A Short History of Oxford Housing Authority

The first organized effort to provide quality, affordable housing to low-income families and individuals in Oxford grew out of a need to provide adequate housing for persons and families displaced by the massive Urban Renewal project funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Local businessman and director of the Oxford Urban Renewal effort, Will Lewis, Jr., approached the Adult Sunday School Class of St. Peter's Episcopal Church to request assistance in formulating and executing a plan to fulfill the housing need. After further discussion, and drawing on substantial community support from many sectors of Oxford, the University of Mississippi and Lafayette County, Oxford Community Homes, Inc., was formed in 1969 and entered into a contract with HUD to construct decent and safe housing as a private, non-profit corporation. As a result of this effort, the one-hundred unit development named Eastview Homes was constructed and opened for occupancy in June of 1970. In addition to Mr. Lewis, other important pioneering leaders of Oxford's affordable housing effort were Loren Young, Walter "Sonny Boy" Rogers, Willie Isaiah, Russell Blair, C. B. "Bondy" Webb, George Homich, Michael de Laval Landon, Roger McHenry, Don Waller and others too numerous to list, but without whose generosity of time and spirit affordable rental housing in Oxford could not have been built.

With offices initially located on the Oxford Square over what was then Leslie's Drug Store, the Authority, itself, was organized in accordance with Section 43-33-5 of the Mississippi Code and though it's first impetus was to succeed the local urban renewal leadership in completing Oxford's urban renewal project, the Authority began to acquire land and develop additional rental housing complexes to increase affordable housing opportunities in the City. In 1970, at the height of HUD's Urban Renewal effort, Oxford Housing Authority first became engaged in managing the redevelopment of substandard housing in the vicinity of what is now Oxford Junior High School and Central Elementary School, and in managing Eastview Homes from offices which were relocated from the square to an antebellum home in the urban renewal area. Some 69 acres of substandard housing were purchased from owners using federal urban renewal grant monies. The substandard housing was razed and replaced with decent and affordable housing and then offered to qualified families through a low interest loan program. Owners of houses that were not to be acquired and demolished were also offered low interest loans to renovate their homes. As part of the development plans, substantial acreage was deeded to the Oxford Municipal Separate School District for the construction of schools and support facilities within the urban renewal zone.

Next, the Authority turned its efforts toward the expansion of affordable housing in Oxford with the construction of additional apartments on Molly Barr Road. In 1974, 128 units of public housing were completed at 900 Molly Barr Road and became known as C. B. Webb Townhouses. The offices of Oxford Housing Authority were then moved to the office building at C. B. Webb Townhouses from the urban renewal zone.
The Authority began construction of another low income development in 1980. The complex of duplex apartments, known as Wayne Johnson Homes, was completed and opened for occupancy in 1981, adding 50 apartments ranging in size of from one- to five-bedrooms to the affordable housing inventory.

The Eastview complex built by Oxford Community Homes was returned to HUD in 1992, because the dwellings and grounds were in desperate need of renovation. However, at that time there were no federal, state or local funds available for such a purpose. A decision was made then to contact HUD and turn the property back over to HUD for disposition. In 1994, HUD approached the City of Oxford and offered the property to the City if the City of Oxford would agree to renovate the property and make it habitable. The City agreed and spent approximately $3 million putting the 100-unit development into like new condition. In 1996, the renovated property was reopened as Riverside Place, returned to Authority management, and today continues to enjoy the peace and tranquility of a well-maintained and quiet urban neighborhood.
Not finished with construction yet, the Authority embarked on one more building project to provide additional affordable housing to working families. On two sites located within the city limits of Oxford, the Authority built Laurel Grove and Willow Knoll, a total of 17 duplex buildings, each with three and/or four bedroom apartments, adding an additional 34 apartments to the housing inventory to serve low income clients . Laurel Grove was constructed on Molly Barr Road, on property adjacent to C. B. Webb Townhouses, and Willow Knoll was located just off Jackson Avenue in a quiet cul-de-sac in the vicinity of the Oxford-Lafayette County Public Library. At the completion of these two developments in 1996, Oxford Housing Authority owned or managed a total of 312 residential dwellings within the city limits of Oxford.

The Authority is governed by a 5-member Board of Commissioners who are appointed for staggered five-year terms by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City. Members of the original board were Will Lewis, Jr., Billy Ross Brown, Bennie Crouch, C. B. Webb and Garner Hickman, all of whom served with distinction. The Board and the Authority have been generously assisted from the beginning by such capable and determined Commissioners, all of whom have volunteered their time and their energy to provide long-term guidance and vision to help Oxford Housing Authority achieve and maintain its goal of providing safe, sanitary and secure housing to qualified clients and their families. The City of Oxford, the staff and management and, indeed, the very clients served by HUD housing programs are extremely fortunate to have had the benefit of the experiences and expertise of all the dedicated volunteer men and women who have served on the Board of Commissioners over the years.

Of course, very few of the successes of Oxford Housing Authority could have occurred without the strong, continued support of the local community leadership. From the Mayor, the Board of Aldermen, the Chief of Police, the Department Heads on down the chain of command, Oxford's leaders have demonstrated a strong commitment to the cause of public housing and to providing affordable housing opportunities to working families.
Showing independent leadership and forward thinking, Authority management entered into a renewable contract with the City to provide community policing services to the residents of Authority properties. With the help of Public Housing Drug Elimination Program competitive grants awarded to Oxford Housing Authority, the City was able to establish the Public Housing Division of the Oxford Police Department. This award-winning community policing program has proved to be helpful to both the residents and the local authorities in providing safety and security to authority clients and the surrounding neighborhoods. The Public Housing Division of the Oxford Police Department has been used as a model program for other Authorities and has been recognized as the premier housing community policing program among the 57 other authorities chartered in the State of Mississippi.

Oxford Housing Authority is pledged to continue its dedication to providing safe, sanitary and secure housing opportunities to persons who qualify for housing assistance under the rules and regulations of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. With inspired and persistent local leadership, sustained proper management, and with the unyielding determination of a dedicated Board of Commissioners, Oxford Housing Authority will remain a resolute voice striving for improved affordable housing opportunities for Oxford, Lafayette County, and indeed, all of Mississippi.

Gene Bramlett, August 1, 2002