“From Homelessness to a Homeowner”: A Jacksonville Church Helps Its Neighbours Buy Homes

• In the Word International Church in Jacksonville has worked for 16 years towards affordable homeownership on the city’s Eastside.
• The church works with contractors, estate agents, private donors and government partners.
• It provides funds to help people stay in their homes; church membership is not required.
• A formerly homeless resident bought a home with an affordable mortgage after a year-long process.

A Jacksonville church is helping people in its neighbourhood become homeowners. News4Jax reported on the work of In the Word International Church on the city’s Eastside, known locally as ‘Out East’.

The church, led by Bishop Harry Williams, has worked towards affordable housing for 16 years. It has partnered with contractors, estate agents, private donors and government bodies, and provides funds to help deserving community members stay in their homes. Church membership is not required. The church also runs community pantries, youth mentoring, financial literacy and homeowner education.

The report followed a new homeowner, who asked not to be named, through a year-long process to buy a home. The homeowner said: “From homelessness to a homeowner. From not knowing if I’m going to have enough to pay bills, to having an affordable mortgage — it is amazing.” The homeowner added: “Bishop Harry and ‘In the Word’ made sacrifices for me to get this property.”

Bishop Williams said: “What’s in it for me, it’s just to see, number one, to see the people that are from that neighborhood, being able to experience what we see when we go the other neighborhoods.” The report cited the Florida Policy Project as saying one million Floridians spend more than half their income on housing, and noted planned developments nearby, including the Emerald Trail and a soccer stadium.

Helping people buy homes gives them a stake in their neighbourhood as it changes. With new projects coming to Jacksonville’s Eastside, homeownership can help long-time residents stay rather than be priced out. Jamaican churches can play a similar role by teaching members about budgeting, saving and mortgages, and by working with lenders, housing agencies and diaspora donors to help first-time buyers. Financial education, as offered here, is often as important as money, because it helps buyers keep their homes after they get them.

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