February 2018

The path to living the American Dream can prove a little rockier for people with disabilities. Oftentimes, the idea of homeownership is as remote as any uninhabited desert.

But thanks to a unique program offered by The University of Southern Mississippi’s institute for Disability Studies, many underserved state residents have an opportunity to purchase their first homes. Since its inception in 1997, the Mississippi Home of Your Own (HOYO) program has assisted more than 700 homebuyers across 66 of the state’s 82 counties in obtaining a new home.

“This is one of our favorite days of the year,” said Sarah Case-Price, director of The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. “Every year we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community, and this year is no exception.”

Mississippi Home of Your Own (HOYO) will sponsor a free, one-day homebuyer education workshop Saturday, Mar. 10, for any residents in Forrest and surrounding counties interested in buying a home.

A new documentary on the life of a civil rights pioneer who sought to desegregate higher education in Mississippi is the result of a collaborative research effort by a group of faculty members at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM).