A growing program of the Purpose of God church is helping address the needs for fair, affordable housing in Washington and the surrounding area.

In recent months, the church has placed individuals and families in two new mission homes in Beaufort County, one on West Seventh Street and the second at a campground on U.S. Highway 264.

Working with local landlords and property owners, Purpose of God is able to negotiate rent prices that will be within reach of tenants, all with the goal of uplifting them out of difficult situations.

“We’re putting people in that are legitimate, that have jobs, that want something and that are taking care of the homes,” Bishop Samuel Jones said. “Before, we were doing it through the Annex, but now we’re doing it through our church and Project New Hope.”

For the home on Seventh Street, Amber Parker was able to move in two days before Christmas, giving her a wonderful Christmas gift after her former living situation forced her to look for a new place to live. She says the new home has already made a difference for her. The goal is to help provide affordable, decent housing that is not always easy to find, according to Jones.

Likewise, a local family of three was able to stay together thanks to the mission home program. Brian and Katie Dew, and their daughter Andromeda, are now living in a camper trailer thanks to the program. Because of a previous run-in with the law, Brian says he wouldn’t have been welcome at many of the places that would have provided housing for his wife and daughter. They’ve been settled in since October.

“They would take my wife, but they wouldn’t take me with them,” Brian Dew said. “I went to Bishop Jones’ program just looking for a job and maybe a place to stay. Within two weeks, we fixed this up, and they gave this to us.”

So far, eight landlords and rental agencies are working with the Joneses on the program, with support coming from a variety of area churches including First Presbyterian Church, Church of the Good Shepherd, Christ Church, First United Methodist Church, First Church of Christ and Mt. Olive Disciples of Christ.

In addition to these churches, the project has also received support and partnered with the Cypress Landing community, Washington Park residents, Bright Futures Beaufort County and the Beaufort County United Way.

“The community has really embraced us in the endeavors of trying to help these people,” Mother Regina Jones said.