Joseph L. Wysocki

Housing Education and Research Association: Our 40th Anniversary

Abstract This article outlined the creation and continuing development of the Housing Education and Research Association as the association celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006. The legacy of the Housing Education and Research Association was highlighted by focusing on people, places, programs/issues/ topics, and products. For the future, developing partnerships and being proactive were identified as crucial for the success of the Housing Education and Research Association.

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes: A Successful Partnership

Abstract Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes is a collaborative interagency effort with the goal of delivering basic but comprehensive indoor air quality information to consumers and built environment professionals. Funding has been provided from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. The development and implementation of the program was outlined in this article, beginning with an initial project team and emerging as a nationwide program. Outreach outcomes were numerous, positively impacting thousands of consumers. Research initiatives were also described, including the development of two demonstration houses. The program celebrated its tenth year during the 2005 conference of the Housing Education and Research Association. Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes can be considered as a successful partnership with bright prospects for the future.

Commentary: University Consortium Identifies Research Issues

The National Center for Housing and the Environment (NCHE) in partnership and with financial support from the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) established a consortium of university faculty to generate research priorities on natural resource and environmental issues that intersect with housing. Distinguished faculty from across the county were invited to convene at Virginia Techs Old Town Alexandria campus on November 5 and 6, 200S, for the first meeting of the University Consortium. Dr. Colien Hefferan, Administrator of CSREES, welcomed the participants and stated that she was pleased to be able to support the work being undertaken by the University Consortium and looked forward to the proceedings. Dr. Hefferans remarks were followed by the presentations of three white papers that were written and sent to participants prior to the meeting, and then discussed at the meeting. Following their presentations, the authors of the white papers moderated brainstorming sessions around the themes outlined in the papers: • Rural-Urban Issues and Research Needs by Dr. Lawrence W. Libby, C. William Swank Professor ofRural-Urban Policy, The Ohio State University • Housing and Habitat: A Review of the Literature by Dr. David Sunding, College ofNatural Resources, University of California, Berkeley • Smart Growth Primer by Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, Professor and Director of Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech -Alexandria Center

An Education Note: The Development of the Content of Housing Education: An Examination of Selected College Texts, 1956–1983

AbstractThis study determines if a consensus is developing concerning the content of housing education at the college level and identifies changes in this content. Ten college-level housing texts published over a period of four decades are examined and their contents classified into six categories and 38 subtopics. The researchers found that there is variation among the texts in the topics included and in the length of coverage given. While the topics are covered in all the books, only limited evidence is found for developing a consensus about subtopics. Furthermore, it appears that the content of housing textbooks is somewhat responsive to economic and social changes during this period.

Demand for Home Ownership in Regions of the United States

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to test the relationship of demographic variables to housing tenure (i.e., home owner vs. renter) with 1984 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, taking regional differences into account. The results differ significantly from one region to another, indicating that a single, aggregate-demand function for home ownership in the United States as a whole may be misleading if one is concerned with a particular region.

A Program Note on: Building New Audiences: From the Ground up

Abstract“From the Ground Up: A Seminar for Home Builders” is an Illinois program planned to improve the quality of new homes by increasing builders’ knowledge regarding current trends and changes in home construction. An indirect benefit of special importance to Extension professionals is that of reaching an audience relatively new to Extension programs. The purpose of this paper is to share some of the program efforts and to encourage other states to adopt similar programs with the hope of improving new housing and building new audiences.

An Education Note on: The Future of Housing Education: A Concern

AbstractHousing programs, at undergraduate and graduate levels, have fallen far behind other areas of home economics In terms of the number of degrees granted. The result is that there is an Inadequate supply of housing professionals at a time when the need is critical. This paper outlines some steps that could be taken to improve the situation.