Kimberly Skobba

Education

Research

My research focuses on two distinct areas 1) the housing needs of low-income households and 2) the relationship between community development and social capital in rural and small towns. Through the use of a qualitative, biographical method, I study the connection between housing pathways and life circumstances of low-income households. My research on housing instability among low-income households has advanced the understanding of the different strategies that families use to maintain shelter and the ways in which personal characteristics and life course events affect their ability to find and maintain housing. My second area of research examines the housing and community development experiences and the role of social capital in community development capacity of rural and small towns. My research in this area uses surveys, qualitative data collection and case studies to better understand the housing and community development challenges and potential solutions facing rural and small town communities in the Southeastern region of the United States.

Teaching

FHCE 3300: Housing in Contemporary Society FHCE 4320: Residential Property Management Law FHCE 5310: Management of Nonprofit and Government Housing FHCE 4340S: Housing and Community Development

Awards

Areas of Expertise

Housing insecurity and residential instability among low-income households, use of biographical research methods to study housing pathways, housing and community development

Journal Articles

Odeyemi, E. & Skobba, K. (2020). Who is at the table? Civic engagement in small town housing decision-making. Local Government Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2020.1864334

Shannon, J., Skobba, K., Durham, J. and Polak, C. (2020). “Really Knowing” the community: Citizen science, VGI, and community housing assessments. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X20976807

Skobba, K., Osinubi, A., & Tinsley, K. (2019). What about rural blight? Housing and neighborhood conditions in Southeastern small towns. Rural Sociology, DOI: 10.1111/ruso.12269

Skobba, K., Meyers, D. & Tiller, L. (2018). Getting by and getting ahead: Social capital and transition to college among homeless and foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 94, 198-206.

Skobba, K., & Tinsley, K. (2016) Addressing housing and neighborhood revitalization needs in Georgia’s rural and small towns: A study of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Community Development, 47(4) 449-463.

Skobba, K., & Bruin, M. J. (2016). Understanding public housing stereotypes and building intercultural competence through service-learning intercultural competence through service learning with public housing residents. Family Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 44(4) 345-359.

Skobba, K. (2016). Exploring the housing pathways of low-income women: A biographical approach. Housing, Theory & Society, 33(1) 41-58.

Skobba, K., Young, S. and Scott, K. R. (2015) This is what I call home. Housing & Society, 42(1), 69-84

Skobba, K., & Goetz, E. G. (2015). Doubling up and the erosion of social capital among very low income households. International Journal of Housing Policy, 15(2), 127-147.

Skobba, K. (2015). Exploring the Housing Pathways of Low-Income Women: A Biographical Approach. Housing, Theory and Society, 1-18. doi:10.1080/14036096.2015.1059356

Skobba, K., & Goetz, E. G. (2015). Doubling up and the erosion of social capital among very low income households. International Journal of Housing Policy, 15(2), 127-147. doi:10.1080/14616718.2014.961753

Skobba, K., Scott, K. -W., & Young, S. (2015). “This is what I call home”: reflections of public housing residents awaiting relocation. Housing and Society, 42(1), 69-84. doi:10.1080/08882746.2015.1020711

Skobba, K. & Bruin, M.J. and Yust, B.L. (2013) Beyond rental housing and homeownership: The housing accommodations of low-income families. Journal of Poverty, 17, 2, 234-252. Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10875549.2013.775992#.U7FLSU1OWUk

Skobba, K. and Goetz, E.G. (2013) Mobility decisions of very low-income households. Cityscape, 15 (2) 155-172. Link: http://www.huduser.org/portal/periodicals/cityscpe/vol15num2/article11.html

Skobba, K., Bruin, M.J. & Carswell, A.T. (2014) Housing careers of families with Housing Choice Vouchers: Interpretation with the Housing Adjustment Theory, Housing & Society, 40, (2) 170-193.

Skobba, K. & Carswell, A.T. (2014). Community Land Trust homeowners: Past and present housing experiences. Family & Consumer Science Research Journal, 43 (1). http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/fcsr.12077/abstract

Skobba, K. & Goetz, E. Doubling up and the erosion of social capital among very low income households. International Journal of Housing Policy, in press

Skobba, K., Oakley, D. A. Privatizing the housing safety net: Neoliberalism and the transformation of public housing in the U.S. Routledge Handbook on Poverty in the United States (in press)

Working Papers

Skobba, K (2013) Understanding homeownership disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Study prepared for Minnesota Homeownership Center and Wells Fargo.

Goetz, E.G., Skobba, K. & Yuen, C. (2010). The impact of subsidized housing on very low-income families. Study prepared for The McKnight Foundation.

Henry-Blythe, S. & Skobba, K. (2008). Infant toddler discovery project: A community-driven research model. Study commissioned by the Family Housing Fund.

Skobba, K. & Rosenberg. L. (2008). Manufactured housing in Minnesota: Overview and policy challenges. Study prepared for the Minnesota Housing Partnership, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Halbach, C., Skobba, K. & Rosenberg, L. (2008). Building public will: Research and analysis. Study commissioned by The McKnight Foundation.