New Updates on The Edge - 04/06/2015

New on The Edge

Message from PD&R Leadership:
My Brother's Keeper: Year One
In February 2014, President Barack Obama issued a call to action that served as the foundation for My Brother's Keeper (MBK), an initiative that focuses on removing the barriers that prevent young people from reaching their full potential. The President then created an MBK task force and challenged local leaders to become "MBK Communities" and to implement interventions in support of the initiative's goals. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring Calvin Johnson discusses the specific goals for the MBK communities and highlights some of the achievements of the MBK task force in the initiative's first year.

In Practice:
Affordable Housing in a Rapidly Growing and Urbanizing Region
Although the state of Utah has experienced a notable decline in homelessness over the last decade and boasts one of the lowest income-inequality gaps in the nation, local leaders assert that marginalized populations, such as homeless families and refugees, may remain underserved. In July 2014, the Bud Bailey Apartment Community opened just outside of the Salt Lake City boundary, providing 136 units of affordable housing and extensive support services for refugees, homeless families, and homeless youth transitioning out of foster care.

Trending:
Understanding the American Housing Survey: An Interview with Dav Vandenbroucke
The American Housing Survey (AHS) is a biennial survey sponsored by HUD that collects information about the housing stock in the United States. Dav Vandenbroucke, a HUD Senior Economist, details how AHS data can be used, highlights how the AHS has changed over time, and discusses differences between the AHS and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Policy Update:
The Research Basis for Disaster Resilience
Detailed data on natural disasters have become more accessible than ever, and although much of the data is only available for the last few decades, research indicates that natural disasters are becoming more frequent and costly. As natural disaster data illustrate the need to emphasize disaster-resilient development, academics and planning experts are developing best practice guidelines for hazard mitigation strategies.