Research and Cross-Cutting Initiatives

Research-informed practice and evidence-based analysis generates stronger land policy applications and interventions.

The Lincoln Institute relies on research to provide evidence-based recommendations for land policy, and to support learning and theory-building for practice.

Through our Research and Cross-Cutting Initiatives (RxI) work, we aim to promote the conceptualization, design, and implementation of research-informed practice across a variety of program areas, including housing, planning, and law. We work with our staff and external partners to use this research to strengthen our overall knowledge base and to put our learnings into action. The Lincoln Institute’s research strategy emphasizes the evidence needed to conduct place-based work, while fostering in turn the learning that happens through practice.

Responsible Research


We expect all staff, partners, and contractors to follow our research integrity statement and comply with the highest ethical, legal, and professional standards in all scholarship. We hold regular internal trainings on research practices to ensure our staff are informed about appropriate expectations and trained to effectively practice them.

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Planning Practice

Many decisions made by planners will have effects that last for decades, highlighting the importance of making the right decisions now. Planners can play a role in limiting energy consumption by vehicles and buildings, enhancing nature and its ecosystem services, and creating more vibrant street life that fosters social resilience. The Lincoln Institute helps planners innovate, stay abreast of trends and research, and grow and evolve through shared learning, peer engagement, and technical support.

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Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I’m HOME) Network

The I’m HOME Network promotes manufactured housing as a safe, secure, and affordable path to home ownership. We envision widespread adoption of manufactured homes as a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and wealth-building route to home ownership that significantly helps address the nation’s growing affordable housing crisis. Utilizing research, data, and multisector collaboration, this network of homeowners, advocates, academics, policymakers, lenders, manufacturers, developers, and others works to keep the dream of affordable home ownership alive for millions of American families.

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Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition

Founded in 2021, the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition is a group of leading affordable housing organizations that seeks to hold Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accountable to their founding purpose: to bring housing finance opportunities to American families traditionally underserved by the private market.

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