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Message from PD&R Leadership:
Expanding the Blueprint for Prosperity
Recent research indicates that upward mobility is thwarted in many communities throughout the nation. Findings from that research support a balanced approach of empowering mobility to high-opportunity neighborhoods while also reinvesting in distressed neighborhoods. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development Lynn Ross highlights the Prosperity Playbook, a new HUD initiative launched in a handful of cities that aims to accelerate existing efforts to expand economic mobility and housing affordability, create a national community of practice, and catalyze other communities across the country to act.

Research:
Same-Sex Marriage Laws and Demand for Mortgage Credit
Between 2004 and 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court extended the right-to-marry to all same-sex couples, 36 states and the District of Columbia implemented marriage equality laws that enabled same-sex couples to take advantage of benefits that reduce the cost of homeownership. Using data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, PD&R economists released a study analyzing variation in the timing and method of implementation of state same-sex marriage laws to explore the effect of state same-sex marriage laws on the number of mortgage applications.

In Practice:
Expanding Safe Housing for Domestic Violence Survivors in the District of Columbia
Although domestic violence and homelessness are inextricably linked, service providers who address homelessness often are not trained in the unique issues involved in assisting domestic violence survivors, and domestic violence service providers are not always familiar with available housing resources. Founded in 2006, the District Alliance for Safe Housing in the District of Columbia has been working to align the systems addressing domestic violence with housing by providing supportive housing and establishing programs that offer assistance to domestic violence survivors.

Trending:
Behaviorally Informed Messaging for Federal Student Aid: An Interview with Leah Lozier
Federal student aid unlocks the opportunity to attend college for many students; however, current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates are relatively low for low-income youth. Presidential Management Fellow Leah Lozier describes how HUD, the Department of Education, and the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team have partnered to use behaviorally informed messages to increase completion of the FAFSA among students with housing vouchers.

Policy Update:
Partnerships and Planning for Impact
Many communities experience challenges that transcend local jurisdictional boundaries, such as insufficient affordable housing, inadequate transportation, climate change, and the threat of natural disasters. Regional planning aims to facilitate collaboration among local governments and foster cross-sector approaches to these regional challenges, creating a foundation to pursue more equitable economic growth and sustainable development that improves opportunities and outcomes for current and future generations alike.

Spotlight on PD&R Data:
New and Existing Home Sales Conditions
The latest Spotlight on PD&R Data from the U.S. Housing Market Conditions portal focuses on trends in building permits for privately owned single-family housing units, showing how the data vary across markets and how they compare to national trends.