The university-wide Livable Lives Initiative investigates what social conditions and policy supports can make life with a low or moderate income stable, secure, satisfying, and successful.  In particular, the Initiative seeks to foster research from a wide range of academic disciplines that:

• Documents conditions that may inhibit or promote the achievement of livable lives
• Formulates and tests innovations
• Informs policies and practices that may lead to more livable lives
• Studies impacts of these policies and practices

The Livable Lives Initiative started at the Brown School, with a vision of developing a multi-disciplinary, University-wide project. A competitive RFP process, launched in August, 2009, invited University faculty to propose projects that move forward the thinking, research, advocacy, and policy associated with achieving livable lives. With the support of the Ford Foundation and guided by CSD, the Livable Lives Initiative awarded eight grants to faculty across Washington University in November 2009. Future work will include larger research studies and national conferences. The aim is to build a large body of work that informs local programs as well as state and federal policies in economic security, employment, public health, education, housing, and other key areas. 

• Learn about the projects sponsored by the Livable Lives Initiative.
• View all Livable Lives publications.
• Read more about the vision of the Initiative.
• Work & Livable Lives Conference