Home Again Pine Bluff ceremonially broke ground for 34 new homes Monday.
The ceremony took place on wide-open land in the area of Belair and Auburn drives. The new homes, many of which will be valued at about $160,000, will be sold to any qualifying buyer, but those who commit to teaching locally or serving in the community for three years and who complete financial education and home ownership 101 classes will be eligible for a $20,000 grant from the nonprofit to purchase the home.
Home Again founder Matt Mosler, who also serves as pastor of New Life Church in Pine Bluff, said reaching out to teachers and first responders is a way to accelerate the development of new homes in the city, thereby improving neighborhoods.
“You get families back together, you take care of crime, you take care of poverty, you take care of homelessness (and) education,” Mosler said. “You get people back to work and restore hope in the community.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Rob Withers, the managing director for Home Again’s building program, said the Roberts brothers donated the open land in the Belair and Auburn area about five years ago, but Home Again has also torn down old homes and rebuilt brand new homes to sell at half the value.
Home Again partners with civic and church supporters to repair abandoned, low-value homes in the Pine Bluff area for families looking to transition from renting to owning. Those who rent under the program are required to do so for at least two years and complete home ownership, financial education, marriage, family and spiritual classes taught at The Freedom Center at Jefferson Square. After two years, renters will have the opportunity to buy their homes for half of the appraised value.
“My house is going to increase value, but everything you do to your house is going to increase value. So now, I’m taking care of my street and my community because it benefits me,” Mosler said.
Mosler estimated during the ceremony the homes would be ready within two years, but Withers stretched that timeline to four years, based on additional funding that is needed.
Pine Bluff has a track record of allowing people to progress when given the freedom, Mosler said. The problem, he cited, is that freedom has eroded for one reason or another.
“Whenever a new church comes to a new town, the object is usually to feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked,” Mosler said. “That’s what Jesus did. The reason Jesus met physical needs was to earn the right to meet spiritual needs, because that’s the real problem. Overtime, by design, in my view, this town has become a dependency culture. If I give you food and you expect me to give you food, then I haven’t really met the physical need and I didn’t open the door to address more serious matters of spirituality.”
Home Again is also seeking volunteers to help with the construction. One volunteer, Jared Langston, and his construction company are pitching in.
“I love the city of Pine Bluff,” Langston said. “I lived here my entire life, so I’m just donating my time and my guys’ time to get this up and going.”
City officials and home builders turn over dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for 34 new homes in Pine Bluff on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. Front from left: Ward 1 Councilwoman Latisha Brunson, Mayor-elect Vivian Flowers, Mayor Shirley Washington, contractor Jared Langston, Home Again building program managing director Rob Withers, Home Again founder Matt Mosler, LaTasha Randle and Scott Ray of FBT Bank. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)