Resources

The wealth gap between white and African-American families increased more than four times between 1984-2007, and middle-income white households now own far more wealth than high-income African Americans, according to an analysis released by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy (IASP) at Brandeis University.

IASP, in a research brief, also reported that many African-Americans hold more debt than assets and at least 25 percent of African-American families had no assets to turn to in times of economic hardship. The fourfold increase in the wealth gap, it said, reflects public policies, such as tax cuts on investment income and inheritances, which benefit the wealthiest and persistent discrimination in housing, credit and labor markets.

"Our study shows a broken chain of achievement. Even when African-Americans do everything right -- get an education and work hard at well-paying jobs -- they cannot achieve the wealth of their white peers in the workforce, and that translates into very different life chances," said Thomas Shapiro, IASP director and co-author of the research brief.

To read the full analysis, click here.

In many cases, the key barrier to economic advancement is the inability to find and keep a good job. To revitalize the city and re-establish Baltimore as a thriving urban center, the underemployment problem must be challenged head-on, and an investment must be made in the vast potential of the city’s untapped human capital. Building pathways out of poverty into the middle class could increase the total income earned by African-American city residents by over $3 billion per year, which would in turn bolster local business and city tax revenues. I

In a new report, Job Opportunities Task Force and Associated Black Charities (JOTF and ABC) explore workforce strategies for expanding Baltimore’s black middle class. The report highlights policies for expanding the number of good jobs within the city, building pathways to help low-skill workers access these jobs, and reducing employment discrimination.

To read the full report, click here.

A new report from Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), through its partnership with the Center for Transit-Oriented Development (CTOD), provides a quantitative analysis of potential greenhouse gas reductions of transit-oriented development from the transport sector.

The research finds that by living in a central city near transit, the average household can reduce its transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent. The number increases when living near the most location efficient transit zones, which can result in a 78 percent emission reduction.

''This research shows that, in a nutshell, location does indeed matter,'' said Scott Bernstein, President of CNT. ''Individuals and families that live near transit centers own fewer automobiles, drive fewer miles, and leave a much smaller carbon footprint than those who don't.''

The report was funded through CTOD's cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, and provides more evidence of transit's role in building economically and environmentally sustainable communities across the country.

To read the complete article, click here.

It may be very difficult for low-income families to find affordable housing close to work or school, which means higher costs of transportation and lower efficiency. The Center for Transit-Oriented Development has released a report on how to address this issue. As the report title suggests, Mixed-Income Housing Near Transit: Increasing Affordability with Location Efficiency examines the benefits of mixed-income housing near transit-oriented developments (TODs). The report outlines strategies for implementing mixed-income housing near TODs as a community and on the local level. It also outlines how states or regions can promote mixed-income housing near transit by giving priority to choice projects through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. Other recommendations include reducing parking requirements by including car-sharing facilities and using that space for other purposes such as retail or daycare facilities to serve nearby residents. To access the report it its entirety, click here.