Last Updated: Thursday, November 15, 2007

Mercy Housing and Human Development »

Our mission is to enable people to protect the dignity of their families and communities and to participate fully in society. We work with people through advocacy, direct services, and education. We develop integrated strategies to provide health, housing and adjunct social services, community development, economic development, research/analysis, advocacy, and organizing services. We believe that all people have basic rights to dignity and compassion, and that people achieve their individual rights and dignity in relationship to others and to the larger community

Giving Opportunities

You can help Mercy Housing and Human Development; and play a vital role in the recovery of the Mississippi Gulf Coast by generously donating. It's easy, and it doesn't have to be financially painful. Your spare $20 or next weeks movie money, can assist someone who's life was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Profile

The organizing purpose of Mercy Housing and Human Development was to address racism present in institutions of society, particularly housing authorities and financial institutions. Incorporated in February 1997, MHHD received 501c3 status in September 1997, and Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) certification in March 1998.  In 1999, after months of advocacy, MHHD was the first organization to receive HOME funds for purchase or construction of homes for low-wealth families. Shortly thereafter, MHHD worked with the FDIC to investigate the Community Reinvestment Act practices of local banks that were denying mortgages and financial services to African Americans, especially low-income families. As a result, MHHD developed agreements with several banks for special savings and in-house mortgage programs. In 2001, MHHD established the first Individual Development Account (IDA) in the state. Mercy Housing staff members are involved in other state and local efforts to develop IDA programs. We are currently working with the Mississippi Model Youth Transition Innovation (MYTI) Project to establish IDAs for young people with disabilities. Unique to Mercy Housing is a post purchase program that provides education and support for the crucial first five years of homeownership. Sr. Christine Blair, Homeowner Coordinator, has worked with Mississippi Housing Initiative and HOME Corporation personnel to develop a post-purchase curriculum that can be used by banks, financial educators, CHDOs and HUD counseling agencies. Mercy Housing has a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Region VIII and Biloxi Housing Authorities to administer their Section VIII Homeownership Voucher Programs, the first agency in South Mississippi to do so.

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina landed on top of a region that was already experiencing chronic social, economic, and political problems.  What MHHD realized early in the recovery effort was that there were definite roles that private non-profits can play in the process. We felt it was imperative to expand our services to address the level of human suffering of this magnitude. We immediately became an operational resource provider to mobilize and coordinate services and an ongoing link to victims. We provided a place were new information, ideas and problems were and continue to be shared, and most importantly as a voice for those whose interests might be ignored in the recovery. We found that there were certain vulnerable populations that had their own unique set of problems that were not being addressed; children, physically/mentally disabled individuals, elderly, veterans, undocumented residents and low-income and homeless families. We believe that without tireless intervention, the pattern of concentrated poverty that existed on Katrina’s eve could well reassert itself in a rebuilt Gulf Coast and that without empowering these vulnerable groups, communities will be created where the poor are even more isolated than they were before the storm. 

Contact Information

Phone: (228) 896-1945

Fax: (228) 896-1347

Email: 

Web:  http://www.mhhd.org/mercyhomepage/

Organization Details