Institute for Disability Studies (IDS)
Receives Governor's Excellence Award

Royal Walker, center, associate director of the Institute and director of the Institute's housing initiative, receives the Governor's Communities of Excellence Award for the Best Home Investment Partnership Homebuyer Assistance on behalf of the Institute for Disability Studies from Dr. Eugene McLemore, left, director of the Community Services Division of the Mississippi Development Authority, and Gray Swoope, right, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. The award was presented at a ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol on March 26, 2007.

The Institute for Disability Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi received the Governor's Excellence Award for helping people with disabilities achieve homeownership across the state through the Home of Your Own (HOYO) Program. Since 1997, HOYO has assisted more than 155 individuals and their families living in 35 counties in becoming homeowners. The Governor's Communities of Excellence Awards showcase Mississippi's communities that have creatively utilized funds provided through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and other programs administered through the Mississippi Development Authority's Community Services Division. Criteria for the winning projects are spin-off effects, beneficiaries, innovative financing, uniqueness and creativity, community impact, beneficiary satisfaction and design and design layout. HOYO is a second-time recipient of the award, having won a Governor's Communities of Excellence Award in 2002.

�This award really belongs to all of the partners who work with us to assist individuals with disabilities and their families to achieve the American dream of home ownership,� said Royal Walker, associate director of the Institute and director of the Institute's housing initiative.