HUD Designates New EnVision Center in Mississippi

The newly renovated Golden Key Community Center was originally built in 1969. The site was designated as a Mississippi Historic Landmark due to its use by activists in the 1970s to promote support for the Voter Rights Act and it has served as an important community resource since that time.

The Golden Key EnVision Center seeks to unlock doors of opportunity for families and individuals through economic empowerment measures, educational advancement programs, health and wellness initiatives, and character and leadership development, while creating a sense of belonging in the community.

The Golden Key EnVision Center is expected to become a centralized hub for Jackson residents by providing critical resources and support through partnerships with Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC), USDA, area schools, community members, the City of Jackson, Jackson-Hinds Library Commission, Wells-Fargo Computer Lab, local historians (Jan Hillegas and Frank Figgers), and many others.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett announced the recent designation of Golden Key Activities Center as an EnVision Center in the City of Jackson. The historic community center landmark, originally built in 1969, was recently renovated by the Jackson Housing Authority.

In partnership with national and local organizations, the center offers financial literacy training; computer classes and programs associated with the Fannie Lou Hamer Library and local colleges; health check-ups with the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Hinds Community College.

"The Golden Key EnVision Center epitomizes the concept for these centers to offer hope and opportunity; to facilitate and bring together much needed resources to address the unique needs of their communities and help their residents achieve self-sufficiency," said Regional Administrator Cleveland-Leggett.

"I am so proud of all the hard work that has been done to make this dream a reality," said Executive Director of Jackson Housing Authority, Allison Cox. "I am thankful for the time and effort that was spent making sure we have had some transformative programs for the community, and with this designation, we'll have the resources to achieve our long-term goals for the community. With help from our friends at The Good Samaritan Center, we have many exciting initiatives planned."

While the pandemic extended the renovation timeline, and impacted several in-person services, the recent official designation as an EnVision Center brought hope to Golden Key. The center is offering food delivery, case management, virtual enrichment activities and vaccination information and is working in procurement and transportation.

The Jackson Housing Authority also has plans to rehabilitate the Hinds County Nursing Home located behind Golden Keys Activity Center. With a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit award from Mississippi Home Corporation and other funding, it will transform the facility into 40 apartments for low-income residents and will house a Veterans Affairs office and medical center. The EnVision Center designation took place in October 2020 and makes Golden Key the second such center in Mississippi, following the designation of Meridian Housing Authority's Frank Berry Court in October 2019.

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