The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Texas Southern University $3 million for the Center of Excellence for Housing and Community Development Policy Research (CEHCDPR). This funding is part of a $5.5 million award from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The CEHCDPR focuses on exploration of individual and community wealth building, housing security and stability; and planning and infrastructure inequity in underserved communities. TSU will use the grant funding to magnify the center’s work beyond Texas.

“Our team is excited to continue and expand the work we’ve begun that will advance transdisciplinary academic and empirical research and debate on affordable housing and community development policy for racial equity benefiting both low-income communities of color and decision-makers at HUD,” said CEHCDPR founding director Dr. Jeffrey Lowe. “This funding enables us to go beyond the borders of Texas and into other areas of the Gulf Coast region and the Caribbean. We are looking forward to the innovative research projects that will be carried out by seasoned and emerging scholars joining the CEHCDPR team and our new partnerships with two other HBCUs—Florida A&M University and University of the Virgin Islands.”

The funding – earmarked for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – is split between two schools – TSU and North Carolina A&T State University, which will receive the remainder of the award.

“HBCUs create economic opportunity both for their students and throughout the communities they serve. At HUD, we are proud to partner with HBCUs to expand the voices in the housing research space to support strong communities, build affordable housing, create job opportunities, revitalize neighborhoods and promote homeownership,” said HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge. “This funding will bolster efforts HBCs are making to expand opportunities for underserved communities and strengthen community development.”

This is not the first time HUD has sponsored research at TSU. The Center was established in 2021 through a $1 million grant award.