Even as Living Cities changes, America's urban neighborhoods stay in view
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To support Living Cities’ programs, which have funded affordable housing and related community development since 1991 in the neglected urban cores of 23 U.S. cities, including four Knight Communities – Detroit, St. Paul, Philadelphia and Miami. Knight Foundation has provided $22.2 million in grant making to Living Cities over time.
Approach: The reporter analysis involved extensive document reviews, and interviews with residents, project staff and community leaders.
Report Partner: The report was produced by Martin Merzer.
ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS:
- Changes at Living Cities – The report highlights the shifts in Living Cities toward a more holistic effort beyond supporting affordable housing to improve the total environment surrounding residents of deteriorating urban neighborhoods – including quality of life issues such as education, health care, financial literacy and job training and availability.
- Despite some Setbacks, Significant Physical Improvements – Living Cities has directly supported the creation of 40,743 housing units in Living Cities’ 23 target cities – 7,845 in four Knight communities.
Projects discussed in this publication
Living Cities
To support Living Cities and the Integration Initiative, a multidisciplinary focus on both neighborhood and system transformation in five cities, including St. Paul and Detroit
Living Cities
To support an education and outreach initiative to facilitate the integration of law enforcement into urban policy at the federal and local level
Living Cities
To support the start-up of the Admiral Community Impact Center. The center will advise professional athletes who want to give back to their communities, providing them with marketing support and helping them find the nonprofits that match their goals
Living Cities
To expand and deepen a collaborative investment to improve urban neighborhoods in 23 communities
About our Engaged Communities focus area
To help sustain healthy communities in a democracy, we aim to increase the ability of individuals to engage in change. Trabian Shorters on our strategy
About our Reporter Analysis Series methodology
Knight Foundation commissions independent journalists to write occasional articles reviewing its grant making and program strategies. Veteran reporters examine grant documents, conduct interviews and offer their perspective on the lessons learned and impact of Knight-supported projects in stories published online and in print.