2000 Best Practice Awards

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 HUD’s 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 Development’s (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)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011