UGA Department of Housing and Consumer Economics Presentation To Athens Rotary

UGA Department of Housing and Consumer Economics Presentation To Athens Rotary

• 1.
  HOUSING AND CONSUMER ECONOMICS Presentationby Dr. Andy Carswell Before the Athens Rotary Club April 21, 2010
• 2.
  SOME OF THETHINGS THAT WE DO • • • • Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Money Skills for Life Collaborative Couples and Financial Therapy Project • UGA GreenWay Project • Residential Property Management
• 3.
  VOLUNTARY INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE(VITA) • Service learning project offered through FFP • IRS-assisted project • Benefits low- to moderate-income populations throughout Athens • Backed by several corporate sponsors • Provides an opportunity to introduce the broader concept of financial education
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  GROWTH OF VITA • • • • 2007 133 returns/31 students/558 hours 2008  260 returns/73 students/1,314 hours 2009  406 returns/78 students/1,650 hours 2010  450 returns (est.)
• 5.
  STUDENT OUTCOME BENEFITS TOVITA • • • • Expanded skill base Improved understanding of classroom content Increased student motivation Enhanced appreciation for university based outreach • Increased charitable giving • Higher probability of joining Rotary (?)
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  • Addresses housingneeds in some of the smaller to mid-size communities throughout the state • Provides workforce housing and long-term housing solutions • Unique collaboration of government officials with housing professionals • HACE officials help provide technical housing assistance and needs assessment
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  MONEY SKILLS FORLIFE • Review of practical money skills for college students • Specialized topics include such things as:  how to save  how to pick an insurance policy  how to read/interpret credit reports and scores  employee benefits/health
• 8.
  COLLABORATIVE COUPLES AND FINANCIALTHERAPY • Combines financial and couples counseling to more effectively assist couples experiencing both financial and relationship strain • Involved 12 couples in poverty-like situations • Required attendance and participation in five-session intervention model • Both a couples therapist and financial counselor were present • Graduate students part of the training
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  • • • • Cooperative Extension driveninitiative Tips on resource conservation and recycling Provides info on sustainable living practices Warns against the dangers of “greenwashing”
• 10.
  EMPHASIS IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT •Became a reality in 2005 • Currently about 20-25 students with designation • Attracting big recruiters for employment despite market conditions • Challenges in finding research opportunities
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  THANK YOU FORYOUR TIME!