Service Learning and Habitat for Humanity: The Downtown Statesboro, GA Redevelopment Project

Presentation Format

Poster

Intended Audience

All Audiences

Program Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to present the results of a needs and assets assessment conducted in partnership with Statesboro GA's Habitat for Humanity. Students in masters classes conducted 31 brief intercept interviews with residents at the local Farmers Market and local soup kitchen. Results suggested we reached the target audience. Needs and assets were identified. Results suggested a need for more low cost restaurants and shops in the area. A door to door survey will be conducted this fall. Results will be reported in the poster.

Presentation Description

The Downtown Statesboro Development Authorities wants to revitalize the area. To initiate the revitalization efforts a community health assessment was carried out in fall 2014 by Dr. Moya Alfonso and students in her graduate level Community Health Assessment Course at Jiann-Ping-Hsu College of Public Health. The Assessment is planned to be carried out in phases and this report summarizes that first phase of the assessment, which includes secondary data analysis and brief intercept surveys with the community members located in the downtown soup kitchen and farmers market.

Secondary analysis illustrated demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the individuals residing in Statesboro. Statesboro is a town with diverse statistics; with 57% population identifying themselves as White and 40.6% identifying themselves as Black/African-American with most between the ages of 15 to 34 years (United States Census Bureau, 2014a). However the unemployment rate is low; 27.7% of the income earners earn less than $10,000 a year (United States Census Bureau, 2014a). Additionally, the intercept surveys conducted with the individuals residing near the downtown area laid out statistics specific to the individuals residing near the downtown area.

All the participants resided in the downtown area a minimum of six months and were between ages 18 to 65 years of age. Most of the participants were never married and resided in rental homes. More than half of the participants were African-American and most of them earned less than $10,000 a year. Most of the participants who earned less than $10,000 a year reported higher levels of waking compared to those making more than $10,000 per year. Moreover, 45% of the participants did not drive, which may be due to low levels of income.

Most of the participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with community resources. Very few individuals indicated low levels of satisfaction. Participants were also asked about the reason of moving to the neighborhood: most of the participants said that they moved to the area because it was convenient and peaceful. In addition to this, most of the participants asserted that they are fond of the shops and restaurants in the area. The participants were also asked about suggestions to improve the neighborhood.

Participants made recommendations suggesting to add more shops and restaurants in the area. Many participants also suggested that more sidewalks would make neighborhood more walkable. The information collected from secondary data analysis and intercept interviews will be used to initiate redevelopment efforts in Statesboro downtown. The recommendations of the community members would help downtown development authorities to focus on the areas that members feel needs most attention.

As mentioned above, this assessment is planned to be conducted in phases, the second phase of the assessment will include approximately 75 to 100 door-to-door surveys to be conducted in November 2015.

Location

Embassy Suites Hotel

Start Date

4-13-2016 5:00 PM

End Date

4-13-2016 7:00 PM

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Apr 13th, 5:00 PM Apr 13th, 7:00 PM

Service Learning and Habitat for Humanity: The Downtown Statesboro, GA Redevelopment Project

Embassy Suites Hotel

The Downtown Statesboro Development Authorities wants to revitalize the area. To initiate the revitalization efforts a community health assessment was carried out in fall 2014 by Dr. Moya Alfonso and students in her graduate level Community Health Assessment Course at Jiann-Ping-Hsu College of Public Health. The Assessment is planned to be carried out in phases and this report summarizes that first phase of the assessment, which includes secondary data analysis and brief intercept surveys with the community members located in the downtown soup kitchen and farmers market.

Secondary analysis illustrated demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the individuals residing in Statesboro. Statesboro is a town with diverse statistics; with 57% population identifying themselves as White and 40.6% identifying themselves as Black/African-American with most between the ages of 15 to 34 years (United States Census Bureau, 2014a). However the unemployment rate is low; 27.7% of the income earners earn less than $10,000 a year (United States Census Bureau, 2014a). Additionally, the intercept surveys conducted with the individuals residing near the downtown area laid out statistics specific to the individuals residing near the downtown area.

All the participants resided in the downtown area a minimum of six months and were between ages 18 to 65 years of age. Most of the participants were never married and resided in rental homes. More than half of the participants were African-American and most of them earned less than $10,000 a year. Most of the participants who earned less than $10,000 a year reported higher levels of waking compared to those making more than $10,000 per year. Moreover, 45% of the participants did not drive, which may be due to low levels of income.

Most of the participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with community resources. Very few individuals indicated low levels of satisfaction. Participants were also asked about the reason of moving to the neighborhood: most of the participants said that they moved to the area because it was convenient and peaceful. In addition to this, most of the participants asserted that they are fond of the shops and restaurants in the area. The participants were also asked about suggestions to improve the neighborhood.

Participants made recommendations suggesting to add more shops and restaurants in the area. Many participants also suggested that more sidewalks would make neighborhood more walkable. The information collected from secondary data analysis and intercept interviews will be used to initiate redevelopment efforts in Statesboro downtown. The recommendations of the community members would help downtown development authorities to focus on the areas that members feel needs most attention.

As mentioned above, this assessment is planned to be conducted in phases, the second phase of the assessment will include approximately 75 to 100 door-to-door surveys to be conducted in November 2015.