Hallelujah Housing

/images/100

The Community and Economic Development Ministry is pleased to announce a new partnership between Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. Hallelujah Housing is an affordable housing initiative funded and consultatively supported by ERD. FEMA, insurance monies, CDBG fund channeled through the state are often not enough to build a home. Hallelujah Housing is a means of providing gap funding for families and households living at 60-80% Average Median Income along the Gulf Coast. Financing is provided though Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/HOPE Credit Union.

The rebuilding and financing efforts of Hallelujah Housing is in the counties of Harrison, Hancock and Jackson, specifically aiming at rebuilding clusters of communities within each county. Pass Christian is the site of our first effort, on the land and former home of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been living in the Mississippi Delta post-Katrina and are excited to be back home. Without Hallelujah Housing, the funds they received from a combination of sources came just short of the funds needed to rebuild. It is in cases such as the Johnson’s where HH will target its assistance.

During the month of October 2007, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Hallelujah Houses were begun. Pictures of the Johnsons home and the new starts can be found below.

Hallelujah Housing, as of June, 2008, has assisted 10 home owners through "gap fund assistance" grants and 5 home owners through the "loan loss reserve" funds. Another 5 "gap funds assistance" grants will be awarded in September, 2008.

With the slowed mortgage industry, the complications for coast residents wishing to rebuild has been greatly escalated. Hallelujah Housing is working with Hope Community Credit Union and other partners to move this market along.

For more information on how you or your church can become involved,

contact The Rev. Carol Borne Stewart at 601-948-5954 x109

Hallelujah Housing Projects

	Our First House is Complete! The Rt. Rev. Duncan House Blessing celebration for the Johnsons on August 29, 2007, the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
	Bishop Gray with the Johnsons on August 29, 2007, the second anniversary of Katrina
	The Johnsons celebrate with friends and neighbors at the House Blessing.
	Carol Stewart, ERD Grant administrator for ERD Disaster Grants in Mississippi, and a member of Mississippi's diocesan staff, stands with the Johnsons in front of the completed home.
	Hallelujah House #2 is located up the street from the Johnsons on Hiern Ave. in Pass Christian, MS. Our 3rd HH is also located in Pass Christian, MS on Seale Ave.
	The two sections of HH#4 were being delivered as Carol Stewart drove up to see the site of the home. Much to her surprise, the foundation was complete and now the sections will be lifted and placed on the foundation this week (Oct. 16.) This home is located in D'Iberville, MS just north of East Biloxi in Harrison County.
	Our 5th HH is be located in North Gulfport
	In conjunction with the North Gulfport Land Trust/CDC (Harrison County) and the MS Dept. of History and Archives, this beautiful home was moved from Pass Road to the North Gulfport neighborhood. We are proud to be a part of this partnership.
	As promised to ERD, we are working in all three counties by helping to bring homeownership to three families in Gautier, MS in north Jackson County. Habitat for Humanity is also building houses on this street creating a lovely neighborhood for approximately 10 families.