Here, we talk with Julie Egressy, executive director of Mercy Housing and Human Development, about how her Gulfport-based organization helps guide people toward financial health and home ownership.
WHAT DOES MERCY HOUSING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT DO? WHAT IS ITS MISSION?
Mercy Housing & Human Development a 501(c)(3) Housing and Urban Development agency working to make a difference in our community in housing and economic initiatives. MHHD’s mission is centered around financial literacy education programs to help our community reach financial health, attain financial goals and achieve sustainability through certified HUD classes, such as homebuyer and post-purchase education, rental, credit and budget counseling and loss or foreclosure mitigation.
Through our programs, clients can access down payment assistance for qualified home buyers or get help keeping their home if they are in financial disparity or foreclosure. We also offer health care navigation help and are a year-round IRS tax site that provides free tax preparation.
Although our programs focus on low-to-moderate-income clients, we invite everyone to benefit from our programs, as everyone at some point has financial disparity. And really, as a potential new homeowner making the biggest purchase of your life, who wouldn’t benefit from a class to help them make the best decisions?
WHEN AND WHY WAS MERCY HOUSING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDED?
Mercy Housing was founded in 1997 by the Sisters of Mercy and has been a vital hub in the Mississippi Gulf Coast nonprofit arena for over 20 years. The Sisters of Mercy already have an educational presence on the Coast with Sacred Heart Girls High School, Mercy Cross and Saint Patrick schools. They work throughout our community in responding to contemporary needs, such as adult financial education, to help strengthen and grow our neighborhoods. Building better, financially healthy lives, one by one, creates a stronger community.
WHAT IMPACT HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION MADE ON THE COMMUNITY?
Mercy Housing often is referred to as the “best-kept secret” because people may not discuss their financial woes and need for help. However, if you unlock the secret and take advantage of opportunities, change can happen.
There is nothing better than congratulating a new homeowner, feeling the relief of those who almost lost their home, increasing a client’s credit score or helping a client reach a savings goal. We do and see that daily.
Our clients do the work with our help, and we and our community celebrate their success. We change people’s lives daily. We partner with many banks, nonprofits, national organizations and initiatives for reinvestment opportunities for our clients — and ultimately, our neighborhoods — to promote economic growth and opportunity.
From children’s car seats and health insurance to down payment assistance and disaster relief, our programs provide a hand up, not a handout. Our clients must grow and prosper; our economy and community grow in turn.
We have helped many people buy that first home and start their journey. Homeownership changes lives.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED OR GAINED BY BEING INVOLVED IN THIS ORGANIZATION?
Just like physical and mental health, financial health matters. I have learned that everyone has financial problems, from the unemployed to those making six figures. People struggle at every level.
I am humbled by our clients who just want to live a better life. Although I have worked all my life around finance and felt I was very knowledgeable, when I first sat in on the homebuyer’s class, I was amazed how much I didn’t know and wished I had known before buying my first house. I believe everyone can learn something from our programs.
ANYTHING NEW OR UPCOMING THAT YOU’RE EXCITED TO SHARE?
Our programs have remained consistent, but fresh, over the past 20 years; they are driven by best practices and success. As a HUD agency, our programs came front and center during the pandemic and hurricanes Zeta and Ida. We were able to enact recovery relief in funding and resourcing very quickly.
We are preparing to open our VITA tax season for 2021, which provides free tax preparations. We keep up with the new opportunities in housing and financial programs to help our community strive and thrive. Check MHHD.org for updates and a list of our programs and resources.