Public Policy

The goal of our work is to influence and move social change so that

opportunities for all, social justice, and environmental sustainability become realities.  We leverage our research and evaluation work to develop lessons and recommendations for changes in public education, youth programs, public health, environmental issues, housing policy and more.

Sample Projects:

NYC Housing Court Study, with the Center for Human Environments

ActKnowledge advised CHE on this 2006 project, which used surveys in its first phase to determine the characteristics of a variety of Tenants in Housing Court who were facing eviction.  Surveys were conducted by the CHE at the City University of New York Graduate Center, on behalf of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.  The Brennan Center will use data from this study to evaluate a proposal to the New York City Council regarding the right to counsel for tenants who are senior citizens. Upcoming phases of this project include an in-depth hallway survey, which will focus more specifically on the characteristics of tenants in Housing Court who are 62 or older, as well as a courtroom survey, which will provide a representative sample of tenants in housing court and a better picture of percentages of tenants aged 62 and older.  The results of this survey, while preliminary, can be used to get some understanding of the needs of tenants who go to Housing Court.

Successes of Homeownership Education and Emerging Challenges and
Enhancing the Effectiveness of Homeowner Education, with the Center for Human Environments

ActKnowledge worked with the Center for Human Environments (CHE) in 2004-2005 to disseminate and present the findings of a national, 15-site survey of over 750 low-income and minority households about the impact of non-profit homeownership education provided by NeighborWorks Organizations (NWOs) prior to purchasing a home.  ActKnowledge led the supervision, writing, and editing of individual site reports for each of the 15 sites and assisted in securing funding for ongoing research in 2006.  The 2006 research will consist of focus groups with homeowners and NWO staff at five national sites to gain a more in-depth perspective on ways to enhance the effectiveness of homeownership education and help owners avoid foreclosure.  ActKnowledge will manage a number of aspects of this project, including supervising the planning and design process; conducting focus groups; analysis of video from focus groups; drafting final reports and presentations; and day-to-day supervision of project staff.