This is a story about using AI carefully. We tested it, caught what it got wrong, and used it to go deeper in our research. This project wouldn’t happen without AI, but that doesn’t make it a model for every consulting project. I’ve been candid about my optimism and anxiety about this technology. That hasn’t … Read more
In 2018, Houston City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to regulate reentry housing for people on parole, despite significant opposition. Five years later, the ordinance not only regulates existing facilities, but it also effectively prevents new housing. Just like activists said it would. The ordinance addresses alternate housing facilities (AHFs), which are for-profit entities that … Read more
April brings many things to Houston. Beautiful migratory birds on their journey northwards. The sweet smell of star jasmine wafting among budding oak tree canopies. And a renewed sense of frustration at a fat property tax assessment. As a homeowner in Houston, I keep my eyes out for that letter in the mail. I’ve got … Read more
For several years, we have collected Harris County eviction data from the courts every day, made it available on a real-time dashboard, and published several analyses of the data. Harris County has some of the best eviction court data available in the country, and as a result, we have been cleaning and sharing the data … Read more
As we approach the three-year anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re entering a scary new era for evictions in Harris County. Evictions aren’t just back to normal, they’re higher than ever before. At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a sharp drop in eviction filings. Across the country, eviction filings fell … Read more
The Houston housing market is hot. Inventory is low and demand is high. From March 2021 to March 2022, the average price of a single family home went up an astonishing 19.3%. With rising market prices comes an increase in tax assessed values. Property tax protest season is here, and you have until May 15 … Read more
For the past two years, the city of Galveston, Texas has been my home. Located about an hour southeast of Houston, Galveston is an island community that has the perfect blend of beachtown kitsch and rich historical character. It’s also been a great place to ride out the pandemic – I even took up surfing! … Read more
The CDC eviction moratorium was supposed to prevent evictions. When the CDC first announced the moratorium in September 2020, a CNN headline shouted Evictions Are Halted, noting that it “covered most renters across the US.” The moratorium lasted almost eleven months. During that time, we found 3,289 cases where the policy delayed or prevented an … Read more
The CDC eviction moratorium is the latest in a patchwork of policy solutions designed to prevent evictions. Since the pandemic began, there have been an unprecedented number of new housing policies across the country at all levels of government. But an eviction moratorium does not mean that evictions have stopped. This article analyzes the impact … Read more
The CDC eviction moratorium is the main federal policy to reduce housing displacement during the pandemic. It took effect on September 4, 2020 and remains authorized through the end of March 2021. When applied, the moratorium can be a powerful force to pause an eviction. The criteria to qualify are pretty broad. Landlords must make … Read more