Habitat Bay Waveland Celebrates Homeownership Month

Carriere, MS (June 26, 2026)- Habitat for Humanity Bay Waveland is celebrating Homeownership Month by handing over the keys to their most recent partner family- Ms. Joyner and her two children. This new build marks a milestone for Habitat Bay Waveland as it is the first new home built by the affiliate in Pearl River County. “I didn’t know if I would qualify for Habitat’s program, but I knew I had to give it a shot. I never would have imagined when I filled out my application that I would be standing in my new home months later,” stated Ms. Joyner.

The goal of Habitat’s homeownership program is to make homeownership more accessible through partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels, which help subsidize construction costs and reduce overall prices for families, allowing families to create stability for years to come. Habitat Bay Waveland Construction Manager, Seth Foubare, gave a special shoutout to all the hard work and sweat equity Ms. Joyner put into her home, stating, “I have never met someone as hardworking, determined, and grateful as Ms. Joyner and her family. I am thankful for every member of your family, congregation, and volunteers who helped us build this home, and I can’t wait for you and your family to enjoy this home for a lifetime.”

Building off the excitement and momentum of constructing a new home in Pearl River County, Habitat Bay Waveland is heading back to Hancock County for critical home repair projects beginning in late July 2026. This will be the first set of critical home repair projects completed under the new leadership of Habitat Bay Waveland Executive Director Brian Murphy. “We are excited and committed to building a Habitat affiliate that is financially sustainable, operationally strong, and capable of serving more families in both Pearl River and Hancock counties. I can’t wait to see the positive impact we can make in our communities for years to come,” stated Murphy. 

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About Habitat Bay Waveland

For more than 15 years, Habitat Bay Waveland has partnered with families in Hancock and Pearl River counties to build affordable homes and strengthen communities.