Anthony Vega, Ph.D.  ·  Research Consulting

Research That Drives Housing & Economic Equity

I partner with nonprofits, government agencies, and foundations to design mixed-methods research, build M&E frameworks, and translate evidence-based findings into policy narratives that drive systemic change on housing insecurity and economic inequity.

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Rigorous Research. Actionable Insights.

With a Ph.D. in Sociology and over 15 years of applied research experience, I help mission-driven organizations build evidence-based programs, develop M&E systems, conduct needs assessments, and communicate impact to funders and policymakers. My work spans affordable housing, community development, crime prevention, and economic mobility across government, nonprofit, and academic contexts.

Affordable Housing Program Evaluation Grant Writing Policy Research Geospatial Analysis Data Visualization
15+
Years of Applied Research
$1.8M+
Grant Portfolios Managed
11,000+
Residents Impacted Annually
50+
Communities Studied
Services

How I Can Help

I offer a range of research and consulting services tailored to nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and philanthropic foundations.

Program Evaluation

Design and execution of mixed-methods evaluations grounded in a theory of change, including logic model development, surveys, interviews, and administrative data analysis, to assess program effectiveness and support continuous improvement.

Housing & Policy Research

Rigorous, evidence-based research on housing insecurity, affordability gaps, and poverty, from needs assessments and literature reviews to original quantitative analysis and policy briefs that inform state and local decision-making.

Grant Writing & Impact Reporting

Competitive grant proposals, funder stewardship, and impact reports that clearly demonstrate outcomes, connect findings to your theory of change, and make a compelling case for continued investment.

Data Analysis & Visualization

Statistical analysis using Stata, R, and Python; extensive geospatial mapping with ArcGIS and QGIS; and interactive dashboards in ArcGIS Online and Tableau that turn complex data into clear, decision-ready insights for internal teams and external stakeholders.

Research Communication & Thought Leadership

Translating technical findings into accessible white papers, policy briefs, presentations, and media-ready materials that build your organization's credibility with policymakers, funders, and advocacy coalitions.

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

Hands-on technical assistance and staff training on research design, survey methodology, M&E systems, and data quality, strengthening your team's ability to generate and use evidence independently.

Expertise

Deep Domain Knowledge

My consulting draws on years of hands-on research across housing, public safety, and economic opportunity.

Research Methods

  • Survey Design & Analysis
  • Focus Groups & Interviews
  • Multivariate Statistics
  • Geospatial Analysis
  • Literature Reviews

Policy Areas

  • Affordable Housing
  • Poverty Reduction
  • Crime Prevention
  • Public Housing
  • Rural Housing Policy

Technical Tools

  • Stata, R, and Python
  • ArcGIS / QGIS
  • ArcGIS Online / Tableau
  • NVivo
  • Adobe InDesign

Stakeholder Experience

  • Government Agencies
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Foundations & Funders
  • Academic Institutions
  • Advocacy Coalitions
Selected Work

Research in Practice

A sample of projects that illustrate the breadth and impact of my applied research work.

Policy Research & Data Tool

California Affordable Housing Map and Benefits Calculator

Oversaw the update of an interactive statewide data tool enabling policymakers, advocates, and funders to visualize and analyze the community and economic benefits of affordable housing across California.

Housing Policy Data Visualization
Longitudinal Survey Research

Annual Resident Survey — Community Development

Designed and administered an annual SurveyMonkey-based resident survey across 50 apartment communities serving 11,000+ residents. Used R to clean and analyze data, then built a Power BI dashboard for resident service coordinators and upper management, alongside funder- and board-facing data visualizations to communicate program impact.

SurveyMonkey R Power BI Impact Reporting
Program Evaluation

NYC Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety

Served as one of the methodological leads for a multi-site evaluation of a crime reduction, housing security, and community well-being initiative across 15 NYC public housing developments, integrating quantitative crime data, field observations, and community surveys. Also oversaw the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) component, interfacing with lead CPTED trainers, coordinating with the Mayor's Office to facilitate trainings for staff and residents, and assessing implementation fidelity of CPTED trainings as part of the impact evaluation.

Mixed Methods Public Housing CPTED ArcGIS
Publications & Reports

Selected Research & Writing

Peer-reviewed scholarship, book chapters, and publicly available policy research reports.

Peer-Reviewed Article
Experimental Analysis of Male Online Dating on Parole
Evans, Douglas N. and Anthony Vega · Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 59(1): 33–48 · 2020
View Article
Book Chapter
Sources of Crime Data
Schwartz, Jennifer and Anthony Vega · in Violence and Crime Prevention, Advances in Prevention Science Series · Springer International Publishing · 2017
View Book Chapter
Research Reports & Policy Briefs
How California Can Save $439 Million Per Year and Build Thousands More Affordable Homes
Vega, Anthony · California Housing Partnership · 2026
View Report
Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program: Community and Economic Benefits, Rounds 1–8
Vega, Anthony (Co-PI) with Enterprise Community Partners · California Housing Partnership · 2025
View Report
California Affordable Housing Map and Benefits Calculator
Vega, Anthony (PI) · California Housing Partnership · 2024
View Data Tool
Examining the Argument that Building Affordable Housing Increases Crime
Vega, Anthony · California Housing Partnership · 2024
View Brief
Conceptualization, Implementation, and Management of the NYC Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety
Alawlaqi, Wogod et al. (incl. Anthony Vega) · John Jay College REC · 2021
View Report
Critical Care: The Important Role of Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs
Evans, Douglas and Anthony Vega · John Jay College REC · 2018
View Report
Credentials

Background & Education

Professional Experience

Managing Director, Research
California Housing Partnership · 2021–2026 · San Francisco, CA
Director of Research and Evaluation
The Community Builders, Inc. · 2019–2021 · Boston, MA
Senior Research Analyst
John Jay Research and Evaluation Center · 2017–2019 · New York, NY
Student Trainee
USDA Economic Research Service · 2015 · Washington, D.C.
Graduate Researcher & Instructor
Washington State University · 2009–2017 · Pullman, WA

Education & Honors

Ph.D., Sociology
Washington State University · 2017
M.A., Sociology
Washington State University · 2011
B.A., Sociology — Cum Laude
Humboldt State University · 2008
Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society
2016–Present

Selected Grants & Funders

Equity Policy Research Fellowship
San Francisco Foundation (~$50–75K/yr) and Merritt Community Capital (~$30–50K/yr) · 2022–2025 · Secured 5 consecutive annual renewals
LIHTC Costs Data Tool
JPMorgan Chase · $150,000 · 2024–2025
One-Stop-Shop Affordable Housing Finance Agency Cost Savings Report
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative · $125,000 · 2024–2026

Teaching & Training

Served as instructor of record for 16 undergraduate courses at Washington State University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, covering research methods, criminology, social inequality, and gender. Available for workshops, guest lectures, and staff training engagements.

Sociology of Gender · 8 terms
Washington State University
Social Deviance · 5 terms
Washington State University
Sex and Culture; Ethnography of Youth and Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Contact

Let's Work Together

Whether you need a program evaluation, research report, grant support, or strategic data analysis, I'd love to discuss how I can help your organization achieve its goals.