Supportive neighborhoods

Overview

Neighborhoods influence family well-being, shape social networks, and determine access to economic opportunity. Individuals living in healthy, safe, well-resourced communities are more likely to experience positive outcomes at every life stage.

Health, housing, community development, and public safety strategies can help produce more supportive neighborhoods.

Evidence-based strategies

	Description	Issue Areas
Accessing private market housing	Helping low- and moderate-income households access private market housing	Housing and community development
Addressing vacant or abandoned properties	Tracking, demolishing, and beautifying vacant or abandoned properties and lots	Housing and community development
Broadband access and digital skills	Providing low-income residents with broadband internet access, hardware subsidies, and digital skills classes	Housing and community development
Commercial corridor revitalization	Stimulating neighborhood economies through physical improvements and supports for new and existing businesses	Housing and community development
Community-led violence prevention	Reducing crime by cultivating relationships between community members and those at high risk for being involved with violence	Justice and public safety
Creating affordable housing	Using legislative, operational, and financial methods to facilitate the construction of more affordable housing	Housing and community development
Diversion programs and incarceration alternatives	Reducing recidivism and generating major cost savings while providing accountability, engagement, and support services	Justice and public safety Post-secondary education and workforce development
Evidence-based policing	Using research and data analysis to set goals and identify specific strategies and tactics to achieve them	Justice and public safety
Guaranteed income	Providing unconditional cash transfers to residents at regular intervals	Financial security
Gun violence prevention	Preventing gun violence through limiting gun access and circulation, and raising public awareness	Health and well-being Justice and public safety
Housing stability and displacement prevention	Increasing housing stability for tenants at risk of displacement and homelessness	Housing and community development Justice and public safety Financial security
Improving access to healthy food	Removing cost and distance barriers to healthy food for children and families	Health and well-being
Increasing overall housing supply	Using legislative, regulatory, and operational levers to create conditions for more housing supply	Housing and community development
Maintaining safe and healthy housing	Ensuring that existing affordable homes and rental units remain safe, healthy, and high-quality	Housing and community development Health and well-being
Non-police emergency response	Using trained behavioral health professionals to provide emergency support services focused on health and de-escalation	Health and well-being Justice and public safety
Parks and public spaces	Improving physical and mental health, creating opportunities for residents to interact with each other, and building climate resilience.	Housing and community development
Permanent supportive housing	Connecting individuals experiencing chronic homelessness with stable, unconditional housing and support services	Justice and public safety Housing and community development Health and well-being
Public transportation access and subsidies	Making public transit accessible through physical infrastructure, service improvements, and financial supports	Housing and community development
Substance use treatment and prevention	Leveraging health services, legal interventions, and community-wide initiatives to treat and prevent drug use and addiction	Health and well-being Justice and public safety
Supports to improve outcomes for youth in foster care	Direct supports for foster youth, training programs for prospective foster parents, foster care models, and programs aiming to preserve and reunify families	Health and well-being
Traffic and street safety improvements	Maximizing the number of people — including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians — who can safely and efficiently utilize public streets and thoroughfares	Housing and community development Justice and public safety
Transitional employment and re-entry support	Facilitating residents' transitions to full-time employment through subsidized jobs and wraparound support services	Post-secondary education and workforce development Justice and public safety
Wealth building	Supporting wealth creation for low-income households through a range of savings models	Financial security