Walk down E 8th Street in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and you can feel hope in the air.
Fresh coats of paint. Trimmed grass. Families that feel supported in their journey to home ownership.
E 8th Street is one of several blocks now under the care of Home Again Pine Bluff, a local nonprofit run by resident Matt Mosler.
He founded Home Again Pine Bluff several years ago to begin revitalizing the city block by block, and setting his low-income neighbors on the path to home ownership.
A former TV meteorologist, the now-pastor and his wife moved to the Delta in 2017. “We wanted redo some of these houses, give families an opportunity to get back together in a home that they own, and let the next generation understand what’s possible when you operate in financial freedom.”
Utilizing the local workforce, Matt renovates homes and rents them at below-market value. He also engages tenants in financial literacy, homeownership and personal growth classes. After three to five years, tenants can purchase the property for half the appraised value.
Programming ranges from the profound to the practical.
There are classes on marriage and parenting, but also the necessity of cleaning out gutters and dryer vents. “If you’ve never owned a home, there are just some things you don’t know,” Matt says.
At their current pace, Matt and his team are now renovating five to six homes per year.
The Walton Family Foundation supports local leader leaders like Matt as part of a long-standing commitment to lift up families in the Delta through home ownership and financial literacy.
Local resident Deandra ‘Dee Dee’ Goal is participating in Home Again programming.
“To have the opportunity to own a home is the most exciting thing I've ever felt,” she says. “With all the classes offered, I'll have the tools to keep the home up and build my finances. It's heartwarming to know that somebody out there cares about this community enough to give us this opportunity.”
In Pine Bluff, Matt sees renewal all around. “Historically, Pine Bluff was the gateway. All roads led here. If we can revive that richness, that culture, people all over the Delta will notice.”
Matt says neighboring towns are taking notice. “We are getting those phone calls already. How do you get this [program] to McGee? To Wilmott? We’ve created a template for revitalization that other towns can recreate.”
Looking out over E 8th Street, Matt is ready to keep moving.
“We're pretty much done with this neighborhood. After that, we're starting two homes from the ground up, which is something we've never done before. Gesturing to the block over, “We also want to take some of these old apartments, redo them and start more families in the program. Then when single-family homes become available, we can move them along.”
Ultimately, Matt believes the idea of home ownership can change the trajectory of both individual lives, and the community as a whole.
“You can go from poverty to equity in just two years if you're willing to put forth the effort. And once you own your house, you own your neighborhood. You own your city. You own your future.”
