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In 1988, a long-standing and informal working collaboration among faculty members within the University of Georgia community coalesced into the entity now known as the University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center. They shared research, teaching, and service interests in the disciplines contributing to housing, including consumer economics and demography. The leadership for the formal organization of these faculty was provided by Professors Carol B. Meeks, Roger Swagler, and Anne L. Sweaney.
Through these initial efforts, The University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center was able to become one of just 13 founding members of university-based housing research centers that were formally affiliated through the The National Consortium of Housing Research Centers. Since those humble beginnings, both The University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center as well as The National Consortium of Housing Research Centers have grown and prospered.
In 1996, the University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center was officially recognized and approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Professor Anne L. Sweaney became the Center's Founding Director and continues to serve as Director of the unit. The Center is organizationally situated at and reports through the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics within the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at The University of Georgia.
Historically, the Center has maintained a focus on housing consumers and the policies that affect them. In recent years, while this focus area has been maintained, the mission of the Center has expanded in recognition of the multifaceted nature of the housing market and the broad array of disciplines that have the potential to speak to and inform the various constituencies involved in housing.
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History
