Homeownership Housing Fair Set for June 3

In celebration of June as National Homeownership Month, The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) is co-sponsoring the Opening Doors to Homeownership 2010 Housing Fair on Thursday, June 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the C.E. Roy Community Center at 300 East 5th Street in Hattiesburg.

Co-sponsors of the event are the Mississippi Home Corporation, Housing Alternatives and the City of Hattiesburg's Federal and State Programs. The event is open to the public free of charge.

“June is National Homeownership Month,” said Cassie Hicks, coordinator of housing initiatives for the Institute for Disability Studies. “This month is a good time to focus on buying a home in the Hattiesburg area.”

The Institute for Disability Studies currently has grant funds for qualifying applicants to receive up to $15,000 in down payment assistance in targeted areas. Applicants must have a disability or live with a family member with a disability and meet grant criteria to qualify for funds. Housing counselors will be available to take applications. Refreshments will be served.

For more information about the housing fair, call Heather Steele at the Institute for Disability Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi at 601-266-5163.

Area housing-related organizations and business are invited at no charge to participate as exhibitors, but must register by May 17. To learn more, call Steele at IDS for additional information on being a vendor.