Ending homelessness in our communities is a formidable challenge.  Back Bay Mission is an agency that decided it would take up the challenge.  Reverend Shari Prestemon, Executive Director, the board and staff and its nonprofit subsidiary Gulf Coast Housing Initiative decided to develop a project to address the issue in the most tangible way possible, the creation of affordable housing.  They decided that they would target the housing for our well deserving chronically homeless disabled veterans.  This led to the development of Phase One HomePort Veterans Duplex (HomePort)in Gulfport that features 1 bedroom, 1 bath units of 824 square feet of living space. Back Bay Mission owns the land where the duplex is constructed.  Back Bay Mission and Gulf Coast Housing Initiative are in the planning stages for Phase Two and seeking funding for the project for phase two that will hopefully provide 6 additional units.

HomePort’s first tenant moved in on January 3, 2013.  “We are thrilled to provide a new housing option for homeless veterans in our community.  We wanted to provide real leadership along the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help meet the federal government’s goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015; this is just a part of an ongoing commitment we have made in this regard,” said Reverend Shari Prestemon.

The development ofHomePortrequired a commitment from community partners as well as funding from the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development.  HomePort received funding from the HUD Supportive Housing Program in the amount of $86,021 and HUD HOME funds through the Harrison County HOME Consortium (City of Gulfport, City of Biloxi and Harrison County) in the amount of $86,023.  The Veterans Administration (VA) and the Biloxi Housing Authority (BHA) provided HUD VASH Section 8 vouchers to subsidize the veteran’s rent of $713 per month for the first resident and will work to provide this funding for the next one.  The veteran’s portion of the rent is 30% of their income or a minimum of $50. BHA administers the housing voucher.  The VA Gulf Coast Health Care System provides case management for the veterans housed at HomePort.  Back Bay Mission’s case manager for the homeless will work with the VA case manager in securing additional community service agencies to meet the needs of the veterans.

This project was largely successful due to the contributions of volunteers. A total of 125 Back Bay Mission volunteers from across the county provided 833 volunteer hours finishing the interior of the duplex.  Both units were completely furnished in part by cash donations and items donated for the units.  New furniture and new appliances (stoves, refrigerator, washer, dryer, microwave and dishwasher) were donated by local businesses and non-profit organizations.  Due to these generous contributions, the project was able to save money on the total projected project costs, which can now be used for Phase Two.

The Back Bay Mission andthe Gulf Coast Housing Initiative’s efforts are proof that the goal to end veteran’s homelessness on the Gulf Coast can be achieved with community support.