Dennis Culhane

Dr. Dennis Culhane is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice. He specializes in homelessness and housing policy, leading the Cartographic Modeling Laboratory (CML), which applies spatial data analysis to urban health and social issues. His work has transformed national approaches to homelessness via supportive housing and prevention programs. The CML collaborates across Penn’s schools on projects like obesity, gun violence, and youth development, and supports University initiatives in West Philadelphia.

Research interests include spatial data applications for urban policy, disaster preparedness for low-income populations, and policy solutions for homelessness. Recent work addresses pandemic impacts on vulnerable groups, aging homeless populations, and housing needs post-disasters. Culhane’s interdisciplinary collaborations span public health, urban planning, and sociology.

Key contributions include national homelessness data analyses (e.g., AHAR reports) and frameworks for integrated data systems. His articles explore systemic solutions to homelessness, policy equity, and the intersection of health and housing. Culhane advocates for scalable interventions like Medicaid-funded housing programs and data-driven policy redesigns to reduce long-term costs.