Grants Help Colleges and Universities Build Communities

HUD's Office of University Partnerships announces the 1999 application round for three programs designed to help colleges and universities expand their community building role in local communities: Community Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC); Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU); and a new program, Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities (HSIAC).

HBCUs have used HUD grants since 1991 to fund a variety of activities, including housing rehabilitation, community center development, small business enhancement, job creation, and training. Since 1994, COPCs have used HUD grants to fund a variety of applied research and outreach activities to help address local housing, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization needs. Under the new HSIAC program, Hispanic-Serving Institutions will undertake activities similar to those funded under the HBCU program.

The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announced the availability of approximately $7.5 million to help colleges and universities create or expand existing community outreach partnership centers, $9 million to assist HBCUs, and $5.65 million to help HSIACs expand their role and effectiveness in addressing community development needs. Applications are due June 9, 1999.

Applicants eligible for two of the programs will find the process easier this year. HUD provides them with the option to create completely separate applications for each program or use portions of the COPC application to fulfill certain requirements of the HBCU or HSIAC application.

To obtain an application kit, go to the Office of University Partnership's Web site. Or call HUD USER at (800) 245-2691.

The Native American Indian Housing Council, under a cooperative agreement funded by HUD, recently relased two reports that may be of interest to RRR readers: An Examination of the Role of Nonprofits in Tribal Communities presents an overview of six tribal nonprofit organizations, focusing on how their organizational and programmatic structures affect their involvement in housing. The Impact of Welfare Reform on Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) analyzes the impact of welfare reform on TDHEs. It also offers several recommendations on how THDEs may help welfare families meet welfare reform's work requirements. For a hard copy of each report ($3 each), call LeeAnna Arrowchis at 1-800-284-9165. The council will soon offer free copies of three reports on its Web site.

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In the January/February Issue of FieldWorks... Denver partnership wins HUD historic preservation award Housing counseling is different in rural areas Catholic Charities helps San Jose banks with CRA program Small business lending NYC Asian housing agency also serves hispanics To order copies, use the Order form