AUGUST 3, 2021

News from the Institute
Assessing the Boston and
Springfield Housing Landscapes
The Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic brought so many intense social, economic and public health challenges it is easy to think that the pandemic has “changed everything” with respect
to housing. This year’s edition of the Greater Boston Housing Report Card suggests the opposite: The region’s most difficult long-term housing challenges are not only still with us but have been compounded by recent events, and bold federal, state and local policy changes are as badly needed as ever. Commissioned by The Boston Foundation and in partnership with the Mass Housing Partnership's Center for Housing Data. Learn more.

Greater Springfield Regional Housing Analysis
“This research examines issues of housing production, affordability, and accessibility across the Pioneer Valley,” said Mark Melnik, director of Economic & Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute. “While they’re always important issues, the COVID crisis has brought into greater focus the relationship between labor market and housing stability and the potential ramifications for vulnerable communities in a region.” Released in partnership with Way Finders, Inc, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Metropolitan Springfield Housing Study Advisory Committee. Learn more.
Leadership change at the Institute
Dr. Johan E. Uvin will serve as the new Executive Director of the UMass Donahue Institute (UMDI) effective August 1, 2021. His extensive leadership experience in public service at multiple levels of government and his work with the private sector are an excellent match to the mission and aspirations of the UMass Donahue Institute and the university.  

Uvin will succeed Dr. Eric Heller after more than 35 years at the Donahue Institute. Heller first joined Institute in 1985, when he helped launch its Applied Research and Program Evaluation group. He was instrumental in developing the group’s approach to client-responsive, applied social science research and continually expanded its capacity to serve the needs of the Institute’s diverse clientele. Heller was also the Deputy Director before serving as Executive Director.

This fall, we are offering leadership and new manager webinars!
This fall, our Organizational Development & Learning Solutions group is offering two fully online programs: one to support leadership skills and the other for new managers.

The Leadership Excellence Program debuted this spring with a sold-out cohort of nearly 30 students. We're offering the same program this fall, starting on September 15. Learn more about this leadership skills program. Please see the video link above in this newsletter issue.
The registration deadline for each series or individual webinar is two weeks prior to its respective start. 

New Managers: We are also offering a series of webinars for new managers. These learning modules are focused on core skills that any manager should master to be effective in engaging, developing and retaining talent, and driving the performance of their team members. Each webinar is designed to engage the participant and to stimulate dialogue so that new managers can also learn from their peers. The registration deadline is September 1.
Fall 2021: Leadership Excellence Program (video)
Institute In The News
Our Business Groups
Highlighted Publications
Mortgage Lending Trends in Massachusetts: Across Massachusetts, home purchase loans continue to show that borrowers of color do not meet their respective population shares. Borrowers of color and low and moderate-income borrowers tend to concentrate in specific geographic areas. Denial rates have declined across all groups, but continue to remain the highest in Black and Hispanic/Latinx groups and in Boston, even when controlling for income. Prepared for the Massachusetts Community & Banking Council. (June 2021)

Donahue Data Dash: The U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2020 Apportionment Population Counts for Massachusetts: The Massachusetts resident population increased by 482,288 people, from 6,547,629 counted in 2010 to 7,029,917 in 2020. This 7.4% increase represents the fastest decade-to-decade growth Massachusetts has experienced since the 1960’s when the resident population increased by 10.5% from 1960 to 1970.  (May 2021)

Impact of the FutureSmart Online Financial Education Course on Financial Knowledge of Middle School Students: Newly released findings from a two-year study of the efficacy of financial education on middle school students affirm significant knowledge gain in the subject matter and advocate more such learning be provided to students in this age group. Prepared for EVERFI and the Mass Mutual Foundation. (March 2021)
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