About Us Specialty Areas

 

1. Analysis of Consumer Issues Related to Housing

A primary specialty area of research, training, and outreach strength are any consumer issues that pertain to housing. For example, the Center has been involved with housing counseling, homeowners insurance, manufactured housing, home ownership, and housing for seniors. The Center is well prepared to conduct statewide needs assessments to determine current and future housing and related needs of Georgia consumers.

2. Georgia Housing and Population Data Analysis

The Center is a repository of statewide housing and population data that are of value to state and local officials, nonprofit housing agencies, and the private market. The Federal Reserve System has designated the Center as the depository for Homeownership Disclosure Data for the Athens-Clarke County area. As a result, another primary specialty area is the generation of tailor-made analyses and reports for a broad range of consumers. For example, on an annual basis the Center, in cooperation with the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, develops the Georgia County Guide, which provides economic and demographic facts for Georgia's 159 counties. The Center maintains a website to disseminate demographic data for each of Georgia's 159 counties, called "Georgia Facts And Figures." The Center is well prepared to conduct housing and population data analyses and prepare reports and publications on a contract basis for a broad range of consumers in the government, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

3. Housing Policy Research

The Center regularly conducts housing policy research and supports related efforts of public and private sectors at local, state and federal levels. As a result, another primary specialty area is the provision of research, training, and outreach on housing policy to a broad audience of consumers. For example, Center-affiliated faculty provide expert testimony on pending legislation, and have been involved in drafting and commenting on legislation related to manufactured housing. The Center is well prepared to conduct housing policy research on a contract or grant basis for a broad range of consumers in the government, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

4. Applied and Continuing Education/Training

The Center is involved in developing and providing a broad range of housing-related curricula targeted to a wide spectrum of audiences. For example, faculty and personnel affiliated with the Center developed a housing counseling curriculum that was the basis for a national housing counselor certification program. The Center served as a clearinghouse for scoring the exams that were given to those seeking certification. The Center is well prepared to develop and offer education and training programs on a contract or grant basis for a broad range of audiences in the government, private, and not-for-profit sectors.