Affordability has become a central issue for millions of Americans striving to get by and get ahead. Elected officials as diverse as President Donald Trump, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, and newly inaugurated New Jersey and Virginia governors Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger are prioritizing affordability and reducing high costs. In response, the Urban Institute continues its work to better understand what it truly takes for families to thrive. 

Building on our previous work, Urban researchers have updated and enhanced the True Cost of Economic Security measure for 2023. This comprehensive measure captures the full range of household costs and the resources families rely on to meet those costs. The updated measure includes the costs of caring for a person with self-care disabilities and the resources derived from homeownership. 

Please join us for a discussion on the updated measure and how policymakers and researchers can leverage insights from this research to improve American families’ well-being.