Habitat for Humanity and about 80 volunteers are devoting their time to the rehabilitation of four houses in a west Jackson neighborhood.
Cindy Griffin is the organization's Executive Director. She says this project is a "game changer" for low-income families.
"Having decent, affordable home ownership opportunities is literally a step up out of poverty. It gives families a foundation in which to live and grow, and be everything they were intended to be," says Griffin.
48 year-old Maxine Thompson says she and her family wanted a healthier, safer environment. With the organization's help, they're getting just that.
"We are so grateful! We are so happy about it! It's one chance you get in life and we took it! We are going to have more room, better space, better plumbing. Just a good area for the children to grow up in," Thompson says.
Dwayne Jamison is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. As he and other members lend a helping hand, he makes Martin Luther King's legacy his motivation.
"Dr. Martin Luther King was a firm believer in giving back. He sacrificed a lot of his own time to give back to those who were in need, and so we're just honored to be able to do that," says Jamison.
Jamison says a project like this can give a community the hope it may be lacking. To date, Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capitol Area has built over 611 homes in the Jackson area.
