USING INFORMATION FORCOMMUNITY CHANGE

The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership

(NNIP)

Tom Kingsley, The Urban Institute

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NNIP Partner Cities

OaklandDenverClevelandAtlantaBostonProvidence

1995

OaklandDenverClevelandAtlantaBostonProvidenceWashington, DC

1997

OaklandDenverClevelandAtlantaBostonProvidenceWashington, DCIndianapolisMilwaukeeMiami

BaltimorePhiladelphia

NNIP Collaborative effort - Urban Institute and local partners

in twelve cities

Partners operate information systems – Recurrently updated neighborhood data– Multiple topics-data sources

Success required 3 kinds of innovations1. Technological

2. Institutional

3. Using information for change

1. THE TECHNOLOGY Systems now possible due to

- Powerful PCs, dramatic cost reduction

- Automation of administrative records

- GIS software (address matching/Tiger files) Most common data in Partners’ systems

- Vital statistics (births, deaths) - Police data (crimes/victims)

- Public assistance

- Tax assessment, property conditions

- Business establishments, employment

- Schools, hospitals, health agencies

2. THE INSTITUTIONS

NNIP Partners -- mostly nonprofit, non-governmental:- Nonprofit civic intermediaries (Baltimore, Milwaukee,

Oakland, Philadelphia, Providence, Washington)- Community foundations (Boston, Denver)- University-based centers (Atlanta, Cleveland)- United Way/University (Indianapolis)- Government agency (Miami)

All work by collaborating - With public agencies, nonprofits, businesses - NNIP collaboration with NARC and Ford-CSS

Offer a one-stop-shop for data - Tremendous efficiency for users

- Benefits of social infrastructure

Positioned to maintain trust of data providers and users over long term

- Not linked to short term political interest

- Care with cleaning and release of data

Are, or can be, locally self sustaining - Can cover major part of cost with fee income

- But some local general support required

3. INFORMATION FOR CHANGE

Democratizing Information- Facilitating the direct use of data by

stakeholders - not writing the reports yourself

Primary mission — strengthening, empowering low-income neighborhoods

- Work for many clients but influence of this

this theme evident in all work

Information as a bridge for collaboration

Examples:

Boston - Dialogue around indicators (engaging all of

civil society) basis for city strategy - New partnership Metro Area Planning Council Address smart growth/equitable devel.

Cleveland - Regional maps - vulnerable welfare recipients and entry level jobs - estimated travel times - State put in $10 M for systems changes

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Entry Level J ob Openings

300

150

30

Welfare Recipients

500

250

50

Atlanta Denver

Spatial patterns of welfare & jobs

CROSS-SITE ACTION INITIATIVES

Health Analysis for HHS

Cross site analysis - 5 citiesRelationship neighborhood conditions and health (partner data and 2000 census)

But each site focusing on innovative health indicator tied to local policy action

- Cleveland – primary health care for children - Denver – child violence index and environment - Indianapolis – child obesity- Oakland – asthma rates - Providence – mobility as a factor in child health

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Philadelphia Neighborhood Transformation Initiative “NTI”

- $295 million bond- Agency realignment- An objective lens though which

development decisions are made- Land Bank- Demolition of dangerous

residential and commercial properties and encapsulation for future rehabilitation

Regional ChoiceHigh ValueSteady Transitional Up

TransitionalTransitional DownDistressed

ReclamationNon Residential

Transitional

Data driven, citywide strategic framework for housing and neighborhood development

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NTI Market Analysis

•Housing sales prices•Demolition activity•Vacancy rates•Presence of dangerous properties•Owner occupancy rates•Age of housing•Presence of non-market rate rental housing•Mix of commercial and residential uses•Consumer credit profiles

1. Underlying Data

2. Statistical cluster analysis leads to creation of market types

Regional ChoiceHigh Value & AppreciatingSteadyTransitional (up and down)DistressedReclamation

3. Government has a role in each market type

Regional Choice- Serve as a market promoterHigh Value & Appreciating- Facilitate healthy functioning of the private marketSteady- carefully respond to any changes in the private marketTransitional (up and down) Rapidly respond to any signs of physical or economic deterioration; introduce aggressive preservation programsDistressed- Identify ways to invest in areas of market strengthReclamation- Invest to Build from Strength or Create Conditions for Market Rebirth

4. Statistical analysis of housing markets leads to strategic investment strategies

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Statistical analysis of housing markets leads to strategic investment strategies

Philadelphia Neighborhood Transformation Initiative “NTI”

A set of investments designed to clear the path of development

A set of investments designed to mitigate problems before

they have a chance to take root or spread

A set of investments designed to capitalize on place based assets

WORK OF THE PARTNERSHIP(Major funders: Annie E. Casey and Rockefeller Foundations)

Building tools around innovations - Guidebooks on all aspects of the work of local

partners:technical, institutional, applications

Cross site studies to learn more about the dynamics of neighborhood change - Spatial patterns of welfare recipients vs. new

job openings in 5 cities

- New HHS study on relationships between

neighborhood conditions & health outcomes

National Neighborhood Data System - Consistently defined data from partners

- National data sets with neighborhood data

Many forms of dissemination - NNIP-News email list-serve

- NNIP web site

- Major conferences (1998, 2000, 2001)

- Presentations at other conferences/mtgs

Technical assistance to help groups in new cities get started

11 cities so far

EXPANDING CAPACITY IN NEW CITIES

24 cities -- various stages

Casey LLPsCamdenDes Moines HartfordLouisvilleNew OrleansSan Antonio Seattle

Casey LLPsCamdenDes Moines HartfordLouisvilleNew OrleansSan Antonio Seattle

In Process Battle Creek Canton Chicago DetroitGrand RapidsKansas City Memphis Minneapolis New Haven PittsburghPortland

In Process Battle Creek Canton Chicago DetroitGrand RapidsKansas City Memphis Minneapolis New Haven PittsburghPortland

Est. InstitutionsChattanooga ColumbusLos Angeles New York Sacramento St. LouisUtica

Est. InstitutionsChattanooga ColumbusLos Angeles New York Sacramento St. LouisUtica

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For More Information on NNIP

Web site: www.urban.org/nnip Email: nnip@ui.urban.org

Mailing address:Tom Kingsley or Kathy Pettit

National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership

c/o The Urban Institute

2100 M Street NW

Washington, DC 20007 USA