Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University

Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University
Name	Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University
Formation	1985
Type	Research institute
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Parent organization	DePaul University

Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University The Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University is an applied research and policy center focused on housing markets, neighborhood change, and community development in the Chicago metropolitan area and the Midwest. It conducts data-driven analysis, offers technical assistance, and publishes accessible research for policymakers, practitioners, and community organizations. The institute collaborates with municipal agencies, philanthropic foundations, and nonprofit housing providers to support equitable housing outcomes.

History

The institute was established within DePaul University in the mid-1980s during a period of intensified urban policy debates involving actors such as Harold Washington's Chicago mayoralty, the Reagan administration, and local philanthropic initiatives linked to families like the Rockefeller family and institutions such as the MacArthur Foundation. Early work intersected with efforts from agencies like the Chicago Housing Authority and organizations including the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Urban League of Chicago to address post-industrial housing challenges exemplified in neighborhoods affected by deindustrialization and events like the decline of the Pullman plant. Over subsequent decades the institute engaged with regional planning conversations influenced by entities such as the Metropolitan Planning Council (Chicago), municipal reforms following the Council Wars (Chicago), and federal policy shifts after the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and the Balanced Budget Act. Its evolution paralleled the growth of university-affiliated policy centers at institutions like University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois at Chicago.

Mission and Activities

The institute's mission emphasizes data transparency, equitable housing access, and neighborhood stability, aligning with broader efforts seen in organizations such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Urban Institute, and the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Activities include longitudinal housing market monitoring comparable to projects at Brookings Institution and program evaluation like studies commissioned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and state agencies including the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The institute provides policy briefs, community indicators, and applied workshops resembling technical assistance offered by Enterprise Community Partners, Habitat for Humanity, and the Chicago Community Trust.

Research and Publications

Research outputs encompass housing market dashboards, neighborhood indicators, and peer-reviewed analyses on rental affordability, homeownership trends, and displacement dynamics. Publications have addressed topics analogous to studies from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the Urban Institute, drawing methodologically from sources such as the American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, and administrative data used by the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development. The institute's reports have been cited in conversations involving stakeholders like the Mayor of Chicago, the Cook County Board of Commissioners, philanthropic actors such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and legal advocacy organizations including the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice.

Education and Training Programs

The institute offers executive education, certificate programs, and practica that engage students from departments across DePaul University including the DePaul College of Business and the School of Public Service. Curricula integrate case studies about projects led by municipal partners such as the Chicago Housing Authority, nonprofits like Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, and national initiatives exemplified by Moving to Opportunity. Training convenings have featured presenters from institutions such as Columbia University, Yale University, and Princeton University and practitioners from advocacy groups like the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

Partnerships include collaborations with municipal bodies such as the City of Chicago, regional entities like the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, and community development corporations similar to Brinshore Development. The institute works with funders and intermediaries including the MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and local philanthropies such as the McCormick Foundation. Engagement strategies mirror community-based research models practiced by organizations like NeighborWorks America and academic centers such as the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Praxis, emphasizing co-produced research with neighborhood associations and tenant coalitions.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources historically combine university support from DePaul University's central administration, competitive grants from federal agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, foundation grants from entities like the Ford Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and contracted research from municipal and nonprofit clients including the Chicago Housing Authority. Governance includes an advisory board drawing members from academia, philanthropy, and practice comparable to boards at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, ensuring technical oversight and community representation.

Category:DePaul University Category:Housing in Illinois Category:Research institutes in Chicago