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Additional research and documents
Use of Predatory Lending Products in the Houston Area
About 1 in 5 Houston-area residents used a predatory lending product in the past year, often to cover basic needs like rent and groceries. This Kinder Institute research brief examines payday loans, auto title loans, and other high-cost financial products that trap families in debt cycles.
ALICE in the Crosscurrents: 2024 Update on Financial Hardship in Texas
This report shows that 43% of Texas families struggle to afford basic needs like housing and food, even when they work full-time jobs. While wages have grown for some jobs, the costs of living have grown even faster. Many working families earn too much to get help but not enough to get by.
Understanding Economic Mobility: From Crisis to Wealth
This document shows different levels of financial well-being, from crisis to wealth. It explains how government benefits can help families meet basic needs but sometimes create barriers to building long-term financial stability. The guide highlights tools that communities can use to measure and support family economic growth.
The U.S. Racial Wealth Gap, 1860-2020: A Historical Analysis
Researchers studied the wealth gap between Black and white Americans over 160 years. They found that while the gap got smaller quickly after the Civil War, progress has slowed down since 1950. Today, white families still have about 6 times more wealth than Black families because they started with much more money after slavery ended.
Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
The White House launched a plan to end hunger and help all Americans eat healthier by 2030. The strategy brings together government, businesses, and communities to make healthy food easier to get and afford. This plan focuses on preventing diet-related diseases and making sure everyone has access to nutritious food and places to be active.