About Us
HR&A Advisors is dedicated to creating vital places, building equitable and resilient communities, and improving people’s lives.
HR&A is a different kind of consulting firm. We are a mission-driven group of analysts, planners, and policy experts who care deeply about the future of cities. Working with visionary clients across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, we bridge ideas to implementation, work closely with communities, and help our clients increase wealth generation and opportunity for historically marginalized communities.
Why financial inclusion?
HR&A’s work on public options aims to address where private markets fail to provide people with sufficient, affordable, and high-quality access to essentials including financial services, healthcare, utilities, food, and education.
Financial inclusion is not just about access to banking—it’s about economic opportunity, stability, and fairness. The failure of our financial system to serve millions of people forces them to rely on low-quality, costly, and predatory alternatives. This is a market failure where basic banking access becomes a privilege rather than a necessity.
Addressing this failure through policy, innovation, and public banking options ensures that everyone—regardless of income or background—has the tools to participate fully in the economy, reducing poverty and driving economic growth.
About the data
We use the following data sources and definitions in our analysis of the underbanked and unbanked population in the United States.
This website may inadvertently include some bugs and minor data inconsistencies. Please let our team know if something isn't working well for you and we will do our best to fix it!
Our Clients
We work with clients across the country to support public options and financial inclusion.
HR&A Advisors has worked with a wide range of public, private, and nonprofit clients including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
The Case for CalAccount
In collaboration with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), HR&A's report details how the lack of adequate access to basic financial services hurts California’s families, communities, and statewide economy. Learn more here.
Improving the Safety Net and Financial Inclusion for Gig Workers
HR&A and The Workers Lab led a design sprint to improve access to safety net programs for gig workers, who have historically been excluded from them. We achieved this through an innovative fintech solution. Learn more here.
Supporting Access to Affordable Groceries
On behalf of the City of Chicago, HR&A prepared a feasibility study for a municipal grocery store model aimed at improving access to affordable food on the South and West sides. Learn more here.
Public Options Case Studies
In collaboration with the Economic Security Project, HR&A developed case studies that showcase successful public options for affordable banking, medicines, internet, and groceries across the United States. Learn more here.
Interested in custom analysis?
Interested in custom analysis and visualization for your community or organization? We’d love to hear from you! Please fill out this form or shoot us an email.
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