Indepth analysis of persistant problems in the field of community development. Woodstock's research reports contribute to the body of knowledge used by policymakers and community development practitioners.
Documents the disproportionate concentration of liquor stores in lower-income and African-American neighborhoods in Cook County, Illinois. Also examines efforts and policies in Chicago and around the country to curb excessive liquor store densities in lower-income communities. Makes recommendations to stem the conditions that lead to liquor store over-concentration and blight.
Analyzes job patterns in the Chicago Empowerment Zone (EZ), examining
demographics of those who work in the EZ, the number of EZ jobs held by
EZ residents, and the work locations of EZ residents. The report
provides examples of efforts in Chicago and around the country aimed at
linking neighborhood residents to nearby jobs and calls for increased
attention to the barriers between jobs and residents in low-income
urban areas.
Finds that lending for home purchases throughout
the Chicago area has increased dramatically in recent years, with loan
volume up by 50 percent from 1990 to 1994. Loans to low- and
moderate-income individuals increased at even higher rates than overall
loans, increasingby 85 percent over the same period.
An analysis comparing the residents of a modest-income urban
neighborhood to jobs in and around the neighborhood, utilizing
specialized census data showing how many residents work in and around
the neighborhood. The study provides evidence supporting the importance
to local residents of economic activity in city neighborhoods.
(A Project by the Credit Union Foundation, Inc.) Documentation of the
Vermont Development Credit Union's Affordable Mortgage Lending Program,
a unique program which combines home purchase counseling with
non-mortgage loan products to assist potential homebuyers become ready
for a mortgage. The program can serve as a model for other lenders
interested in affordable homeownership for lower-income families.
