Government Case Study

Background – A municipality wanted to increase home ownership inside the city limits and counter the effects of suburban flight.

Challenges/Objectives – Like many Midwestern cities, this city was losing its desirable residents to the suburbs. Central city was getting poor, and poverty rates were rising. Homeownership rates were stuck.

Strategy/Plan – Using demographic data from other cities as a benchmark, and pulling data from other households, we put together focus groups and tracked what groups were buying homes.

Outcomes – The report was influential because many stakeholders (city council members, private sector leaders, city and urban planners) could use this data to create policies that promote growth among the different population groups. They also used this data to revoke policies that impeded homeownership for certain groups. This resulted in an approach that promoted homeownership necessary for a diverse and vibrant city.