Corianne Payton Scally, Ph.D., Principal Associate and Equitable Community Development Practice Area Lead, is an expert on affordable housing and community development policies and program implementation, from big cities to small rural towns. She leads research and evaluation using mixed methods and collaborative approaches and provides thought leadership and evidence to inform decision-making and investments. Corianne is passionate about translating knowledge to inspire actions that reduce racial, economic, and geographic disparities between places and populations. With almost 25 years of research and professional practice, Corianne has worked with government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations at the national, state, regional, and local levels to change systems and improve commitments and investments that support community thriving – from affordable housing supply to quality infrastructure to accessible health and human services.
Over her career, Corianne has led more than 25 research projects focused on affordable housing, community and economic development, rural data and community well-being, and policy and systems change. She uses a systems change framework to help clients address root causes of disparities by examining their policies, programs, processes, and resource distribution; building trust and shifting power to community; and changing personal attitudes and public narratives. Corianne approaches her work through a lens of mutual accountability between funders and implementers to 1) developing shared goals; 2) making realistic commitments to pursue desired outcomes; and 3) monitoring, evaluating, and learning from outcomes to influence future commitments.
Corianne has worked with the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services; Appalachian Regional Commission; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Wells Fargo Foundation; Comcast; National League of Cities; Partners for Rural Transformation; Community Opportunity Alliance; NeighborWorks America; and the Housing Assistance Council. Demonstrating her commitment to translating research into action, Corianne has briefed Congressional staff on housing programs and evidence; advised state housing agencies; and counseled foundations seeking to improve their equitable place-based investment strategies and community partnerships. She has a strong publishing and speaking record, including over 90 articles, reports, factsheets and blog posts; myriad webinars and presentations; and media interviews and podcasts.
Corianne received her doctoral degree in Planning and Public Policy from Rutgers University. Prior to joining Community Science, Corianne was a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, a contractor in USDA’s Rural Housing Service, a tenured Associate Professor of urban and regional planning, and an affordable housing and community development practitioner. When not working, Corianne enjoys experiencing the performing arts, visiting museums and zoos, nature hikes, and international travel.
Notable Publications and Presentations
The State of Community-based Development Organizations, 2019-2021. (2023). Scally, C.P., Curran-Groome, W., Kort, A., & Kumari, S.
Investing in Places to Advance Health and Racial Equity: Lessons from Multisite, Cross-sector Initiatives. Internal presentation to de Beaumont Foundation, April 2022. (Public summary here)
Supporting Rural and Remote Communities through Place-based Programs. Panel Presentation, U.S. Department of Education’s Promise Neighborhoods Annual Conference. December 2022.
Mutual Accountability is the Key to Equity-oriented Systems Change: How Initiatives Can Create Durable Shifts in Policies and Practices. (2021). Lo, L., Aron, L.Y., Pettit, K.L.S., & Scally, CP. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute.
In Search of “Good” Rural Data: Measuring Rural Prosperity. (2020). Scally, Corianne Payton, Eric Burnstein, and Matthew Gerken with Evelyn Immonen. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute.
An Equitable Framework for Housing Policy Solutions for COVID-19 and Beyond. (2020). Scally, Corianne Payton, Elizabeth Champion, and Michael Neal. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute.
Scally, C.P. & Tighe, J.R. 2015. Democracy in Action? NIMBY as Impediment to Equitable Affordable Housing Siting. Housing Studies 30(5): 749-769.
Exemplary Projects
Evaluation Co-Director, Wealth Opportunities Realized Through Homeownership (WORTH) Evaluation, Wells Fargo Foundation.
Co-led process, outcome, and impact study through first two years of program implementation by local collaboratives to create and preserve 5,000 new homeowners of color in 8 U.S. housing markets. Study uses qualitative research, local data capacity building and training, program and market data analysis, technical assistance and peer learning, and targeted impact analysis to evaluate progress and outcomes.
Research Director, Grounding Values: Financial Health Analysis and 6th National Census of Community-based Development Organizations, Community Opportunity Alliance (formerly NACEDA).
Identified national population of community-based development organizations and led financial health analysis using Internal Revenue Service data and a web-based survey of CBDO development and service activities, development barriers, and racial equity actions and needs.
Research Director, Reenvisioning Rural America: How to Invest in the Strengths and Potential of Rural Communities, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
With USDA Rural Development, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and subject matter expert and technical advisory groups, developed an asset-based typology and online data dashboard of all inhabited rural census tracts to inform rural technical assistance and direct investments.
Technical Assistance Co-Director, Policy and Systems Change Compass Pilot, National League of Cities.
Developed evidence-based technical assistance curriculum and process piloted with three cities working on policy and systems change related to improving wealth equity.
Evaluation Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Resident Opportunity and Self-sufficiency — Service Coordinator Program Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Led process and outcome evaluation of the use of service coordinators in public housing to support resident economic self-sufficiency or ability to age in place. Included administrative data analysis, 10 site visits with participant focus groups, and national survey of current service coordinators.