Equity Indicators

The City of Houston and Kinder Institute for Urban Research are developing an equity indicators report to establish a system for measuring racial and ethnic inequities in Houston. Thanks to funding from the Shell Foundation, this report will influence decision-makers on budget priorities, programming, policies, and projects to achieve equitable outcomes.

Houston's Equity Definition:

Equity is achieved when a Houstonian’s race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation, do not predict their outcomes or limit their choices. Our city embraces and nurtures its multiculturalism and diversity by offering opportunities for all and deploys policies that support fair and just access to opportunity.

Houston's Commitment:

The City of Houston is committed to advance racial and ethnic equity by mobilizing all departments, divisions, and programs to review, revise, and implement systems providing for equity, as defined above. To ensure limitless choices, opportunities, and freedoms, we will invest and support historically underserved and marginalized communities, such as people of color, people with disabilities, people with low incomes, immigrants and refugees, youth, those with limited-English proficiency, and other compounding factors related to racial and ethnic disparities. This commitment includes the provision and continuation of the amount of goods, services, supports and resources specifically required to accomplish the equity goals in the City of Houston. In doing so, we will meet our vision as a city to offer opportunity for all and fully celebrate our diversity of people, economy, culture, and places.

Equity vs. Equality:

What is equity? In the simplest terms, it means fairness, which is not necessarily the same thing as equality.

"It’s not about everybody getting the same thing. It’s about everybody getting what they need in order to improve the quality of their situation.”

Quote from Cynthia Silva Parker, Infusing Equity into the Urban Planning Process

What are equity indicators?

• Assessment tools that measure existing disparities faced by disadvantaged groups of people. The City will track change in disparities over time for 63 key indicators.

• Each indicator receives a score from 1-100, with 100 representing no inequity. Scores will guide policy decisions and programming.

• These indicators will fall under the seven main themes: Economic Opportunity, Health, Public Safety, Housing, Infrastructure, Environmental and Climate Risks, and Access and Inclusion.