Understanding Houston

More than 900,000 children in Texas don’t have any form of health insurance — that’s about one in eight.

Even more concerning, nearly a quarter of those uninsured children live in the Houston area, where 13.5% of children are uninsured — more than double the national rate (5.4%).

These numbers highlight the urgent need to expand access to affordable healthcare and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

📊 Explore more data and insights at https://www.understandinghouston.org

🛍️ This Small Business Saturday, we’re shining a spotlight on the small business owners who are the heart of our community. From creative boutiques to family-run services, small businesses provide not just jobs, but opportunity and resilience — especially when founders face extra obstacles like credit access or lack of generational wealth. Understanding Houston highlights how locally-owned businesses support economic vitality and grow inclusive wealth.

We’re proud to stand alongside and support the many entrepreneurs making a difference locally. If you can, please shop small, share a business you love, or simply say thank you to a local owner today.

Read more about the role of small businesses right here: https://www.understandinghouston.org/topic/economic-opportunity/small-business

In October, the Understanding Houston team was honored to share data insights with Charter 100 Houston—a network of women leaders across industries who come together to exchange ideas, uplift one another, and drive positive change in our region.

If your organization or group is interested in a customized data briefing to better understand the issues shaping Greater Houston, we’d love to connect!

📩 Reach out to the Understanding Houston team to learn more: https://www.understandinghouston.org/contact

The ongoing federal shutdown is more than a pause in government operations — it’s a disruption with measurable consequences.

In Greater Houston alone, 770,000 residents—half of them children—rely on SNAP benefits that are now halted.

With food prices up 30% since 2020 and 39% of households already food insecure, the data underscores how deeply public benefits sustain economic stability for Houston families.

📊 Explore the full analysis on persistent poverty and the critical role of public benefits: 🔗 https://www.understandinghouston.org/blog/beyond-the-shutdown-persistent-poverty-and-the-role-of-pub...