US RESEARCHES OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION

HUD Announces Research Grant Opportunity to Study Off-site Construction and Land Use Reforms

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to build the evidence base to accelerate the adoption of innovative and effective practices and policies to increase the production and supply of quality, affordable housing.

The NOFO provides up to $4 million to (1) assess the potential for off-site construction methods to increase housing supply, lower the cost of construction and/or reduce housing expenses for low- and moderate-income owners and renters; and (2) study how reforms to local zoning and other land-use regulations can increase the supply of quality, affordable housing and expand housing choices and opportunities for low- and moderate-income households. Proposals are due on August 1^st.

“In recent decades, housing supply simply has not kept up with demand, which has driven up housing costs and limited affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income families. However, the housing supply shortage has also inspired pro-housing policy reforms at the state and local levels and new attention to alternative construction methods,” said Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. “The goal of this research is to better understand which of these reforms and innovations are most effective at producing new affordable housing and what are the conditions for success.”

This NOFO is the latest in HUD’s effort to support researchers, community residents, practitioners, and policymakers to work together to unleash the housing supply.

• This NOFO builds upon the research needs that are identified in the Off-site Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap, which can help overcome the barriers and challenges of off-site construction.
• In June, HUD hosted the Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall, featuring new building technologies and housing solutions, focusing on off-site construction making housing more innovative, resilient, and affordable for American families.
• In April, HUD released a Policy & Practice brief to summarize the effects of restrictive land use policies on housing supply, location, and affordability, as well as highlight reforms that state and local governments can adopt to increase the supply of housing.
• In April, HUD announced a research grant to Cornell University to study the impacts of zoning in the largest cities in the United States.