HUD Innovation in Affordable Housing
The Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition is an exciting initiative from HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). Now celebrating its tenth year, the competition invites teams of graduate students from multiple disciplines to submit plans in response to a real life affordable housing design issue.
After the submission of initial applications, a jury of five industry subject matter experts will select four student team finalists. These finalists will visit the site of the affordable housing design and planning project they are addressing, and further refine their applications.
Several weeks after the site visit, all jurors and finalists will travel to Washington, D.C. for the final competition event at HUD Headquarters. At this event, finalist teams will present their revised project solutions in front of the jury and an audience. Following the presentations, the jury will deliberate and select the winners and runners-up. The winning team will receive $20,000, the runner-up team will receive $10,000, and the remaining two teams will receive $5,000 each. If pandemic conditions are unsafe for travel, a virtual site visit and final competition event will be held.