HUD Announces $10 Million Funding Opportunity to Support Housing and Community Development Research at Minority-Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the availability of $10 million in funding through its Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R) to support eligible minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in researching critical housing and community development topics. This funding opportunity aims to advance knowledge in the field while strengthening research capacity within eligible minority-serving institutions.

"These research opportunities will ensure that we are supporting inclusive communities for all, HUD must work to uplift and support those people who have been historically disadvantaged and left behind," said HUD Agency Head, The Honorable Adrianne Todman. "One way we do this is by supporting minority-serving institutions in their vital research on housing and related topics. These universities are the anchors of Black, brown, and native communities across our nation, and we are proud to support them."

The research conducted through these partnerships will provide valuable insights that inform policies and create stronger, more inclusive and thriving communities, while advancing HUD's Learning Agenda. The funding opportunity will support research that addresses pressing questions in housing and community development, while also strengthening the ability of MSIs to conduct impactful research that benefits the communities and students they serve. The focus of this funding opportunity is on seven key topic areas: community development and place-based initiatives; disaster recovery; fair housing; homelessness; homeownership, asset building, and economic opportunity; housing and health; and the housing needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations. The research questions for this funding opportunity are drawn from HUD's Learning Agenda, which outlines policy-relevant questions that aim to inform housing and urban development at the federal, state, and local levels.

"Investing in building the research and development capacity of our academic partners, and particularly minority-serving institutions, remains a top priority for HUD," said Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. "This funding opportunity underscores the unique value of MSIs, working closely with the communities they serve, to leverage diverse research approaches and methodologies to address critical housing and community development challenges."

Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHIs). Applicants are encouraged to visit PD&R's webpage for minority-serving institutions to access short papers that provide a high-level overview of the current state of the research within each topic area, foundational studies that HUD has supported related to the topic area, and the context for the selected research questions included in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Applications are due by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 04/09/2025. For more information on this funding opportunity and the eligible research questions, please visit HUD's NOFO webpage.