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Home & Family: Welfare Reform

HOUSING AND RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS

Extension housing and related environmental programs help individuals and families develop skills and gain information in securing adequate affordable housing. The programs teach individuals and families what to look for in selecting safe housing, how to secure such housing, and how to maintain housing.

For families to continue down the path to self-sufficiency, they need to develop a secure environment in which to maintain their family structure. Extension housing programs which focus on securing an adequate environment in which to live provide a base from which families will move from dependency on existing resources to their own self-sufficiency.

The programming which the Cooperative Extension System has based its premise on is to start with individuals and families at whatever their present point in the life cycle and help them understand the choices which are available to them and their dependents.

The Cooperative Extension System has taught families how to select and manage their living environments for more than eighty years. Traditionally, this outreach has been directly with families where they live and work. Today, however, Extension educational outreach includes training volunteers, paraprofessionals, and agency personnel to work with families in learning to more effectively manage their resources. This train-the trainer approach, along with quality educational materials, is a valuable asset in reaching families with the housing information they need.

PROGRAMS THAT WORK

The success of Extension in helping families move toward independence is a result of quality educational materials, effective outreach efforts, and a committed staff. Extension home economists provide housing education programming in all 82 counties, bringing the research and expertise of housing and related educational specialists at Mississippi State University and Alcorn State University to all areas of the state. The following programs have proven effective in helping limited-resource families achieve safe adequate housing.

The Home Buymanship Program, having already reached more than 4500 limited-resource families, can be implemented as a group learning approach or as a one-on-one educational experience. The five lesson series includes lesson plans, participant handouts, and a participant certificate of completion. Lesson topics include:

• The Housing Choices Available -- selection of safe affordable housing
• Determining Whether To Rent or To Buy -- understanding the options
• Selecting a Location or Community -- considerations which must be evaluated
• Selecting they Type of Housing -- manufactured vs. conventional
• What options are Available For Financing -- comparisons of loan programs available to limited resource families
• Determining the Ability to Repay A Loan -- sources of income versus the way you presently spend your income
• Additional Costs Which May Be Incurred

The Housing Care and Maintenance program incorporates the basic household care and cleaning aspects of safe and adequate housing. Lessons also include general maintenance topics to protect the investment in housing. Lesson topics include:

• House Cleaning -- Walls, Ceilings and Woodwork
• Care and Use of Your Household Appliances
• Cleaning the Bathroom
• Cleaning Floors
• Repair and Maintenance

The Environmental Program emphasizes the importance of the near environment and the impact of the individual/family. Lesson topics include:

• Drinking Water Safety
• Safe Disposal of Household Waste
• Safe Storage and Care of Hazardous Household Products
• Indoor Air Quality -- emphasis on secondhand smoke, asbestos, carbon-monoxide, etc.
• Moisture Control in the Home -- emphasis on mold and mildew issues
• Energy Efficient Housing
• Home Safe Home
• Home Fire Safety
• Home Security

CONTACT:

Frances C. Graham, Ed.D. Extension Housing Specialist francesg@humansci.msstate.edu Box 9745 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9745 Phone: 662-325-3082 Fax: 662-325-1805