naloxone still fundable; Reverses prior test-strip allowance; Prohibits funds for overdose hotlines; Reversal of test-strip allowance; New prohibition on overdose hotlines

NYT - The Economic Diversity and Mobility of American Colleges (College Mobility)

othernationalinteractive-mapThe New York Times (data: Opportunity Insights / Raj Chetty et al.)Other traced sources

Interactive feature visualizing intergenerational economic mobility by US college, based on Opportunity Insights research, showing how access to higher education relates to moving children from low-income to higher-income brackets.

Datapoints: Share of students from bottom income quintile by college; Rate of students moving from bottom to top income quintile (mobility rate); Median parent income and student outcome income by institution

Food insecurity reaches highest level in a decade (Fed survey)

othernationalarticleThe Washington TimesOther traced sources

Report on a Federal Reserve Bank survey finding U.S. food insecurity at its highest level in a decade, pointing to the underlying Fed survey as the primary source.

Datapoints: Food insecurity at highest level in a decade; Federal Reserve Bank survey findings

ORR Refugee Resettlement Program (Cash & Medical Assistance)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)Other traced sources

Federal hub for refugee resettlement assistance, including Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) for refugees and other eligible populations who meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and transportation.

Datapoints: RCA/RMA categorical eligibility for up to 12 months from arrival for those ineligible for TANF/Medicaid; 100% federal reimbursement to states for RCA, RMA, and associated administrative costs; Medical screening upon arrival funded through RMA; Service delivery via public-private network of states and resettlement providers

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and FamiliesOther traced sources

Federal agency hub overseeing ~60 anti-poverty and family-support programs including TANF, LIHEAP, the Child Care and Development Fund, refugee resettlement, and child welfare, with program data pages and dashboards.

Datapoints: TANF caseload, work participation, and recipient financial-circumstances data by state; LIHEAP households assisted, income levels, and vulnerable-member counts; Child Care and Development Fund case-level demographic data; Office of Refugee Resettlement program data

WRAPS Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (Privacy Impact Assessment)

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationOther traced sources

Privacy Impact Assessment documenting the WRAPS case-management system that processes refugee applications and generates the statistical reporting (via Tableau Report Writer) published by the Refugee Processing Center. Authoritative description of how federal refugee admissions data is collected and produced.

Datapoints: Refugee case-processing data lifecycle; Data categories collected on refugee applicants; System governing USRAP admissions reporting; data elements captured for each refugee case; scope and governance of the WRAPS system; context for interpreting published refugee arrival statistics; WRAPS provides statistical analysis and reporting to PRM via Tableau Report Writer; System tracks refugee case data from referral through resettlement; Source system behind WRAPSnet/RPC public statistics

Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS) / Refugee Processing Center

othernationaldatasetU.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (Refugee Processing Center)Other traced sources

Authoritative federal system tracking U.S. refugee admissions and arrivals; the Refugee Processing Center publishes admissions/arrivals reports by nationality, state, and destination city.

Datapoints: Refugee arrivals by region and fiscal year; Arrivals by U.S. state of resettlement; Arrivals by destination city and nationality; Admissions by country of chargeability and month

VA Nutrition and Food Services

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Nutrition and Food ServicesOther traced sources

VA program hub for veteran nutrition education and food-related clinical services, including the Healthy Teaching Kitchen program and food-insecurity screening resources for VA-enrolled veterans.

Datapoints: Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) nutrition-education program; Disease-specific cooking guidance (diabetes, heart health, anti-inflammatory); Food-insecurity screening and referral resources

SAM.gov Assistance Listings (CFDA catalog)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. General Services Administration (GSA)Other traced sources

The official catalog (formerly CFDA) of all federal assistance programs, with detailed public descriptions of grants, loans, and other assistance awards across every federal agency. Searchable and downloadable, with annual editions back to 2008.

Datapoints: Descriptions of all federal grant, loan, and assistance programs; Program eligibility, objectives, and authorizing statutes; Annual catalog editions (2008-present); Bulk data download and reporting tools

SBA Office of Advocacy Research Publications Hub

primary-govnationalorg-hubU.S. Small Business Administration, Office of AdvocacyOther traced sources

Central hub for the Office of Advocacy's small-business economic research: economic bulletins, studies, FAQs, facts, and spotlights covering small-business employment, formation, and economic contribution.

Datapoints: 36.2M small businesses; 62.3M small-business employees; small-business share of job growth; employment trends 1998-2022; small-business exports

Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Social Security AdministrationOther traced sources

Authoritative yearly report on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), covering disabled-worker beneficiaries, dependents, benefit levels, and economic characteristics, with state-level tables.

Datapoints: disabled-worker beneficiaries and dependents (national and by state); average monthly disability benefit; diagnostic-group and demographic breakdowns; poverty status of DI beneficiaries

SSA Research, Statistics & Policy Analysis (Office of Retirement and Disability Policy)

primary-govnationaldatasetU.S. Social Security AdministrationOther traced sources

SSA's statistical hub publishing data and chartbooks on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries, including state and county breakdowns relevant to disability, poverty, and income support.

Datapoints: SSI recipients by state and county; Disabled-worker beneficiaries (SSDI); Average monthly benefit amounts; SSI Annual Statistical Report and SSI Monthly Statistics; OASDI and SSI program participation; beneficiary demographics and benefit amounts; poverty status of beneficiaries; disability program statistics

SSA Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program

primary-govnationalguidelineU.S. Social Security AdministrationOther traced sources

Official program landing page for Supplemental Security Income, the federal income supplement for aged, blind, and disabled people with little or no income; the primary cash-assistance backstop tied to poverty and disability.

Datapoints: SSI eligibility criteria (income/resource limits); Federal benefit rate and payment standards; Application process and links to disability programs

SSI Annual Statistical Report

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Social Security AdministrationOther traced sources

Authoritative yearly report on the Supplemental Security Income program, the federal safety-net benefit for low-income aged, blind, and disabled people, including recipient counts, payments, and poverty-status tables by state.

Datapoints: number of SSI recipients (national and by state, including NC); average federal SSI payment amounts; recipient age, disability, and income characteristics; poverty status of SSI recipients

Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin

primary-govnationalreportU.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Research, Evaluation, and StatisticsOther traced sources

The most comprehensive annual statistical reference on the OASDI and SSI programs, presenting hundreds of tables on program participants, benefits, and economic characteristics. (Several poverty tables were suspended starting in the 2022 edition pending data-source evaluation; poverty data is now carried in the SSI and DI annual statistical reports.)

Datapoints: OASDI and SSI beneficiaries by state and program; average and aggregate benefit amounts; beneficiary demographic and economic characteristics; historical program trend tables

United Way 211

othernationalorg-hubUnited Way Worldwide / 211Other traced sources

National 211 network with localized routing for health and human-services referrals. Directory/referral only.

Datapoints: national social-service referral network; localized 211 routing; Nationwide 211 referral coverage; Local-211 lookup by location; Need-category routing (housing, food, utilities, health)

TAGGS / HHS — Assistance Listing 93.243 (SAMHSA PRNS)

primary-govnationaldatasetUS Department of Health and Human Services (TAGGS)Other traced sources

HHS tracking detail for Assistance Listing 93.243 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services PRNS), administered by SAMHSA.

Datapoints: CFDA 93.243 program detail; SAMHSA grant award tracking

USAFacts - Our Data

established-research-orgnationalorg-hubUSAFacts (nonpartisan nonprofit)Other traced sources

Nonpartisan platform aggregating data sourced exclusively from 90+ U.S. government agencies into comparable national metrics, including poverty, social programs, employment, and health. Useful as a clearinghouse that traces every figure back to its official source.

Datapoints: SNAP, Medicaid, and Pell Grant program metrics; Federal/state/local spending and revenue; Population and demographic indicators; Sourced from 90+ government agencies; Federal/state spending and revenue; Demographics and population; Economic indicators (employment, inflation); Social program participation (SNAP, Medicaid, Pell Grants); Health data (CDC); Labor statistics; Inflation and employment indicators; Social-program participation (SNAP, Medicaid, Pell); Population and demographics; Government spending and revenue; Sourced to original federal datasets

Massachusetts Section 35 — Civil Commitment for Substance Use Disorder

primary-govstate-NCguidelineCommonwealth of MassachusettsOther traced sources

Official Massachusetts guide to the Section 35 (M.G.L. c.123 s.35) civil-commitment statute for substance use disorder, detailing qualified petitioners, the serious-harm criterion, and commitment of up to 90 days to designated treatment facilities. (A model 'treatment-first' involuntary-commitment mechanism cited as national context.)

Datapoints: commitment up to 90 days for SUD with likelihood of serious harm; qualified petitioners: police, physician, spouse, blood relative, guardian, court official; elevated post-commitment overdose risk (~1.4x non-fatal; ~2x fatal in some datasets); M.G.L. c.123 s.35 civil commitment for SUD; Commitment up to 90 days to treatment facilities; Petitioners: police, physician, spouse, relative, guardian, court official

Duke Energy Special Assistance / Customer Assistance Program

otherstate-NCorg-hubDuke EnergyOther traced sources

Duke Energy's bill-assistance hub for low-income customers, including the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) credit, the Share the Light Fund, and links to LIHEAP/CIP. Relevant to energy cost-burden as a driver of household financial insecurity.

Datapoints: CAP monthly credit up to $42 (12-month program; requires LIEAP/CIP approval); Share the Light Fund (30+ years; NC, SC, IN, KY, OH, FL); 114,000+ NC households received ~$90M in energy-bill assistance in 2024; Neighborhood Energy Saver and installment-plan options

Manhattan Institute — Systems Under Strain: Deinstitutionalization in New York State and City

otherstate-NCreportManhattan InstituteOther traced sources

Research article documenting the scale and timeline of psychiatric deinstitutionalization in New York; primary data anchor for the mid-century state-hospital population decline.

Datapoints: NY psychiatric population fell from 78,011 (1968) to 27,866 (1978); 93,314 (1955) -> 78,011 (1968) decline trajectory

HRSA HPSA Find (Shortage Areas)

primary-govlocal-AVLinteractive-mapHRSA, HHSOther traced sources

Interactive tools to identify federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations, including a by-address lookup for primary care, dental, and mental health designations. Maps underserved, often low-income, communities.

Datapoints: Primary care, dental, and mental-health shortage designations; Shortage designations by address or geography; Targeting of resources to high-need communities; HPSA designations (primary care, dental, mental health); MUA/MUP designations; search by address/county/state; designation scores; primary care, dental, and mental health shortage designations; geographic and population-based shortage scores; underserved area/population identifiers; HPSA designations by geography and specialty (primary care, dental, mental health); Shortage-Areas-by-Address lookup; Unmet Need Score map for health-center coverage

HaRRT Center (Univ. of Washington) — Involuntary Treatment Narrative Review

primary-academicglobalreportHarm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center, University of WashingtonOther traced sources

Narrative review (rev. Sept 2025) synthesizing four decades of evidence on involuntary substance-use treatment, including elevated post-discharge overdose/mortality risk and a 50-state ecological analysis.

Datapoints: Synthesizes ~40 years of involuntary-treatment evidence; Documents elevated post-discharge overdose mortality; Cites Swedish registry studies and a 50-state ecological study (Cochran et al. 2024)

WHO Data: Global Health Observatory & Health Inequality Monitor

primary-intlglobaldashboardWorld Health Organization (WHO)Other traced sources

WHO's data platforms providing global health statistics (Global Health Observatory) and disaggregated health-equity data (Health Inequality Monitor), useful for relating health outcomes to poverty, nutrition, and social conditions across countries.

Datapoints: Global health indicators by country; Health-inequality data disaggregated by wealth, education, location; Nutrition and undernutrition indicators