North Carolina State University's School of Architecture, through the College of Design's Research and Extension Department, seeks to initiate, facilitate and coordinate scholarship, research and outreach services in the area of quality design for home environments. The Home Environments Design Program provides a forum for the discussion of housing design issues among academics, professionals and the public.

The Home Environments Design Initiative creates a vehicle for seeking service grants and delivering assistance to North Carolina communities and organizations in the areas of home design and construction. In seeking research grants, it also promotes the development of new knowledge, which can be applied to home environment design in both academic and professional fields. The Home Environments Design Program endeavors to enhance educational opportunities for the public, for building professionals and for university students on the subject of quality housing.