2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Mississippi
Best Practice: City of Jackson, Fair Housing Ordinance
Jackson, MS Writes New Fair Housing Ordinance
in Partnership with HUD
Jackson.
Jackson is striving to become the first municipality in Mississippi to enact
a Fair Housing ordinance using the federal statute as its guide. The proposed
ordinance provides for execution of the policies in Title VIII of the Federal
Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act
of 1988. It secures for all persons within the city freedom from discrimination
because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial
status in housing-related real estate transactions. The city worked with
the Mississippi U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office
to develop a draft ordinance. Following its review by HUDs Office
of General Counsel, the citizens of Jackson will vote on the ordinance.
HUD will serve as a "financial partner" to initially fund enforcement
of the ordinance and will support the investigation and monitoring of fair
housing complaints.
Contact: Darla Y. Palmer, Phone: (601) 960-1799
Tracking Number: 1643
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
Best Practice: Housing Opportunities for Mississippians
Enhanced (H.O.M.E.)
Program Links Low-Income Families and HUD
Foreclosed Homes
Jackson.
The Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VI in Jackson, Mississippi,
provides a comprehensive homeownership program to qualified families called
the H.O.M.E. program. The housing authority uses its Section 8 Administrative
Fee reserves to purchase single family houses from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) foreclosure inventory, and makes
them available for purchase by qualified low-income persons who successfully
complete the housing authority's Family Self-Sufficiency Program. The program
provides affordable standard housing for a critical segment of the population
in the Jackson and Tchula, Mississippi, areas, as well as homeownership
opportunities to families who may never have had the ability to own their
own home. At the same time, the program reduces HUD's foreclosed inventory.
To date, the housing authority has sold nine homes in Hinds County and two
in Holmes County. The housing authority finances the mortgage for 20 years
at a ½ percent interest with a nominal downpayment. The selling price
is based on the purchase and renovation cost by the authority, less depreciation.
An escrow payment is included for taxes, insurance, and repairs and/or replacements
to major housing components.
Contact: Sharon Wilson, Phone: (601) 373-7040
Tracking Number: 282
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Mississippi Home of Your Own:
A Program for Disability Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi
University-Funded Program Helps Persons
with Disabilities Move Towards Homeownership
Hattiesburg.
Home of Your Own, a program of The Institute for Disability Studies: Mississippi's
University Affiliated Program, helps residents with disabilities realize
the dream of homeownership. In 1997, the institute was awarded a grant from
the University of New Hampshire to establish a Home of Your Own coalition
of housing agencies, organizations focusing on the disabled, lending institutions
and consumers to address the housing needs of people with disabilities in
Mississippi. Home of Your Own uses a holistic and collaborative homebuyer
counseling process. Through proven relationships with coalition members,
disability service providers, housing organizations, lenders and project
volunteers, individuals with disabilities receive counseling that promotes
long-term homeownership. Because the majority of people with disabilities
live on a limited income, Home of Your Own provides assistance with the
down payment, closing costs and principal reduction. The program empowers
low-income people with disabilities to achieve homeownership through involvement
in decision-making affecting the project, person-centered planning, skills
training and employment. Public hearings and focus groups encourage the
involvement of all participants. Thirteen persons with disabilities have
purchased eleven homes with the assistance from program staff and coalition
members. To date, 30 applicants have participated in the counseling process
with 11 homes purchased by 13 persons with disabilities.
Contact: Vicki Killingsworth, Phone: (601)
266-5163
Tracking Number: 1306
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
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