Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary | https://www.hud.gov/leadership#sec
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a $5 million notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) aimed at supporting research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The initiative seeks to fund one or more Research Centers of Excellence that will focus on housing, community development, economic development, and built environment challenges in underserved communities.
"Here at HUD, we are always looking for new, creative, and evidence-based ways to create affordable housing. It is also important that we work with institutions that prioritize Black and brown communities to ensure we understand the full spectrum of need," said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. "We are making another $5 million available to HBCUs to invest in housing and community development research so all of us, together, can build affordable and resilient communities."
Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, highlighted the program's objectives: "The HBCU Research Centers of Excellence program at HUD is designed to help support and build capacity at HBCUs to conduct innovative, community-informed and actionable research to support policymaking and change around some of the nation’s most pressing housing, community development, and urban development challenges. This funding will bolster efforts HBCUs are making to expand opportunities for underserved communities and strengthen community development."
In 2023, HUD allocated $5.5 million for similar initiatives at Texas Southern University and North Carolina A&T University. These funds were used to establish or enhance existing Centers of Excellence focused on housing and community development research.
Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration reported a record in federal funding directed toward HBCUs—exceeding $16 billion from Fiscal Years 2021 through current data available for FY 2024.
Additionally, HUD expanded its Research Centers of Excellence program last year to include Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), granting a total of $10.5 million across four HSIs. The Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) recently launched a website detailing previous awards supporting seven Research Centers of Excellence at both HBCUs and HSIs.
