Real-Time Insights - Neighborhood Nexus

July 17, 2026 / Civic Engagement

Four Distinct Patterns that Explain How Americans Engage with Public LifeImage

The Pew Research Center released How Americans Are Engaged With News, Politics, Religion and Civic Life, a national study examining how Americans participate in politics, civic life, religion, and news consumption. Based on surveys of more than 5,300 U.S. adults, the report uses 19 measures of participation to identify four distinct engagement profiles that capture different ways Americans connect with public life.

Key Insights

Americans engage in public life in different ways, and not necessarily along a single spectrum from engaged to disengaged. The study identifies four distinct profiles based on participation across politics, civic life, religion, and news: Mobilizers (9%), Connectors (28%), Spectators (31%), and Outsiders (31%).
Community engagement and political engagement often go hand in hand, but not always. While Mobilizers are highly active across all forms of participation, Connectors are deeply involved in volunteering, charitable giving, religious life, and community organizations without being similarly active in politics.
Following the news does not necessarily translate into civic participation. Nearly one-third of Americans are Spectators, a group that closely follows national and local news but participates much less in volunteering, civic organizations, and political activities.
Lower engagement is associated with fewer connections across multiple aspects of public life. Americans within the Outsiders group report the lowest levels of news consumption, volunteering, civic participation, and political activity, and are also more likely to have lower levels of education and income.

Read the full study here.

July 17, 2026 / Mental Health

Economic and Housing Pressures Are Driving Mental Health Challenges Across Metro AtlantaImage

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, with research conducted by Advantage Consulting, LLC, released The Status of Women and Youth Mental Health in Metro Atlanta 2026, a regional assessment of mental health needs across Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. Drawing on surveys, interviews, focus groups, and existing data, the report examines the prevalence of mental health challenges, the factors driving them, and barriers to accessing care.

Key findings:

Mental health needs are widespread and growing. Behavioral health providers identified anxiety (90%), depression (83%), trauma (76%), and suicide or self-harm risk (38%) as the most common concerns affecting women and youth across the region.
Economic and housing instability are central drivers of poor mental health. All providers identified housing costs, food insecurity, and unemployment as contributors to emotional distress, while more than half of renters across the region are housing cost-burdened—rising above 60% in Clayton and Gwinnett Counties.
Access to care remains fragmented despite growing demand. More than half of nonprofit staff reported clients experience delays or canceled appointments because of provider shortages, long waitlists, insurance limitations, transportation, and childcare barriers. Only 23% of providers offer integrated, one-stop services.
Women and youth face distinct barriers that traditional services often fail to address. The report highlights the mental health impacts of caregiving responsibilities, social media pressures, language barriers, stigma, and the shortage of culturally responsive providers, particularly for low-income families.
The report calls for coordinated solutions that address both mental health and its underlying social drivers. Findings point to the need for integrated services that connect behavioral health with housing, economic stability, childcare, and other community supports.

June 29, 2026 / Equity, Policy

More Than a Century of Public Policy Helped Shape Racial Inequities in Fulton CountyImage

This new Harm Report from the Fulton County Reparations Task Force documents how public policy, taxation, land use, labor practices, and government institutions contributed to the extraction of wealth and opportunity from Black residents in Fulton County over more than 170 years. Organized across seven themes and drawing on historical records, tax rolls, court cases, property assessments, and government archives, the report traces how slavery-era wealth extraction evolved into later forms of exclusion through housing, voting, education, healthcare, and public investment decisions.

The report is intended to provide an empirical foundation for future reparations discussions and policy recommendations in Fulton County.

Some takeaways:

Black residents often contributed financially to public systems from which they received unequal benefits. The report documents disparities in taxation, public spending, school funding, library investments, and healthcare access despite comparable tax contributions.
Forced labor continued long after slavery formally ended. Convict leasing and chain gang systems supplied unpaid labor for roads, bridges, sanitation systems, and other public infrastructure projects throughout the county.
Land loss and displacement contributed to intergenerational wealth losses. Case studies such as the displacement of the Black community in Bagley Park illustrate how eminent domain, rezoning, and redevelopment removed property ownership opportunities from Black families.
Political exclusion was maintained through multiple mechanisms over decades. Poll taxes, literacy tests, racial gerrymandering, and at-large election systems limited political participation and representation.
Racial violence functioned as a mechanism of social and economic control. The report documents patterns of lynching, intimidation, and organized White supremacist activity aimed at suppressing land ownership, labor organizing, and civic participation.

Read the full report here.

June 29, 2026 / Basic Needs, Equity, Inflation

Affordability in Georgia Fell from 65% to 52% in Just Two YearsImage

Brookings Institution recently launched its new States of Affordability series, which examines where and why households across the country struggle to make ends meet. Using county-level cost-of-living estimates combined with post-tax income data from the American Community Survey, the report compares affordability across states, races, and household types to better understand the growing gap between incomes and the cost of basic necessities such as housing, food, child care, transportation, and health care.

Key insights:

Nearly half of Georgia households are struggling to make ends meet. In 2024, only 51.8% of Georgia households earned enough to cover basic living costs, down sharply from 64.7% in 2022, erasing much of the progress made over the previous decade.
Affordability challenges vary dramatically by race and household type. While 58.2% of white households in Georgia could make ends meet in 2024, that figure fell to 44.0% for Black households and 38.8% for Hispanic households. The numbers are even lower for families with children: only 28.4% of single-parent households could cover basic costs, compared to 50.1% of two-parent households.
Hispanic single parents face the steepest affordability challenges. Just 17.8% of Hispanic single-parent households in Georgia earned enough to make ends meet in 2024, making them one of the most economically vulnerable household groups identified in the analysis.

See the full report here.

May 28, 2026 / Civic Engagement

Neighborhood Socializing Has Fallen Sharply Since 2012—Especially Among Young AdultsImage

The A merican Enterprise Institute Survey Center on American Life released Strangers Next Door, a new national survey exploring how Americans interact with their neighbors and communities. Based on responses from more than 5,300 adults, the report finds that neighborhood socializing has declined significantly over the last decade, especially among young adults and people without college degrees. The data also highlights how access to community spaces, education, and religious participation shape trust, belonging, and social connection.

Key takeaways:

Only 40% of Americans say they regularly talk with their neighbors, down from 59% in 2012. Among young adults, that share fell from 51% to just 25% over the same period.
Americans with college degrees report stronger neighborhood ties across nearly every measure: 58% spent time socializing with neighbors in the past year compared to 46% of those without a degree, and 81% say they trust their neighbors versus 64% among those with a high school education or less.
Access to “third places” like parks, coffee shops, libraries, and community centers is closely tied to neighborhood engagement. Americans with six or more nearby gathering spaces are much more likely to regularly interact with neighbors than those with few or none.

Read the full article here.

May 28, 2026 / Aging

As Metro Atlanta Ages, Isolation and Mobility Challenges Are GrowingImage

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)’s latest Regional Snapshot highlights key trends shaping healthy aging across the 11-county metro Atlanta region during Older Americans Month. Using regional demographic, health, and social data, the snapshot examines how aging intersects with access to preventive care, food security, mobility, and social connection as the region’s older adult population continues to grow.

Key insights:

Preventive care access has expanded dramatically: Today, 98.5% of adults age 65+ in metro Atlanta have health insurance. About 75% access preventive care through Medicare.
Social isolation is rising alongside population aging: More than 162,000 adults age 65+ in the 11-county region now live alone, increasing risks tied to isolation and reduced social connection.
Food insecurity remains a concern for older adults: The number of senior households receiving SNAP benefits has steadily increased since 2015, yet nationally only about 47% of eligible older adults are enrolled.
Mobility challenges are increasing: As the share of older adults in the region grows, so has the number of seniors with ambulatory disabilities, creating additional barriers to physical activity and healthy aging.

See the full slide deck here.

March 30, 2026 / Education

Georgia’s Top Education Issues Highlight the Need for Systemwide AlignmentImage

The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education’s Top 10 Issues to Watch in 2026 is its 22nd annual, nonpartisan policy brief outlining priority education and workforce challenges across the state. The report organizes 10 issue areas into three themes—investing in talent, optimizing local strategies, and aligning priorities and investments—offering a roadmap for how state and community leaders can address immediate needs while building long-term systems that improve student outcomes and quality of life.

Key insights:

Systems alignment is central: 10 priority issues are grouped into 3 cross-sector strategy areas, signaling a shift from isolated interventions to coordinated education, workforce, and health solutions.
Talent pipeline gaps start early: Early learning, career pathways, and teacher quality are identified as the core levers to close long-term skills gaps and improve workforce readiness.
Local outcomes drive statewide progress: Attendance, literacy, healthcare access, and rural investment are highlighted as place-based challenges requiring coordinated community-level action alongside state policy.

Read the brief here.

February 24, 2026 / Equity

Black entrepreneurship is strong in Atlanta, yet firm size and payroll trends signal challengesImage

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Research & Innovation team revisited its analysis of Black-owned employer businesses in the metro area for February 2026, building on last year’s research and incorporating the latest data from the Census Annual Business Survey (ABS). This analysis spans trends from 2017 to 2023 and compares the Atlanta MSA with national averages and peer Sunbelt metros like Charlotte, Houston, and Miami. By tracking both the number of businesses and their economic footprint, the report highlights where Black entrepreneurship is thriving and where gaps in representation and business scale remain.

Key insights:

High ownership share: 10.7% of all employer businesses in metro Atlanta are Black-owned, far above the national average of 3% and leading peer Sunbelt metros (Charlotte 6.5%, Houston 5.9%, Miami 5.4%).
Representation gap persists: Black residents make up 34% of the metro population, meaning business ownership still trails population share despite high absolute numbers.
Stable business scale: Black-owned firms in Atlanta employ an average of just over 6 people, slightly below the national average, with average annual payroll around $35,500—rising steadily since 2017 but still slightly under the U.S. average.

Read the full post here.

February 24, 2026 / Education, Equity

Connecting students to tailored supports delivers measurable gains from middle school to adulthoodImage

In a publication in December 2025, Opportunity Insights, this study analyzed the impacts of the Communities In Schools (CIS) model, which places site coordinators in high-poverty schools to connect students with personalized academic and non-academic supports such as tutoring, mentoring, food, housing, and health services. Using longitudinal education, Census, and tax data, the paper evaluates how these coordinated supports affect academic outcomes and long-term economic mobility.

Key findings:

- Personalized supports drive measurable gains: Students connected to tailored services see improvements in test scores, attendance, behavior, and discipline — outcomes that compound over time.
- Relationships amplify the impact of resources: Having a trusted adult to coordinate services helps students overcome logistical and personal barriers that often limit engagement with school programs.
- Long-term mobility improves: Multi-year exposure to supports increases high school graduation, college enrollment, and earnings, indicating lasting effects beyond the classroom.
- Non-cognitive skills matter as much as academics: Improvements in attendance and behavior explain a substantial share of long-run gains, underscoring the importance of whole-student supports.
- Personalization is efficient at scale: Students receive different mixes of services but achieve similar long-term benefits, suggesting flexible support models can be both effective and scalable.
- Strong return on investment: Relatively modest per-student costs generate sizable increases in lifetime earnings, making coordinated supports a high-value intervention.

Read the full summary of the publication here.

February 24, 2026 / Basic Needs, Housing

A Major Share of Local Homelessness Is Hidden in Extended-Stay HotelsImage

A January 2026 countywide assessment led by the Single Parent Alliance & Resource Center (SPARC), in partnership with the Georgia State University’s Center on Health and Homelessness and School of Public Health, set out to document and better understand families living in extended-stay hotels across DeKalb County. Through door-to-door enumeration, surveys, and analysis of living conditions, the project captures a population largely excluded from traditional homelessness counts, providing new evidence on the scale, drivers, and daily realities of this form of housing instability, and revealing critical gaps that have implications for policy, funding, and service delivery.

Key findings:

A hidden population far larger than official counts: An estimated 4,664 people — including 1,635 children — are living in extended-stay hotels, far exceeding Continuum of Care and school system counts, revealing a major gap in how homelessness is measured.
Hotels as de facto long-term housing: Extended-stay properties are functioning as permanent housing because existing systems offer few pathways into stable, affordable homes.
Economic shocks drive displacement: Evictions, rising rents, and job disruptions — not individual failings — are the primary reasons families end up in hotels, pointing to structural drivers of housing instability.
Families pay more for less stability: Monthly hotel costs often exceed local apartment rents, meaning families are paying above-market prices for a single room without tenant protections or long-term security.
Most families are working but blocked by barriers: Despite high employment rates, upfront costs, income thresholds, and credit requirements prevent families from securing leases, trapping them in a cycle of temporary housing.
Implications for planning and resource allocation: Excluding these families from official counts risks underestimating need and misdirecting funding, while the new data provide a stronger foundation for targeted housing strategies and prevention efforts.

Read the full report here.

January 27, 2026 / Housing

Housing Supply Lags Far Behind Low-Income Need in GeorgiaImage

The Builders Patch Housing Count Dashboard tracks the scale of the rental housing shortage nationwide and in Georgia, pairing hard numbers with local housing news to ground the data in real-world context and show where affordability pressures are most acute.

Key takeaways:

Across the U.S., there is a severe shortage of affordable rental housing for the lowest-income households, with 25 states facing critical gaps, 82% of households earning under 50% of AMI rent-burdened, and an estimated nationwide shortage of 5.1 million affordable units
Housing strain is most concentrated among the lowest-income renters, underscoring that affordability challenges are not evenly distributed across income levels
In Georgia, housing affordability remains out of reach for many low-income renters, with only 76 affordable units available for every 100 low-income renter households
The state faces a shortfall of more than 80,000 rental units affordable to households earning 60% of AMI or less
Renters make up 35.5% of Georgia households, while 40.7% are low-income and 46.0% are rent-burdened, highlighting how closely housing cost pressures align with income insecurity

Explore the data dashboard here.

January 27, 2026 / Equity, Workforce

Burnout, Backslides, and Barriers: Inside Women in the Workplace 2025Image

Lean In published its 2025 Women in the Workplace report. It shows that after years of slow progress, many companies are pulling back on their commitment to women’s advancement. Fewer organizations are prioritizing gender equity, workplace flexibility is shrinking, and women—especially women of color—are facing growing barriers early and late in their careers. Together, these trends risk locking in inequality at every level of the corporate pipeline.

Key insights to know:

For the first time, women are less likely than men to say they want a promotion (80% vs. 86%), with the gap especially wide at entry and senior levels—likely reflecting burnout and stalled opportunities, not lack of commitment.
Women continue to be promoted to manager at lower rates than men, and disparities are stark for women of color.
Six in 10 senior-level women report frequent burnout, and many feel their gender makes advancement harder and job security shakier.
Women who work remotely are less likely to be promoted or sponsored, while men see no such penalty. At the same time, companies are rolling back remote and hybrid options at record rates.
While most companies still say diversity and inclusion matter, fewer are backing it up with training, resources, or tailored career development.
Employees value respectful and fair workplaces, but many entry- and mid-level women still don’t feel supported or comfortable speaking up, meaning organizations are leaving talent on the table.

Read the full report here.

December 17, 2025 / General

Federal Data Agencies Have Lost Up to 30% of Their WorkforceImage

A new December 2025 report from the American Statistical Association warns that the U.S. federal statistical system is facing a severe erosion of capacity at a moment when demand for trustworthy data is growing. Staff losses, declining purchasing power, leadership instability, and weakening public trust are limiting agencies’ ability to deliver the objective, timely statistics that underpin economic policy, democratic accountability, and public understanding.

Key findings:

Most federal statistical agencies have lost 20–30% of their staff since FY2009, and 8 of 13 have seen purchasing power fall by at least 16%, leading to data delays, cancellations, and reduced detail.
Public confidence in federal statistics declined between June and September 2025, including trust in data accuracy, privacy protections, and data-sharing for decision-making.
Cuts to funding and innovation capacity are weakening coordination across agencies, impairing the production of interconnected datasets like GDP and slowing modernization efforts needed to meet future data needs.

Read the full report here.

December 17, 2025 / Commuting, Safety

Traffic Deaths Now Exceed Homicides Across Metro Atlanta’s Core CountiesImage

A new story map, The Human Cost of Mobility: 2024, reveals that traffic crashes have become one of the deadliest—and least visible—public safety crises in Metro Atlanta. Across five core counties, roadway deaths now surpass homicides, with fatalities concentrated in historically disinvested communities and along a small number of high-risk corridors, underscoring how transportation policy choices continue to shape who is most at risk.

Key takeaways:

In 2024, traffic crashes killed 425 people across Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties—more than the 410+ homicides recorded in the same area.
Traffic deaths are deeply inequitable: predominantly Black neighborhoods make up 43% of census tracts but account for more than 61% of all traffic fatalities.
A small share of infrastructure drives a large share of harm: just 1.2% of roadways account for nearly 11% of fatal crashes across the five-county region.

Read the full report here.

October 24, 2025 / General

Housing affordability overtakes traffic as metro Atlanta’s top concernImage

Housing affordability has emerged as the top concern for metro Atlanta residents in the 2025 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey. Nearly one in three respondents cited housing costs as the region’s biggest problem, surpassing traffic, crime, and the economy. The survey also highlights growing financial strain, pessimism about the region’s future, and new concerns around technology and economic opportunity.

Metro Atlanta Speaks is the Atlanta Regional Commission’s annual survey tracking residents’ top concerns and priorities across 11 metro counties.

Key takeaways:

28% of residents said housing affordability is the region’s biggest problem, followed by traffic (24%) and crime and the economy (13% each).
62% of respondents reported they couldn’t afford to move within their own neighborhood.
44% blame developers for building homes that are too expensive; 35% point to investors buying up properties to rent.
61% believe AI will increase productivity, but 73% worry it will reduce available jobs.
53% say it’s a bad time to find a well-paying job, up from 41% last year.
Nearly 47% expect living conditions in metro Atlanta to worsen over the next 3–4 years.

Read more about the survey and results here.

October 24, 2025 / General

Georgia Nonprofits Face Rising Demand Amid Financial Strain and Staffing ChallengesImage

A new state analysis from the Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey reveals both the resilience and strain within Georgia’s nonprofit community. Drawing on responses from 323 organizations statewide, the report offers a snapshot of how nonprofits are navigating inflation, workforce shortages, and delayed funding, while continuing to anchor local economies and community well-being.

Nonprofits in Georgia are serving as critical infrastructure across rural, suburban, and urban regions. However, many are doing so on increasingly fragile financial footing, underscoring the need for stronger, more reliable investment from both public and private funders.

Key takeaways:

85% of Georgia nonprofits saw rising service demand in 2024 and expect another increase in 2025.
38% ended 2024 with an operating deficit, and 56% had three months or less of cash on hand.
71% rely on government funding, and many report late payments and low indirect rates, with one-third (33%) able to charge only 0–5%.
79% receive foundation funding, but fewer Georgia nonprofits than the national average reported seeing more flexible or supportive grant practices since 2022.
Workforce strain is high: only 35% of organizations can pay full-time staff a living wage, and many report burnout, hiring challenges, and limited benefits offerings.

Read the full Georgia report here.

October 24, 2025 / General

The Federal Shutdown Could Deepen Nonprofit Financial StrainImage

A new Urban Institute article warns that a prolonged federal government shutdown could compound existing financial instability among nonprofits nationwide. When federal grants, payments, and reimbursements pause, nonprofits may have to scale back or suspend essential community programs.

The post highlights that even before the shutdown, many nonprofits were already facing significant funding disruptions and rising demand, leaving little room to absorb additional shocks.

Key takeaways:

Two-thirds of U.S. service-providing nonprofits receive at least one government grant or contract, making them highly vulnerable to federal funding pauses.
On average, 28% of nonprofit funding comes from government sources (9% federal, 11% state, and 6% local).
Without government funding, 60–80% of affected nonprofits would be unable to cover their expenses.
In early 2025, one-third of nonprofits experienced funding cuts, freezes, or stop-work orders, leading to staff and program reductions.
Two in three nonprofits anticipated higher demand for services in the next year, a trend likely to accelerate as 620,000 federal workers face missed paychecks during the shutdown.

Read original post here.

October 24, 2025 / Economics, Workforce

Fewer Than Half of U.S. Workers Have a Quality JobImage

A new national survey from Gallup, Jobs for the Future, the Families and Workers Fund, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute reveals that only 4 in 10 U.S. workers hold jobs that meet key indicators of quality. Based on responses from 18,000 workers across industries, the American Job Quality Study (AJQS) is one of the most comprehensive looks yet at how people experience work in America, offering data often missing from traditional labor measures.

Researchers define a “quality job” as one that meets thresholds in at least three of five areas: financial well-being, workplace culture and safety, growth and development, agency and voice, and work structure and autonomy. The findings highlight how improving job quality is not only vital for worker well-being but also for business success and economic resilience.

Key data insights:

Only 39% of W-2 employees hold quality jobs, compared to 46% of independent or self-employed workers.
Job quality varies by region — highest in the West (44%) and lowest in the Midwest (36%).
71% of employees have autonomy over how they do their work, but 62% lack stable, predictable schedules.
Nearly 7 in 10 workers feel they have too little influence over their pay and benefits.
Half of employees earn at or below 300% of the federal poverty line, and 29% say they’re “just getting by.”
Employees in quality jobs report far greater job satisfaction (58% vs. 23%) and better overall health and life satisfaction.

Read the full study here.

August 25, 2025 / Civic Engagement, General

Nonprofits Face Rising Demand Amid Shrinking Financial StabilityImage

The Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) has released the 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey. This year’s report draws on responses from 2,206 nonprofits nationwide, providing a rare, detailed look into their programmatic, operational, and financial health from 2024.

The survey tracks both the pressures nonprofits face—like rising service demand, inflation, and funding instability—and the investments needed to secure their long-term futures. For policymakers, funders, and nonprofit leaders alike, the findings serve as a guide for smarter decisions about how to strengthen the organizations that make up our community infrastructure.

Key insights:

Tension between demand and financial strain: 36% ended 2024 with an operating deficit—the highest in a decade of survey data. 86% say inflation has hurt their organizations and the people they serve.
Nonprofits as economic engines under pressure: Only 41% can pay all full-time staff a living wage.
Deep community roots and adaptive responses: 62% focus on building community wealth and well-being; 54% prioritize tackling economic inequality.

Read the full report here.

August 25, 2025 / Basic Needs

45% of Georgia Families Live Below the ALICE ThresholdImage

The 2025 ALICE Report from United Way of Greater Atlanta shines a light on the growing number of Georgia households struggling to make ends meet. ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but still fall short of affording basic needs like housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care.

When combined with households living below the Federal Poverty Level, nearly half of all households in Georgia (45%) were living below the ALICE Threshold in 2023. That means more than 1.8 million Georgia households face impossible choices every day: pay rent or cover child care, buy groceries or fill a prescription. These families represent every demographic and county in the state, and many of them hold the jobs that keep our communities running.

Key findings:

In 2023, 14% of Georgia households lived below the Federal Poverty Level, and 31% were ALICE. Together, 45% of households fell below the ALICE Threshold.
The ALICE Household Survival Budget averaged $31,920 for a single adult and $76,884 for a family of four—more than double the federal poverty line. Costs varied significantly by county.
Of Georgia’s 20 most common occupations, 13 paid less than $20 per hour, and 35% of workers in these roles lived in households below the ALICE Threshold.
Households below the ALICE Threshold include all demographic groups, but systemic racism, ageism, gender discrimination, and geographic barriers leave some groups disproportionately affected.
ALICE data shows strong links between financial hardship and other well-being indicators, helping policymakers and advocates understand the broader effects on Georgia families.

Read the latest State of ALICE in Georgia here.

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