U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Research and Evaluation, Demonstration, and Data Analysis and Utilization
The Research and Evaluation, Demonstrations, and Data Analysis and Utilization program (HUDRD) seeks to inform policy development and implementation to improve life in American communities through conducting, supporting, and sharing research, surveys, demonstrations, program evaluations, and best practices. This broad mission addresses the following strategic goals contained in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) strategic plan:
- Strengthen the nation’s housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers
- Meet the need for quality affordable rental homes
- Use housing as a platform to improve quality of life
- Build strong, resilient, and inclusive communities
HUD will support the following projects through HUDRD:
Project 1 – Accessible Housing and Technology Research and Demonstration: The objective is to provide funding to conduct a study on innovations in the design and construction of affordable, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing housing, with a focus on technological adaptations that can be made to existing housing designs for persons with disabilities, and to identify, evaluate, and test the home modifications and technology innovations necessary to make existing housing accessible. The project is limited to research regarding innovations in the design and retrofitting or renovation of non-detached single family homes, semi-detached town homes, and structures with four or fewer residential units. The intention of these grant funds is not to fund the renovation of existing housing that can or will be used for residential purposes. The intention is to research, explore, develop, and test potential innovations. The grantee will function as the lead of an interdisciplinary team with the goal to show how to affordably use physical and technological adaptations of existing housing stock to meet residents’ needs for affordable and accessible housing. Although not limited to adaptations that can assist households in their existing homes, proposals must include that as a focus area.
Project 2 – Technical Assistance Assessment: The objective is to provide a picture of (1) The overall operations of HUD’s Technical Assistance (TA) program(s) including the data systems that support HUD TA projects, the NOFA process, and the process by which TA funds are allocated. This objective may include an assessment of the utilization/uptake of each type of intervention and recommendations for change; it could also include evaluation of the demand-response construct. (2) An in-depth analysis of three to four large, high priority TA projects. These twin overarching objectives will require a detailed accounting of the purposes to which TA funds are being allocated, the amount of money being spent on those purposes, and, for a selection of priority projects, an assessment of the effectiveness of the TA interventions. For the specific project assessments, the researcher should expect to provide a full assessment of the projects including the tasks undertaken, the types of TA provided, the amount of money spent, and the effectiveness of the technical assistance delivered. This research work should focus primarily on FY2014 TA funding and priorities because FY2014 was the first year that HUD TA was organized under the Community Compass umbrella and the first year that most awardees and activities were tracked in the HUD administrative data systems specific to HUD TA: The HUD TA Portal and the Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting System (DRGR).
Amount: A total of $2,900,000 is available to fund:
- Accessible Housing and Technology Research and Demonstration: A total $2,000,000 is available to award one to four cooperative agreements, that may range from $100,000-$2,000,000 each.
- Technical Assistance Assessment: One cooperative agreement of approximately $900,000 will be made.
Eligibility: State governments; county governments; city or township governments; public and state controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; private institutions of higher education; for profit organizations; and small businesses. Applicants must meet the specific requirements and the required qualifications, including expertise in housing and service programs for low-income households, specific knowledge of the HUD programs to be evaluated, and demonstrable experience in the particular research methods and functions needed to undertake each project.
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