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Habitat International
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| Habitat for Humanity/Metro Jackson brings families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable homes. |
Although started in 1986, Habitat for Humanity/Metro Jackson made the decision in 1993 to concentrate its effort on one neighborhood in order to increase the impact of the homes being built by Habitat. Thus the Midtown initiative was born. Rows of vacant shotgun shacks were replaced by new houses with neatly trimmed lawns. Where drug dealers once filled the streets, children walk home safely from school. The success of this effort by Habitat in Midtown created a new vision for the future of inner city neighborhoods everywhere.
Bringing Home a Vision of the Future
In September 2003, The Nehemiah Project was an initiative to build 100 homes in three years in Midtown, Mid City/Georgetown, Battlefield Park, Poindexter Park and other Jackson neighborhoods. The goal of this project was to revitalize these neighborhoods and reduce crime, while impacting businesses, schools and the entire city. Habitat's commitment to inner city neighborhoods strengthens our downtown area by stabilizing these blighted areas with homeowners, who pay property taxes to the City of Jackson' and thus effectively recycle property from the delinquent tax rolls to revenue generating homeowners.
As of 2009, Habitat for Humanity/Metro Jackson has housed over 455 families. Every dollar of construction generates $1.70 in the local economy, but the investment is even greater in human terms. Adequate housing directly impacts and affects the health and well being of children and families. In addition, hundreds more are affected as current residents in the neighborhoods enjoy the benefits of the revitalization of their streets and communities.
With your support and help, Habitat is still hard at work in Jackson’s neediest and poorest neighborhoods. Within these areas 40% of all families with children under 18 live in poverty. Providing their family adequate shelter is one of the most difficult necessities a working poor family struggles with given their meager and limited resources. Substandard shelter affects a family not only physically with related health issues but also emotionally as it defines how they see themselves in the broader community.
Habitat for Humanity/Metro Jackson continues to build hope for the future of Jackson, with your help. Just as Nehemiah called on people of faith to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, HFH/MJ has called on the people of Jackson to join together to rebuild the walls of our city as symbolized by its surrounding inner city neighborhoods. You have answered that call and become a member of Habitat’s Nehemiah Builders which is the backbone of Habitat’s financial support for this bold visionary plan.
This bold initiative is only possible through many partners working together with Habitat for Humanity in the community. Please click here to go to the partners page.