About Us
South Mississippi Housing and Development Corporation (SMHD) was established by Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VIII (MRHA VIII) in August of 2006 as its non-profit instrumentality to carry out activities in connection with the provision of affordable housing to low and moderate income persons and families and related community development purposes. It is a 501(c)(3) organization established under Mississippi law and is governed by a Board of Directors composed of community residents and business and civic leaders.
SMHD’s mission and purpose is to develop and redevelop viable communities by promoting integrated approaches that provide decent housing, a sustainable living environment and expanded economic opportunities for low, moderate, and middle-income individuals, families and seniors. SMHD fulfills this mission through both the development and redevelopment and management of affordable housing. Its focus to date has been on acquiring former public housing sites and other properties impacted by Hurricane Katrina and redeveloping them into viable housing opportunities for residents affected by the storm. SMHD operates in a 14 county area with a target audience of rural, low income Mississippi residents, many of whom were residents of MRHA VIII’s former public housing developments.
SMHD will has acquired and/or developed more than 1,400 units of affordable housing since its inception, including a mix of public housing, project based voucher, market rate and other affordable units. It currently owns and manages nearly 400 units directly and is responsible as asset manager for 128 units that it owns wholly but contracts for private management and 922 units that it owns with developer partners.