Coming Back Home

Relocating from Nashville, Tenn., to Greenville, Miss., required Jermaine and Crystal – along with their three children – to move back in with his mother. The three-bedroom dwelling was a tight fit for the two families. “My children wanted their own house and they wanted sleepovers and parties. That was always in the back of mind,” said Jermaine, who did not want to rent. “We wanted to own something.” Their first stop was a local bank, where they were flatly turned down. A Facebook advertisement led them to HOPE. Not only did they qualify for a mortgage loan, they also were eligible for a Neighborhood LIFT down payment assistance grant. Within weeks, the family moved into their own brick home down the street from Jermaine’s mother.