The state of Mississippi knows that one of the main difficulties people face when trying to find a suitable home is the upfront money needed for the down payment. People require help in this regard and also when it comes to the payment of closing costs. For this reason the Mississippi Home Corporation has arranged for a Down Payment Assistance Program designed to help those of low to moderate income to buy their first home. First time homebuyers with a low or moderate income and who have an acceptable credit rating are eligible if they meet the credit eligibility requirements and have need of a second mortgage to pay the down payment.

They are also required to complete an 8 hour homebuyer training course.

The Down Payment Assistance Program consists of a first mortgage (FHA, VA, or RD qualifying guidelines) and a second mortgage with a ten year fixed rate f 7%. The maximum down payment assistance is 3% of the loan amount and it can be used for closing costs too. It is required that the applicant´s liquid assets not exceed $4,500. The property must be the primary residence of the owner.

The Mississippi Home Loan Plus Program Grants of up to $14,999 are available for low income homebuyers who meet the requirements. The funds provided to the Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) by the Mississippi Development Authority(MDA), Community Service Division are to make it possible for those who otherwise could not purchase a property of their own to acquire their first home. There are certain requirements that are to be met in order for the grant to be awarded. For example the property to be purchased must meet section 8 Housing Quality Standards so must have written clearance from a US HUD approved appraiser or it must meet local housing quality standards in areas that have their own local building codes. It should be noted that the whole County of Harrison and the City Hattiesburg as well as the City of Jackson are not eligible for this program. The grant can be used with the MHC programs Mortgage Revenue Bond with no cash advance (MRB) and Mortgage Credit Certificate(MCC).

The applicant must be a US citizen or qualified registered alien who has a social security card and it is required that the homebuyer have Homebuyer education with a housing counselor approved by HUD. The household income must be below 80% of the average household income according to the size of the family. The limit as to Purchase Price is $150,000. The buyer must purchase the property by permanent fixed-rate mortgage through a lender approved by MHC. As for the property itself it must be located in an area that is eligible for the grant and it must be the primary residence of the buyer. The home to be purchased must not be in a flood zone. To qualify the property has to be a site built single family home. Condos and town homes do qualify. If the construction is newly built it must be complete. Properties built before 1978 will be subject to a lead based paint inspection and test. Anyone who would like to participate in the program can find a participating lender list as well as a homebuyer guide on line.

The 2011 Super Outbreak is regarded as the deadliest tornado outbreak in recorded history. The outbreak wrecked havoc from April 25 to the 28th throughout Southern United States killing over 330 people and over $10 billion in material damages. Add to this that we have just been through a financial crisis we have not witnessed since the Great Depression and you can see why many Mississippians may feel it hasn’t been the best year. The situation is especially dire for workers who have lost their jobs or are no longer able to do business because of natural or economic disasters.

The State of Mississippi has taken measures to fight both problems, the material and employment issues, through a statewide Temporary Recovery Workforce Jobs program. The program is designed to assist unemployed and underemployed workers find employment and help with the recovery efforts.

Interested in a job where you get paid to help rebuild Mississippi? We thought so, which is why we have included the eligibility requirements and job specifications offered by this innovative and creative program.

Eligibility Requirements

This program is designed to stimulate the employment market of Mississippi, help with recovery efforts and assist those affected by the natural disaster. For that reason it targets workers who are out of work due to the disaster, have been laid off from a job and for those who have been unemployed for 15 weeks or more during the last six months. The program targets self-employed and employees who lost their job directly because of the storms, those who have recently been laid off and those who are long-term unemployed workers. Notice priority is given to workers who have been affected directly by the storms.

Jobs

So what jobs can you expect if you join the Mississippi Temporary Recovery Workforce Jobs program? There is a wide variety of available jobs which include debris cleaners, construction workers, humanitarian aides, social service aides, drivers and office workers. However, other openings are available, so contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security even if you are not qualified for any of those positions.

Wages

The wages offered by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security range from $7.5 to $25 depending on the going wages for the job type you qualify for. On top of your basic wage you may also receive additional funds to cover for transportation costs, uniforms, protective clothing and safety equipment.

What To Do

If you are interested in applying for a Mississippi Temporary Recovery Workforce job click here or visit Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s website. Register as a Temporary Recovery Workforce applicant and search for jobs using the program’s job search database.

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