Library

Looking for new and notable information to help you dig deeper into an issue? Start with these featured reports and web sites, and then browse through our full selection by topic.

Reports: Featured

The state of the nation's housing 2010
The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, June 2010, 44 pp.
This is an assessment of the nation’s housing outlook and summarizes important trends in the economics and demographics of housing.

Homelessness in Minnesota: Key findings from the 2009 statewide survey
Wilder Research, May 2010, 8 pp.
Key facts from the Wilder Research survey conducted in October, 2009. The survey shows an increase in the number of homeless youth and adults in Minnesota, and includes information on shelter use, employment status, health and mental health issues, and barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing.

Minnesota foreclosure update: 1st Quarter 2010
HousingLink, May 2010, 5 pp.
Reports on foreclosure rates for all Minnesota counties and the change from 1st quarter 2009.

Why they run: An In-depth look at America's runaway youth
National Runaway Switchboard, May 2010, 19 pp.
Examines a range of factors in the lives of runaway youth including family dynamics before leaving, demographics, how they get by, what caused them to leave home, and knowledge of available services. The report is based on ten years of data from the National Runaway Switchboard's Crisis Caller Trends report and interviews with youth.

Quarterly economic pulse April 2010
Greater Twin Cities United Way and Twin Cities Compass, April 2010, 4 pp.
Provides recent information on economic trends impacting the Twin Cities region. This issue includes data on unemployment rates, housing, and community basic needs, and briefly examines the outlook and implications.

Strategies for improving homeless people's access to mainstream benefits and services
Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, March 2010, 287 pp.
This study examines how communities have compensated for reductions in HUD funding for homeless-related resources and services from welfare, health, mental health, and other mainstream systems. It finds that communities that evolved smoothing, expanding, and changing mechanisms to reduce access barriers were most successful, although federal program regulations limit what local communities can do.

Foreclosures in Minnesota: A report based on county sheriff's sale data
HousingLink, February 2010, 37 pp.
Minnesota foreclosure counts and rates for all Minnesota counties for 2009.

U.S. economic and social trends since 2000
Population Reference Bureau, February 2010, 20 pp.
Presents social and economic data from the American Community Survey.

Rethinking housing finance systems: Summary report of November 10, 2009 workshop
Rethinking Housing, December 2009, 5 pp.
Summary of a forum convened to rethink housing finance systems in the face of new housing market realities.

Preserving affordability and access in livable communities: subsidized housing opportunities near transit and the 50+ population
AARP Public Policy Institute, September 2009, 117 pp.
This study analyzed the location of affordable housing in 20 metropolitan areas across the United States, including Minneapolis/St. Paul, measuring the amount of that housing within certain distances of transit.

Homeless service use in Minnesota: Emergency shelter and transitional housing, federal fiscal year 2008
Wilder Research, August 2009, 58 pp.
This report is based on aggregate data submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in conjunction with their Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, and provides information about the numbers and characteristics of people residing in emergency shelter and transitional housing throughout the state. A companion report presents detailed tables for each of Minnesota's 13 Continuum of Care regions.

Federal program overview & resources
Minnesota Housing Partnership, July 2009, 8 pp.
Guide to help track federal housing programs and resources for Minnesota.

Affordable housing research and recommendations
Himle Horner, Inc., July 2009, 49 pp.
Results of research commissioned by The McKnight Foundation to better understand public attitudes toward affordable housing and to identify strategies that could build public support for affordable housing.

The Impact of foreclosures on families and communities
The Urban Institute, May 2009, 54 pp.
This report explores the effects that increased home foreclosures have had on both families and communities. It distills the most important findings on the impacts of the foreclosure crisis and offers recommendations on designing strategies to address it.

The Unraveling of the American dream: Foreclosures in the immigrant community of Minneapolis
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, March 2009, 18 pp.
Provides information on the disproportionate representation of minority households among households experiencing foreclosures. The report presents the race and nativity status of households that experienced a foreclosure in the City of Minneapolis during fiscal years 2006 and 2007. The report also presents service and policy recommendations.

The economic impact of Minnesota Housing's investments
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, February 2009, 6 pp.
An estimate of the economic benefits of Minnesota Housing's activities.

Tools and incentives to promote affordable housing
Metropolitan Council, January 2009, 17 pp.
Annual report summarizing local tools and incentives that promote new affordable housing in the Twin Cities area. This information was gathered through a survey that was sent to every municipality in the seven-county Twin Cities area.

Protective factors for academic achievement in homeless and highly mobile children: CURA Reporter
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, August 2008, 12 pp.
Researchers analyzed school data on homeless students in the Minneapolis Public Schools and studied young children in a homeless shelter. The results provide a picture of the academic achievement and school attendance of homeless students and identify protective factors for school success among this population.

Overview of homelessness in Minnesota 2006
Wilder Research, March 2007, 61 pp.
Key facts from the Wilder Research survey conducted in October 2006 includes sections about youth, Includes sections on youth, long-term homeless adults, veterans, older adults, ex-offenders, and homeless people not in shelters.

Web sites

Twin Cities Housing Policy
Tools and resources to inform citizens and assist in advocating for improved affordable housing policy in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

HUD Research Library
Includes reports, publications, periodicals, and data from HUD and other sources. Topics include: affordable housing, community development, homelessness, supportive housing, housing statistics, and more.

National Health Care for the Homeless Council
News, events, research, and advocacy information on health-care issues related to homelessness.

HousingPolicy.org
Online guide to state and local housing policy that provides examples of solutions for expanding the availability of affordable housing. Includes guidance on how to create a comprehensive and effective housing strategy.