June is Home Ownership Month in McComb thanks to the Hey, Neighbor! organization.
David Kelleher, director of Hey, Neighbor!, received a proclamation Tuesday from Mayor Whitney Rawlings.
The organization hopes to put a halt to the increasing problem of neighborhood blight by emphasizing the importance of neighborhood revitalization and promoting homeownership.
“Families and businesses are attracted to communities when our neighborhoods reflect a good first impression and an enviable quality of life,” Kelleher said. “Restoring our neighborhoods is an integral part of a comprehensive economic development strategy.”
Kelleher said the organization aims to help prospective homeowners, and they sometimes look for homeowners to take over properties that have been abandoned.
“We started looking for homeowners who wanted to put a little sweat equity in (a house),” he said.
Hey, Neighbor! helps people by researching available resources for the rehabilitation of homes.
Hey, Neighbor! and the Mississippi Home Corp. will sponsor the Pike County Affordable Housing Expo June 22. The theme is “Bringing Home the American Dream.”
“All the government agencies that provide homeowner assistance, including foreclosure prevention, credit counseling and, of course, direct and indirect financial support, will be (at the expo),” he said.
Kelleher said local businesses such as the paint and glass shops, realtors and banks also will be on hand to provide information on what they can do to help the rehab process.
The organization hopes to get local businesses to donate prizes and coupons to help make the event a success. The event is free.
Tickets can be picked up at Keep Pike County Beautiful, Growing Ground, USDA Rural Development, City of McComb Code Enforcement office and the Pike County Extension Service.
In other business the board:
• Received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice approving the change in primary and general election dates for the city, which will be held in June 2014.
• Renewed an interlocal agreement with the Southwest Mississippi Narcotics Enforcement Unit for the 2013-14 fiscal year to provide officers and equipment to the local drug enforcement agency.
• Approved a change in rental fees for the MLK Center. The new rates were not made available Tuesday and a call to the recreation department Wednesday was not returned.
• Appointed Freddye Green to the McComb Housing Authority for a five-year term.
• Appointed Jim Alford, Karen Clark and Marcus Fortenberry to the Historic Preservation Committee for staggered three-year terms.
• Appointed Keith Wallace to the Licensing Board of Electrical Plumbing and Mechanical Examiners for a four-year term.
• Approved a resolution for payment of the 13th check to retirees of the Fire and Police Disability Relief Fund.
• Appointed Selectman Melvin Joe Johnson as a voting delegate for the city at the Mississippi Municipal League 2013 Summer Conference and Selectmen Andranette Jordan as first alternate and Tommy McKenzie as second alternate.
