HOYO Project
Home Of Your Own Program

Homeownership is becoming a reality for Mississippians with disabilities thanks to the Mississippi Home of Your Own (HOYO) Project, a program of the Institute of Disability Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi. The goal of the project is to assist persons with disabilities and their families in locating counseling, supports, and financial assistance which may allow them to purchase and maintain their own homes.

To qualify for the HOYO program, applicants must meet three major criteria. First, only individuals with disabilities defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and their family members may apply. Second, an individual’s income after expenses must be adequate to make monthly mortgage payments on a home. Third, a good or improving credit report is recommended. Applicants without a credit history may be able to establish credit worthiness by verifying timely payments for rent, utilities, etc.

The HOYO initiative provides person-centered planning for individualized support and guidance through the loan process, pre-and post-purchase homebuyer counseling, referrals for services, and advocacy in support of independent living options for people with disabilities. The statewide program was formed with a cross section of representatives from: financial institutions (Trustmark National Bank), state disability agencies (Department of Rehabilitation), non-profit housing counseling agencies (Mississippi Home Corporation), advocacy organizations (Mississippi Protection and Advocacy, the ARC, the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities), real estate associations, private sector representatives, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Developmental Disability Council, City of Hattiesburg, and people with disabilities and their families.

For additional information, or to apply for homeownership assistance for the Home of Your Own project, call Cassie Hicks at 1-888-671-0051 or 601-266-5163. Correspondence may be directed to: Mississippi Home of Your Own, Institute of Disability Studies, USM Box 5163, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5163.