Where and how we build housing is directly tied to land and resource consumption. That’s why Georgia Conservancy is approaching our state’s housing challenges through the lens of land and water conservation.
Through a new housing study for the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia Conservancy is helping local leaders better understand housing needs and development and conservation opportunities.
In July, Georgia Conservancy hosted a community symposium in Waycross to connect with residents, decision-makers, and local partners to discuss their concerns and their hopes for the future. While presenting our findings to more than 50 attendees, we gathered important feedback, answered questions, and gained a better understanding of the community’s wants and needs.
“Georgia Conservancy provided an honest and detailed housing study and needs assessment for our community,” says Jason Rubenbauer, CEO of Waycross-Ware County Development Authority. “This information is critical for the many housing challenges that rural communities face. The data and facts presented allow our local governments to collaborate to address the needs, which will help promote stronger economic activity for a brighter future in a globally competitive landscape.”
The timing of the housing study is critical: throughout both Ware County and the City of Waycross, a shortage of available, quality homes is an increasingly urgent issue. Data suggests that 1 in 5 homes in the county, and 1 in 4 in the city, are vacant – meaning these homes are sitting empty during a time of soaring housing costs for homeowners and renters alike. In addition to a shortage of available homes, residents have diverse and evolving needs, including workforce housing and options for seniors and young professionals. Georgia Conservancy’s role is to address these needs through practical, context-sensitive strategies.
“This housing study is significant as it seeks to address housing challenges in a different context than our team has worked in before,” says Michaela Master, Georgia Conservancy Community Planning Lead. “According to recent studies, roughly 100 of Georgia’s 159 counties are declining in population. Ware County’s population is projected to be relatively stable in the coming decades; however, Waycross’s has been steadily declining. And yet, home costs are still skyrocketing in the area.”
Ware County also includes portions of the beloved Okefenokee Swamp, one of Georgia’s most treasured natural landscapes. The Okefenokee recently received UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, and national and international attention is increasing, with the potential to boost tourism and draw visitors eager to experience its unique beauty.
While nature-based tourism offers meaningful economic opportunities, it also highlights the need for proactive planning. A growing visitor economy can create jobs in hospitality and recreation, and those workers need attainable, quality housing. Thoughtful housing development can strengthen both local communities and the natural landscapes that define them.
“Low-intensity residential development is the #1 driver of land use change in the state of Georgia,” adds Master. “Georgia Conservancy’s response to this challenge is to develop a local housing strategy that emphasizes attainable housing as well as stewarding land as a precious, limited resource. Though this is urgently needed in Waycross, the lessons learned will bolster Georgia Conservancy’s work statewide.”
The Waycross and Ware County Housing Study follows Georgia Conservancy’s recently completed housing assessment for the City of Cornelia in northeast Georgia’s Habersham County. It is one of thirteen community housing studies that we’ve facilitated across Georgia.
Click here to read the final report for the Waycross and Ware County Housing Study.