Kimberly Skobba
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Associate Professor
104 Housing and Consumer Research Center (House C)
415 Sanford Dr.
Athens, GA 30602
Education
Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
---|---|---|---|
Ph.D. | Design, Housing and Apparel – Housing Studies emphasis | University of Minnesota | 2008 |
M.A. | Design, Housing and Apparel | University of Minnesota | 2002 |
B.A. | Communications | Augsburg College | 1997 |
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
Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
---|---|---|
Service Learning Research Excellence Award | University of Georgia | 2016 |
Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching | University of Georgia | 2016 |
Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Teacher of the Year | FACS College | 2016 |
Lily Teaching Fellow | University of Georgia | 2014-16 |
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.