Jackson Free Press

In an effort to rebuild local communities, The Jackson Medical Mall and Jackson Housing Authority are working to bring high-quality, affordable housing to Jackson residents.

The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation is in search of citizens who are interested in buying new homes. Housing Specialist Amia Edwards said the organization is currently constructing new projects that will bring more affordable housing to low-income residents.

One of those projects, East Village, a new housing project comprised of three neighborhoods--Chapel Ridge, Cypress Point, and The Grove--is scheduled to begin construction next month, is the first of many new real estate properties the JMMF is bringing to Jackson. The new subdivision will be located near Prosperity Street in Northeast Jackson, and will provide citizens with income ranging from $20,000 to $45,000 with the option of buying or renting affordable housing. Although the building of the subdivision is scheduled to begin next month, Edwards says that the completion date on the project is unknown. Edwards noted that the housing market is scarce due to unemployment and the economic downturn, which has led to foreclosed homes.

During the 2nd Annual Jackson Housing Authority and Jackson Medical Mall Foundation Housing Fair on June 16, citizens had the opportunity to learn about topics relating to loan mitigation, free budget and credit counseling, home mortgage assistance, and rental assistance information for those who weren't quite ready to become a homeowner. The fair, which was hosted in celebration of National Homeownership Month, had more than 30 vendors. During the fair, Regional Property Manager J. Patrick McDowell of Ambling Management Company assisted those who have already experienced or are in danger of foreclosure.

"As a property management company, we have quite a few apartments available, in which many times, when someone loses their home, they look to as an alternative because they have no family or other means," McDowell says. "As one of the largest landlords here, we can help them through our affordable apartment communities in the Jackson Area. Unfortunately, because of credit items, sometimes we aren't able to help them, and there are other agencies like the JHA that can assist them."

Rene Gallor, a housing counselor for Housing Education Economic Development in Jackson for the past six years, argues that smart budgeting cannot be stressed enough. Gallor says without a budget, it is easy for a person to lose control of finances and ultimately lose their home.

"I don't necessarily think it's the people, I think it's the business that cause people to get into debt with their homes. In the past, a lot of loan sharks that were getting people homes who didn't qualify in the first place, (caused) their monthly mortgage payments to be tripled and sometimes even quadrupled," Gallor says.

To assist those who aren't educated on the home buying process, the University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies will offer a homebuyer education training workshop at the Medgar Evers Library on Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The Jackson Housing Authority is in the midst of its own affordable housing project, 16 units spread over three sites in the North Midtown neighborhood west of Millsaps College. The $3.49 million development represents a new approach to affordable rental housing, one that seeks to integrate affordable housing into the existing fabric of a neighborhood and bolster feelings of community. The residential units also boast energy-efficient designs and solar panels to reduce electricity bills by up to 28 percent. JHA Executive Director Sheila Jackson told an audience at Koinonia Coffee House's Friday Forum this morning that the organization hopes to replicate the Midtown model in other parts of the city.

"(The federal government) is really looking at our Midtown project," Jackson said. "They want it to be a pilot project for the entire southeastern region."

Previous Comments

ID

158266

Comment

Isn't that what ACORN did? I thought they were supposed to be evil and dismantled.

Author

DrumminD21311

Date

2010-06-21T14:30:18-06:00

ID

158270

Comment

Except that ACORN was totally assassinated by the Republican Party and a media that didn't do their homework on knowing what the organization truly was about.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2010-06-21T14:48:36-06:00