The City of Hattiesburg is hosting a Public Hearing on March 30, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to receive public comments related to the published draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER describes how CDBG and HOME funding was expended and applied to activities during calendar year 2019 as well as community development efforts in general.

While it is required that we host this public hearing, due to ongoing health concerns with COVID-19, we strongly encourage citizens with comments to provide those comments by email to pwingo@hattiesburgms.com or by phone to 601-545-4558 no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 30, 2020 rather than attending the public hearing. The public hearing will NOT involve a presentation and is only an additional opportunity for public comment. The draft document is available at www.hattiesburgms.com/community-development and we are glad to answer any questions you may have. Please also note that though we will still host this public hearing, we will make every effort to ensure that the total attendance is fewer than 10 individuals at a time, and we will employ appropriate spacing according to CDC guidelines.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CONTACT INFORMATION

Located at Hattiesburg City Hall, the office is open Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

200 Forrest Street
Post Office Box 1898
Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1898
601-545-4558

Staff
Petra Wingo, Division Manager
Dequandra Johnson, Housing Coordinator
Robert Jones, Housing Inspector
Kévin Jordan, Housing Coordinator
Tonya Jordan, Neighborhood Coordinator
Kimberly Townsend, Homeless Coordinator

PROGRAM DOCUMENTS

Links below provide more information on certain program areas.
2018-2022 Consolidated Plan & 2018 Annual Action Plan
2019 Analysis of Impediments
Revised Citizen Participation Plan 2017
2019 Action Plan
Maps of Median Income and Minority Concentration
2019 Draft CAPER

The Community Development Division administers the annual grant programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as other grant opportunities that may complement such efforts. Primarily, this division manages projects funded through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Grant (HOME). Both of these programs are intended to benefit low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals and households.  Administration of the programs is guided by the City’s 5-year Consolidated Plan and each year’s Action Plan.

HOME

The HOME Program focuses on Affordable Housing. The City offers Down Payment Assistance awards to income-eligible first-time home buyers; oversees a rehabilitation program for homeowner occupied dwellings; and partners with non-profit organizations for the purpose of constructing or rehabilitating houses to be sold or rented as affordable units.

CDBG

The CDBG Program allows for activities that benefit LMI individuals, LMI households, areas of the community that are majority LMI, or serve to create jobs available to LMI persons.  CDBG Programs undertaken by the City include Homeowner-occupied rehabilitation and Emergency Repairs, Downtown Facade Improvement, various Public Services through non-profits, Microenterprise Assistance, Public Facility Improvement, and Infrastructure Improvement.

Programs with ongoing application periods:

  • HOME Downpayment Assistant for First Time Homebuyers
  • CDBG Facade Improvement Assistance
  • CDBG Emergency Housing Repair (homeowner-occupied)
  • NOAA Weather Alert Radios

Programs with limited application periods:

  • CDBG & HOME Substantial Housing Rehabilitation (homeowner-occupied)
  • CDBG Public Service Awards for Non-Profits
  • CDBG Microenterprise Assistance

Individuals interested in programs with time-limited application periods are encouraged to call the Community Development Division at (601) 554-1006 for more information. Notices of Funding Availability or Requests for applications/proposals will be advertised in the Pine Belt News when funding is available. Whether or not funding is available will depend on the amount of funding made available in the City’s annual grant awards and what priority level is assigned to these program areas in comparison with others.