Frequently Asked Questions
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Understanding Houston
Start here to get an overview of the project.
Why does our community need Understanding Houston?
As one of the largest and most diverse regions in America — with an economic engine that includes the energy capital of the world, one of the world’s largest ports, and the world’s largest medical center — what happens in Houston shapes the future for our region and the nation. Until now, Houston has been one of the metropolitan areas without an ongoing indicators project that provides a common understanding of quality of life for our region. This initiative brings together disparate data across the three most populous counties (Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery) to provide an accessible, one-stop platform for understanding key quality of life issues for the Houston region. This comprehensive tool will empower a diverse set of leaders and residents with credible data that can be used to inform decision-making on investments, areas for greater collaboration, and other action.
What is an indicators project?
Community indicators are measurements that provide information about certain issues within a certain area. For example, some of the indicators Understanding Houston tracks include things such as kindergarten readiness, access to healthcare, housing affordability and much more. Indicators, as opposed to raw data, are assembled with accessibility in mind and to provide context as to how findings and figures correlate with larger trends and established goals throughout the region. Understanding Houston analyzes data for all aspects of quality of life and displays them on a user-friendly website to help Houston residents and leaders better understand key issues and trends in our region, and compares the three-county area to the state and nation on most indicators. There are hundreds of indicator projects across the country that are used as tools that help stakeholders understand the health and vitality of their communities and alert them to emerging problems.
How is this initiative different from previous Houston data indicators projects?
This initiative differs from others in that it will aggregate a comprehensive set of data across multiple sources to provide an accessible, one-stop platform for understanding key quality of life issues for the Houston three-county area that includes Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties. This project will leverage lessons learned and build on resources from three existing data projects in the Houston region. The Center for Houston’s Future hosts an indicators website for metro Houston in comparison to other metros on a set of key measures. Additionally, Understanding Houston will compliment and expand on efforts led by Rice University’s annual Kinder Houston Area Survey, which reveals residents’ opinions about who we are as a region and where we are going. Also, Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research Houston Community Data Connections provides data at the neighborhood-level on a more limited set of indicators within Harris County. In addition, the Greater Houston Community Foundation will use this knowledge to directly engage with our donors and other stakeholders through multiple strategies in order to drive informed decision-making.
Who are the key stakeholders in this partnership?
Greater Houston Community Foundation is leading the project with an intention to expand its philanthropic impact by educating and more deeply partnering with its donors throughout the Greater Houston region. Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research is our strategic research partner, with a mission to build better cities and improve people’s lives by bringing together data, research, engagement and action. An advisory committee comprised of members of the Greater Houston Community Foundation Governing Board and community representatives oversees and guides the project.
How is Understanding Houston funded?
To fund the proof of concept phase, the Greater Houston Community Foundation used operational funds to help with start-up costs, and has raised additional funds from individual donors, private foundations and corporate partners that are interested in the initiative. This approach has been successful for other community foundations. You can find a list of our major supporters here.
The Data
Learn all about the data that powers Understanding Houston.
What is the geographic focus of Understanding Houston?
Understanding Houston is a regional indicators project that is focused on providing county-level data for the three most populous counties in the Houston metro region — Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties. We use the terms “three-county area,” “three-county,” “region,” and “counties” to refer to data that speaks to all three counties. In some cases, county data is not available. In this case, we specify Greater Houston or Houston metro area/region to be clear that the data is only available for a larger nine-county Houston region.
How were the topics, sub-topics, and indicators chosen?
In 2017, the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the Kinder Institute worked together to host a series of focus groups that informed the topics, sub-topics and indicators selected. Stakeholders consisted primarily of nonprofit leaders, donors, and a few policy staff. The Kinder Institute’s research staff and the project team also consulted subject matter experts, other major indicator projects across the country, and knowledge partners to refine the indicator list over time. Believe it or not, the list quickly grew to nearly 350 indicators!
For the launch of Understanding Houston, we aimed to be inclusive of the issues we heard people wanted to learn more about and have featured on the platform. As a result, the website touches on eight major quality of life topics, 43 sub-topics and hosts over 200 indicators from nearly 70 data sources.
Finally, in the summer of 2019, we hosted three convenings reaching more than 330 stakeholders across the three counties to ask for their input on what indicators and sub-topic areas should be prioritized. This helped to inform the key indicators and sub-topics we highlighted in our 2019 Summary Report, blogs we pursued, as well as what we were sure to keep and make more prominent on the website during the editing process.
How can Understanding Houston data be used?
The data from Understanding Houston can be used in many different ways. It can be used by nonprofits to better understand the populations they serve and issues affecting quality of life, by donors to see which issue areas are impacting quality of life negatively and might merit additional philanthropic investment, by policy makers to inform their decisions, and by residents who just want to gain a better understanding of their community and become more active civically as a neighbor or resident.
How were the topics and data that are focused on in the summary report chosen?
In the summer of 2019, we hosted three convenings reaching more than 330 stakeholders across the three counties to ask for their input on what indicators and sub-topic areas should be prioritized. At these convenings, attendees participated in an activity where they voted on which sub-topics were most important to understanding an issue, most worthy of highlighting for the community, most in need of knowing more about, and most interesting to them personally. This helped to inform the key indicators and sub-topics we highlighted in our 2019 Summary Report, blogs we pursued, as well as what we were sure to keep on the website. In addition, we consulted our Advisory Board to make final decisions on the top 25 indicators to ensure we offered a balanced view of issue areas, strengths and challenges.
How often will data be updated?
Currently, the plan is that all indicators will be updated every other year at minimum along with the creation of a summary report of the data. Along with that there will be a regular e-newsletter and Understanding Houston will have a strong social media presence in order to showcase relevant data and collective efforts. We will also update the website with new reports, data tools, and blogs over time and update key indicators as new data becomes available. We also encourage people to vote on topics that deserve additional attention as we plan to pursue data projects that provide value to the community and to stakeholders who want to take action to address an issue area.
Why was it decided county-level data was best? Why these three counties only instead of the entire metro region?
With early stakeholder input, there was a desire for a broad understanding of quality of life spanning eight major topics and many issues. With limited access to and availability of sub-county level data available across all those issue areas, county-level data is used for consistency. Fort Bend and Montgomery counties were particularly interested in seeing data specific to their counties, as few data resources exist locally. For that reason, Understanding Houston looks at the three-county area and by-county data for most indicators. The three counties were selected because they are the most populous counties and activities are closely intertwined with each other.
What are the best resources for community or neighborhood-level level data related to quality of life?
Understanding Houston draws from a number of valuable data resources that we also encourage our users to consult for additional context. Each sub-topic page has a additional resources linked at the bottom of the page, and we also have a page you can search for additional data tools and reports. Here are six resources that offer a diverse array of indicators at the community or neighborhood-level within one or more counties.
Understanding Houston draws from a number of valuable data resources that we also encourage our users to consult for additional context. Each sub-topic page has a additional resources linked at the bottom of the page, and we also have a page you can search for additional data tools and reports. Here are six resources that offer a diverse array of indicators at the community or neighborhood-level within one or more counties.
Houston-Galveston Area Council, GIS Applications and Data
- The Houston-Galveston Area Council publishes geographic information system (GIS) products and services in the form of historical GIS datasets and web-based GIS mapping applications. These geospatial information resources are available to the public and covers the 13-county region of Greater Houston and Galveston.
Houston Community Data Connections
- Houston Community Data Connections (HCDC) is a local data intermediary collaboration between Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Houston Endowment, and National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership to provide a cluster of data and research services to the community. The aim of HCDC is to support the practical use of data by city and community leaders for decision-making and capacity building in Houston’s disadvantaged communities.
The Kinder Institute Urban Data Platform
- Created by the Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research and funded by Houston Endowment, the Urban Data Platform (UDP) is a secure data repository and an analytical computing environment that offers research-ready urban data for the Greater Houston Area. The UDP provides data-driven and cross-disciplinary research and community studies with the aim of advancing knowledge and information about Houston’s people, government, and built environment.
- Funded by the City of Houston and Harris County, Houston State of Health offers local health data, resources, best practices, news articles and information about community events. Utilizing data from a variety of state and nation sources, Houston State of Health provides the tools needed to read and understand public health indicators with the intent to help the community set goals and evaluate progress.
- The U.S. Census Bureau is the foremost source for data on the nation’s people, places, and economy. The Census Bureau gathers data by conducting censuses and surveys collected from respondents directly and through administrative data reported by federal, state, and local governments.
Episcopal Health Foundation, County Health Data
- The Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) provides health data on 57 counties under the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. EHF’s County Health Data compiles health data from multiple public sources to provide counties and communities with the consolidated information they need to better address community health.
What kind of data will you make available?
Understanding Houston will begin by aggregating data from a multitude of sources to the county level for the three most populous counties in the region — Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery. In total, we have used 70 data sources and 40 knowledge partners to help share insight on quality of life across the region. Most data is from publicly available sources, but the Kinder Institute has also used its data partnerships to request data to make available on the Understanding Houston website.
Comparisons are made between the three-county area, the state, and the nation for most measures (where data is available), as well as among these counties. For most indicators, at least two data points are made available to show change over time. Wherever possible and meaningful, data is also discussed and analyzed using lenses of race/ethnicity, age, and gender.
Finally, Understanding Houston seeks to be a community platform to share relevant research and data tools by others that speak to quality of life issues. The team will be updating the website to feature new reports, tools and blogs as they become available.
Who is overseeing the analysis of the data?
Staff at the Kinder Institute has led the work for all data aggregation, processing and analysis. The Understanding Houston team at the Greater Houston Community Foundation has worked collaboratively to edit the content summarizing main findings.
How do we know whether Understanding Houston is providing quality data? Why is some of the data more dated than others?
The Kinder Institute has extensive experience and expertise in gathering, processing and analyzing data across a wide range of issues. Every indicator shared here comes from a reputable source that provides credible and reliable data to the public. In addition, indicators on the Understanding Houston website come from data sources that are likely to be updated over time and the team believed were relevant to understanding the quality of life issue area and regional context.
However, every data has its limitations. For example, the U.S. Census Bureau provides an incredible wealth of data and is one of 70 data sources used throughout Understanding Houston. However, Census data is susceptible to response biases based on whether people are willing to respond to the Census survey. Certain datasets have large margin of error. This is especially important as we near the 2020 Census, where response rates are expected to be lower than past Census efforts. Here you can find notes on data limitations for every indicator, as well as links to original sources should they be useful. We also invite you to contact us if you have any other feedback or questions about the data provided.
Involvement
You can have a voice in Understanding Houston! Learn about participating and letting us know how we can help you.
There is an issue or indicator I would really like Understanding Houston to track. Can you include it?
We invite you to submit your feedback and input. We are committed to considering every request. A final decision on including a new indicator will depend on whether verified data is available, there is sufficient community interest in the data, and the relevance of the indicator or issue is to understanding quality of life in the region.
As an individual in the Houston area how can I get involved?
We’re so glad you want to get involved! First, please sign up to our newsletter to stay in the know about Understanding Houston. Next, like, share and follow Understanding Houston’s social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. And of course, we encourage you to spread the word to others about Understanding Houston.
As the Understanding Houston initiative unfolds, we want to hear from a variety of stakeholders on what issues we should devote time, attention and resources. We encourage you to explore the data and vote for what matters to you. This community data will inform what we issues we highlight on the Understanding Houston website through new blogs, data projects, and stories, as well as inform the educational events we host and the collaborative action we explore in partnership with others.
We’d also like to see you at an upcoming event to learn more about Understanding Houston or a particular topic area. Check out our event schedule to see when we’re in your area.
If you’re interested in thinking more about your individual, family, or corporate philanthropy, we encourage you to contact us to schedule a conversation.
If you’re interested in hosting a briefing or Data Party on Understanding Houston for a group, request a presentation.
Finally, we welcome your feedback on how we can improve the Understanding Houston website and initiative.
As a nonprofit in the Houston area how can I get involved?
Thank you for all you do to make our communities better for everyone! First, please sign up to our newsletter to stay in the know about Understanding Houston. Next, like, share and follow Understanding Houston’s social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
As the Understanding Houston initiative unfolds, we want to hear from a variety of stakeholders on what issues we should devote time, attention, and resources. We encourage you to explore the data and vote for what matters to you. This community data will inform what we issues we highlight on the Understanding Houston website through new blogs, data projects, and stories, as well as inform the educational events we host and the collaborative action we explore in partnership with others.
We’d also like to see you at an upcoming event to learn more about Understanding Houston or a particular topic area. We are specifically hosting Data Parties for nonprofit leaders and staff that want a hands-on learning opportunity about using the Understanding Houston website and other tools that can be useful to you in your work. Check out our event schedule to see when we’re in your area.
If you’re interested in hosting a briefing or Data Party on Understanding Houston for a group, request a presentation.
If you’re interested in asking us to pursue a data project that will provide a lot of value to your work and the work of others, contact us with your request.
Finally, we welcome your feedback on how we can improve the Understanding Houston website and initiative.
As a foundation in the Houston area how can I get involved?
We hope you find the data on the Understanding Houston website useful as you inform your philanthropic strategy. First, please sign up to our newsletter to stay in the know about Understanding Houston. Next, like, share and follow Understanding Houston’s social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
As the Understanding Houston initiative unfolds, we want to hear from a variety of stakeholders on what issues we should devote time, attention and resources. We encourage you to explore the data and vote for what matters to you. This community data will inform what we issues we highlight on the Understanding Houston website through new blogs, data projects, and stories, as well as inform the educational events we host and the collaborative action we explore in partnership with others.
We’d also like to see you at an upcoming event to learn more about Understanding Houston or a particular topic area. Check out our event schedule to see when we’re in your area.
If you’re interested in partnering with other individual donors or foundations to explore collaborative opportunities on an issue you’ve learned about through Understanding Houston or your own work, we encourage you to contact us.
If you’re interested in advising from the Greater Houston Community Foundation to inform your philanthropy, we encourage you to contact us to schedule a conversation.
If you’re interested in hosting a briefing or Data Party on Understanding Houston for a group, request a presentation.
Finally, we welcome your feedback on how we can improve the Understanding Houston website and initiative.
As an elected official or government representative in the Houston area how can I get involved?
We hope you find the data on the Understanding Houston website useful as you consider your policy priorities and work to improve the quality of life in our region. First, please sign up to our newsletter to stay in the know about Understanding Houston. Next, like, share and follow Understanding Houston’s social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
As the Understanding Houston initiative unfolds, we want to hear from a variety of stakeholders on what issues we should devote time, attention, and resources. We encourage you to explore the data and vote for what matters to you. This community data will inform what we issues we highlight on the Understanding Houston website through new blogs, data projects, and stories, as well as inform the educational events we host and the collaborative action we explore in partnership with others.
We’d also like to see you at an upcoming event to learn more about Understanding Houston or a particular topic area. Check out our event schedule to see when we’re in your area.
If you’re interested in partnering with the Greater Houston Community Foundation to explore collaborative opportunities on an issue you’ve learned about through Understanding Houston or your own work, we encourage you to contact us.
If you’re interested in hosting a briefing or Data Party on Understanding Houston for a group, request a presentation.
Finally, we welcome your feedback on how we can improve the Understanding Houston website and initiative.
As a business owner or leader in the Houston area how can I get involved?
We know that many business partners understand that quality of life issues are key to economic competitiveness for the region and their own long-term vitality. First, please sign up to our newsletter to stay in the know about Understanding Houston. Next, like, share and follow Understanding Houston’s social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
As the Understanding Houston initiative unfolds, we want to hear from a variety of stakeholders on what issues we should devote time, attention, and resources. We encourage you to explore the data and vote for what matters to you. This community data will inform what we issues we highlight on the Understanding Houston website through new blogs, data projects, and stories, as well as inform the educational events we host and the collaborative action we explore in partnership with others.
We’d also like to see you at an upcoming event to learn more about Understanding Houston or a particular topic area. Check out our event schedule to see when we’re in your area.
If you’re interested in thinking more about your individual, family, or corporate philanthropy, we encourage you to contact us to schedule a conversation.
If you’re interested in hosting a briefing or Data Party on Understanding Houston for a group, request a presentation.
Finally, we welcome your feedback on how we can improve the Understanding Houston website and initiative.
The Future
What does the future hold for Understanding Houston?
Is there a plan in place to ensure the data is in turn being used to take action?
Understanding Houston is a collective effort. It requires all of us to learn more about our region and consider how each of us can support positive change through our time, talent, ties and treasure. Whether it is through your own philanthropy, your role professionally, or as a neighbor within your community, each of us can take action to improve our quality of life.
The Greater Houston Community Foundation will be hosting educational opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders, capacity building learning opportunities for local nonprofits on how to use Understanding Houston and other data tools to inform their work, and is committed to partnering with others to explore collaborative action in specific issue areas. We will also be creating presentations and issue briefs for donors to use as they consider their own philanthropic efforts and explore collaborative giving with others. We expect these efforts to support philanthropic planning and action, and potentially other action like nonprofit strategy and policy decisions or government investments. If an Understanding Houston briefing would be useful to you, we invite you to request a presentation.
How will the Greater Houston Community Foundation choose issue areas to focus on or projects to take on?
Broadly, we will use four criteria to inform where the Greater Houston Community Foundation might help convene resources for important community needs: (1) pressing community need and potential for change; (2) community input gathered through events and online voting; (3) landscape analysis to identify areas where convening leadership might be useful; and (4) GHCF donor interest. We aim to identify issues that best fit this criteria. In addition to voting online, we will host several events in early 2020. These engagement opportunities are open to the public for individuals in various sectors — philanthropy, nonprofit, business, government, and community residents — to learn about the Understanding Houston tool and major findings across all eight topic areas. We will engage attendees in helping inform what issues we focus on for deeper discovery.
What is the timeframe for Understanding Houston?
The initial release of data and report is scheduled for November 2019, with a second major update and report in 2021. We expect Understanding Houston to be a long-standing initiative of the Greater Houston Community Foundation that will continue to evolve over time in response to community feedback.
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