Welcome to the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

We are a nonpartisan, applied research and community outreach institute at UNC Charlotte, seeking solutions to the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our communities.

Latest Articles & Publications

Broken trees after a windstorm in the Uwharries

Nature

Dead trees can help make a healthy forest

Ruth Ann Grissom February 26, 2021

A denser vision for Charlotte is part of the 2040 plan.

Growth & Development

Who’s paying attention to the planning conversation in Charlotte?

Ely Portillo February 24, 2021

A pedestrian waits to cross the road at a busy north Charlotte intersection

Development & Planning

Moving to the suburbs: Three things I’ve learned that make me hopeful

Ely Portillo February 22, 2021

Data

Updated maps let you explore Charlotte’s changing housing

Ely Portillo February 18, 2021

A lone customer waits for food in Charlotte at a food truck

Future Charlotte

What’s next for uptown once the pandemic fades?

Ely Portillo February 11, 2021

Housing

Exploring the racial wealth gap and housing

Ely Portillo February 3, 2021

Our Work

Programs

From mapping key community indicators to hosting walks that help local residents explore pressing social issues, our programs focus on building regional understanding and connections.

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Data

Coronavirus

Tracking confirmed coronavirus cases in our region

Clayton Hanson, David Hill December 14, 2020

Housing & Homelessness

New report release: Single adult homelessness integrated data

Courtney LaCaria Bridget Anderson December 10, 2020

Economic Mobility

Social Capital: A Tale of Caution and a Tale of Hope for Charlotte

Bridget Anderson, Kailas Venkitasubramanian , Lori Thomas September 10, 2020

Housing & Homelessness

Housing First Process Evaluation: Many housed, but lessons to learn

Joanne Carman Lori Thomas September 3, 2020

Coronavirus

Five key findings about the impact of COVID-19 on local renters and prioritizing rental assistance

Bridget Anderson, Katie Zager, Lori Thomas, Sydney Idzikowski September 3, 2020

South Boulevard in Charlotte has drawn a robust cluster of businesses to support the city's emerging Latino community, from restaurants to credit unions. Photo credit: Google Street View

Demographics

Charlotte region's Hispanic population grows at a rapid pace

Chuck McShane July 7, 2020

Issues

The Charlotte region is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic areas in the nation, with rural counties, bedroom communities and suburbs, as well as the largest city in North Carolina and rapidly changing areas in upstate South Carolina. The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute focuses on issues of growth, change and equity in this complex region.

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Researcher Spotlight

Khalil Salim is a 4th-year doctoral student in the Community Psychology concentration of the Health Psychology Program at UNC Charlotte, which focuses on research and practice addressing health, health disparities, and healthy communities. He joined the Urban Institute in 2018 and currently serves as the Project Manager for the Coordinated Entry Research and Evaluation Study which is working to improve services for those experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
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Support Our Work

If you value the work of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute as we analyze trends in the Charlotte region and the Carolinas, consider a tax-deductible gift to help sustain our operations. We appreciate your support.

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Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement

The Urban Institute is a part of the Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement (formerly known as Metropolitan Studies), which is a unit of Academic Affairs. Our mission is to provide community-based research services to local, regional, and state-level clients. Off-campus partners include local governments, non-profit organizations, and community groups.

Programs

Center for Transportation Policy Studies (CTPS)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Annual Survey
Institute for Social Capital, Inc.
Transportation Information Management System (TIMS)
Quality of Life Explorer
The Carolinas Urban-Rural Connection

Articles & Publications

Articles Archives
Research Publications & Reports
Photo Essays and Galleries

Data

Regional Data
Interactive Maps

Issues

Arts & Recreation
Economy
Education
Environment & Planning
Government & Civic Engagement
Health & Well-being
Housing & Homelessness
Public Safety
Transportation

Our Region

Explore our region

About Us

Who We Are
Contributing Writers
Staff
Need a Speaker?
Partners
Support Us
Contact Us

UNC Charlotte Urban Institute