Several national issues are emerging for rural housing and urban development, but there are few organizations exploring research-based approaches for translational research for policy specific to…

This federal Cooperative Agreement award, valued at $3,999,998 and granted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the General Research and Technology Activity program (CFDA 14.506), aims to advance research and improve access to translational research on housing and community development policy for under-resourced rural communities with historically marginalized populations.

The key objectives of this award include:

1. Establishing a consortium of academic institutions and community organizations to collaborate on national trends of rural housing issues.
2. Examining rural housing challenges in diverse geographic areas, such as coastal regions, the Navajo Nation, and Guam.
3. Annually disseminating a series of research briefs and white papers to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations.

The research studies supported by this award will employ culturally responsive frameworks, including community-based participatory research, narrative inquiry, and indigenous research methods. The specific research aims include analyzing rural eviction patterns, evaluating the effectiveness of housing support programs, and identifying financial barriers and educational needs.

The primary awardee for this Cooperative Agreement is Winston-Salem State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in North Carolina, which has demonstrated extensive research and educational capabilities across multiple disciplines through its prior federal grant awards.

Activities

All research projects supported through the center use culturally relevant research designs. They include community-based participatory research (CBPR), narrative inquiry, and indigenous research as these three are culturally responsive research frameworks. Center partners will conduct two longitudinal studies in their respective geographic areas to contribute to national and localized policy development around rural housing. Research study 1 is entitled, explanatory rural evictions and displacement and research study 2 is entitled, correlational examination of rural housing solutions and financial literacy. Study 1 employs an explanatory mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues related to rural eviction trends. Study 2 employs a triangulation approach with qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between government programs, financial literacy and financial behaviors, and rural housing.

Expected outcomes

There are several expected results for the center's work. In study 1 expected results include (1) documentation of the frequency of formal eviction filings in rural areas, along with the outcomes of those cases; (2) examination of the variation in rural eviction filings according to social factors such as race, household income, housing type, and resource availability; (3) assessment of the effectiveness of housing resources in place to support rural populations facing eviction, such as legal aid, rental assistance, and other types of aid and (4) investigation of the cultural factors of rural communities that bear influence on evictions. In study 2 expected results include (1) investigation of the cultural and social factors that influence financial education outcomes and housing decisions in rural areas; (2) assessment of the effectiveness of government housing assistance programs in providing financial education and housing support to rural populations; (3) identification of the barriers to credit access for rural homebuyers and how financial education can address these challenges; and (4) documentation of how financial literacy can help rural residents understand and mitigate risks associated with housing markets.

Intended beneficiaries

The center anticipates four primary impacts from the research and dissemination of IT. (1) closing gaps in theoretical knowledge. The integration of diverse research frames will contribute to closing gaps in theoretical knowledge about rural housing and eviction dynamics. This enriched understanding will enhance the academic discourse and provide a robust foundation for future research in this area. To measure this impact in year 1, student research associates will complete a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of the research trends in rural housing research. This will be repeated in year 3 to determine impact. (2) generalizability of best practices. The dissemination of research findings and policy recommendations will promote the generalizability of best practices across different rural contexts. By highlighting successful strategies and interventions, this research will provide a valuable resource for communities, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to address rural housing challenges. To measure this impact during the dissemination activities, attendees and participants will be asked about the value of the resources through evaluative inquiry. This qualitative data will be used to determine general direction of future research. (3) consistent revision and improvement of actions. The ongoing process of revising and refining actions based on research findings will ensure that policies and programs remain responsive to the evolving needs of rural communities. This iterative approach will foster continuous improvement and innovation in addressing rural housing issues. To implement this process, the center will host community events to attain feedback from key stakeholders. As indicated in the measure of generalizability impact, qualitative data will be collected to inform the center's work. Over the course of the center's work, we will form an advisory committee of key stakeholders who mirror the community-based participatory research participants. (4) empowerment and capacity building. Lastly, the participatory nature of this research will empower rural residents by involving them directly in the research and policy development process. This engagement will build local capacity and foster a collaborative environment where communities and researchers work together to create sustainable solutions. To measure this impact, the advisory committee to be developed will provide insights as to whether the research outcomes and specific aims actively contribute to sense of empowerment. The advisory committee will meet via face-to-face convenings with travel support funded by the center's travel line.

Subrecipient activities

The two subrecipients for this award are guam community college and dine tribal college. This center is a collaboration between a historically black college and university (winston-salem state university), a tribal college (dine trial college), and an asian american and native american pacific islander serving institution (guam community college). Guam community college and dine tribal college are both research partners who will contribute to the approach and objectives of the research efforts by conducting localized research of the two research veins of the center.