Dwain Walden
December 04, 2006 11:05 pm
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MOULTRIE — For some people, the idea of buying a home doesn’t get a lot of consideration. It’s something embraced by other people who understand the intricacies of financing, taxes, closing costs, mortgages rates, salary capabilities, etc. Thus, the concept of “home buyer education” enters the picture.
This past week, the Colquitt County Extension Service, in conjunction with the local Archways project, held a “housing fair” at the Sanderson Farms poultry processing plant. And some 347 employees took their break time to hear from a wide range of facilitators including bankers, realtors and credit counselors on the subject of home ownership.
“The room we set up for this project stayed full all day,” said Debbie Purvis, Extension specialist.
Dennis Epps, coordinator of Archways, said the effort was remarkable and said some of those participants simply had no idea of how to go about owning a home.
“Many of them aren’t even banked,” he said.
Archways is a University of Georgia pilot project which helps coordinate community efforts for economic, social and environmental improvements. It brings together community leaders so that ideas, energies and perspectives can be combined into workable projects.
Purvis said the demographic breakdown of those seeking information was mostly African American with fewer Hispanics and whites.
It was noted that one of the problems facing hourly wage earners in Colquitt County is finding housing in a price range they can afford. Numerous subdivisions are under way in the community, but the houses being constructed are out of the price range of many wage earners.
And the increased costs of construction has significantly driven up the costs of smaller square-footage houses. Epps said what is needed for many of these employees are homes in the $60,000 to $80,000 range.
Epps and Purvis said a more intensive “home buyer education” seminar might be warranted to further examine the possibilities of home ownership here.
During the past year, the Archways project has looked at numerous issues with the Extension Service having also conducted a “poverty simulation.” In that simulation, community leaders got a better look at what some families face day-to-day in their efforts to survive.
Another idea that may be considered is bringing pharmacies into roundtable discussions with industry leaders on the growing problem of providing health coverage to their workers.
Epps said in many instances each year, premiums go up, coverage declines and the pressure worsens on both employees and employers.
Also, the Extension Service may complement the Archways concept with a countywide mapping that would project what the community will look like in the future in regards to subdivisions, transportation, industry and agriculture.
The Archways project, just over a year old, is now under review by the University of Georgia to determine if it will be continued here and if the concept may be broadened into other counties. Archways provides the expertise and resources of UGA and other colleges and agencies to local projects. It requires local funds participation as well. Moultrie City Council, Colquitt County Board of Commissioner and the Colquitt County Hospital Authority put in a combined $30,000 in this initial phase.
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