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71 71 71 INVESTMENT GOVERNMENT PROPERTY PRESERVATION Journal Follow Us At: @DSNewsDaily conditions to pursue egregious rent increases. ese announcements recognize there are re- sponsible housing providers—large and small, national and local—willing to treat renters fairly, but it also holds accountable those who exploit market realities at the cost of renters' housing access and stability. After the announcement, the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) released a statement on the news: "e NMHC has worked in good faith with the Administration on its Resident-Cen- tered Housing Challenge and is pleased to join that challenge. While they have rejected calls for failed policies such as national rent control, we are disappointed they are pursuing potentially duplicative and onerous regula- tions that are already appropriately addressed under state and local law. ese efforts will do nothing to address the nation's housing shortage and could discourage much-needed investments in housing. We continue to urge the Administration to prioritize enacting the Housing Supply Action Plan they issued in May. e best renter protection is an abun- dant supply of housing." MBA's President and CEO Bob Broek- smit, CMB, released the following statement on the Biden Administration's action items announcement today on rental tenant protec- tions and affordability: "MBA shares the Biden administration's commitment to fair and equitable rental housing opportunity and appreciates its will- ingness to work with us and other industry stakeholders to help tenants. "We echo the Administration's concern on the inflationary pressures and persistent afford- ability challenges that are impacting house- holds throughout the country, especially renters and those with low and moderate incomes. "Increasing the supply of affordable rental housing is the best way to solve the ongoing affordability crisis, and MBA is committed to working with the Administration, Congress, and other policymakers on safe and sound policies at the federal and state level that encourages development and keep financing and construction costs in check. "We will examine the Administration's actions in greater detail and participate in a constructive and collaborative approach to help tenants and increase safe and affordable multifamily housing. HUD INVESTS $5.5 MILLION IN HISPANIC- SERVING INSTITUTIONS e U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will make available $5.5 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to establish research Centers of Excel- lence (COEs) to conduct housing and commu- nity development research. is funding opportunity will help strengthen capacity and invest in innovative and actionable research to address issues regarding housing, economic development, and the built environment for underserved communities. "Hispanic institutions of higher learning often serve as leaders within their communities, driving priorities and economic development," said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. "At HUD, we are proud to partner with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to continue to develop strong communities, build affordable housing, create job opportunities, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote homeownership. e funding availability we've announced today will strengthen efforts for these institutions to expand opportunities for underserved com- munities and promote equitable community development." e grants will be used to provide HSIs with funding to research topics specified in HUD's 2022–2026 Learning Agenda. Some example topics include: • Equity in the rental and housing markets • Tenant protections • Connecting underserved communities to economic opportunities • Quality education • Disaster resiliency and recovery • Affordable transportation • Healthcare • Essential services, and many other subjects that could spur innovative thinking to the many issues surrounding equitable housing and community development "HSIs across the country already serve as opportunity accelerators for students and anchors for their communities," said Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research. "ese grants can help build their ca- pacity to research and address some of the most pressing housing and community development issues in the communities surrounding HSIs. e research and evidence-based insights they develop will also be valuable to federal, state, and local governments, as we work together to address our nation's housing and community development challenges." is investment builds on $10.10 million made available in FY21 and FY22 to Historical- ly Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to establish or bolster existing Centers of Excel- lence (COE) that conduct housing and commu- nity development research at their institutions. rough academic programs, research projects, and thought leadership, the COE will help lead- ers across all levels of government as well as the business and civic sectors address critical issues that impact the social and economic well-being of the families and individuals who reside in underserved urban and rural communities.