In a groundbreaking move that could reshape affordable housing solutions in Metro Nashville, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Tennessee State University a $1 million grant. This funding will establish the Center of Excellence – Urban and Community Research Center to address critical housing issues exacerbated by gentrification in the area.
The grant was officially announced during a housing roundtable hosted by TSU, which brought together representatives from Nashville’s HBCUs. The check presentation occurred in the presence of Interim Provost Dr. Robbie Melton, highlighting TSU’s role as a leader in urban studies and community research.
Dr. Rafael Harun, the principal investigator for the grant, explained the center’s mission. “Our research will examine the impacts of gentrification-induced displacement on families and communities in the Greater Nashville Region, focusing on trends and patterns of residential mobility, housing challenges, and the effectiveness of HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program in the meeting the housing needs of vulnerable populations in the region,” Dr. Harun said.
Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the UCRC aims to generate actionable insights to enhance access to affordable housing and mitigate the adverse effects of displacement, promoting equitable development in urban settings.
Leading the Way to Solutions
“The HUD grant is the largest received by the Urban Studies Faculty and is the largest grant ever received by the College of Public Service,” stated Dr. Rodney E. Stanley, interim dean of the college. “This is the first Center of Excellence in the College of Public Service. In turn, it will serve as an outstanding opportunity for students to work alongside faculty members in research on important public policy issues facing our urban communities.”
Co-principal investigators include Dr. Kimberly Triplett, Dr. Cara Robinson, and Dr. Shui Bin. Dr. Harun will serve as the center’s director.
Dr. Robinson also chairs the Department of Social Work and Urban Studies. She emphasized the program’s objective to influence local policy through rigorous research and analysis. “The project will take a quantitative and qualitative analysis of those trends and patterns and provide policy solutions for addressing the needs of those individuals and families,” she noted.
TSU is one of only two HBCUs selected to receive this prestigious funding. It aims to produce research that addresses strategic housing challenges for HUD.
“Universities are anchors in their respective communities; they serve as economic drivers and thought leaders,” said Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “To build the knowledge and insights we need to drive housing policy, there’s no better place to look to than our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
With this new initiative, Tennessee State University is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping housing policy and fostering sustainable community development in Nashville and beyond.
