Return to Current Issue Partnering with Local Employers to Meet Housing Needs

Abstract: Low- and moderate-wage earners in Georgia have difficulty finding quality, affordable housing. This article describes one way to help the workforce improve their housing situation. Working with an employer to survey a representative sample of their new employees, University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center researchers collected primary data regarding housing needs and preferences. The survey methodology and logistics are described in detail, and a descriptive summary of the data is included. Survey findings reveal valuable information about housing capacity and desire, and can be used to plan effective, educational programs designed to help workers obtain housing. Introduction and Background Low- and moderate-wage earners in Georgia have difficulty finding quality, affordable housing. On average, working families in metropolitan Atlanta spend nearly two-thirds of their income on housing and transportation combined, well above the national average of 50 % (Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, 2004). In rural Georgia, housing choice is very limited, and a significant proportion of Georgia'