A local religious organization wants to use a McComb house as a residential facility for men re-entering society after serving time in jail.
Justin Kyle of The Hub McComb Urban Ministries told the city board Tuesday that his organization is in the process of renovating the house at 108 S. Fourth St. for that purpose.
"We walk with people who are struggling in really difficult situations, whether it's homelessness, drugs, alcohol addictions, poverty, incarceration,” Kyle said. “We do a lot for the jails.”
Kyle said the plan is to house approximately five men at the residence.
“We are doing work on that house and the goal is this: We will walk with people and connect them to resources, anything they need,” he said.
“If we can’t directly provide it, we will connect them to people that we know.”
Kyle said the ministry helps people find forgiveness through Christ and the resources they need to change their lives.
“We start on the inside with these guys,” he said. “There’s a lot of accountability. There’s long-term relationships here. We put them with other Christian mentors as they come out.
“When they come out, we want to continue to walk with them.”
Kyle said the organization helps people find the resources to get their GED after they are incarcerated.
“What about people who come out and want to go through a workforce training program?” Mayor Quordiniah Lockley asked.
Kyle said The Hub can serve as a liaison to help people get into the Southwest Mississippi Community College’s workforce training programs.
Selectman Eddie Thompson asked if the house would take in homeless veterans, and Kyle said that could happen, but helping incarcerated people adjust to life outside of jail is the main goal.
“We are going to focus on the incarceration area because there’s such a need,” he said. “There’s so many folks that they’re coming out and don’t have resources.”
Kyle said the goal is for someone to live in the house for 12 months with an exit strategy.
“Thank you for your presentation,” said City Administrator David Myers. “There is a need for that in McComb.”
