Meridian Housing Authority and Meridian Police Department Expands
“Officer Next Door” Program to Eastern Gardens Housing Community
Details: The Meridian Housing Authority (MHA) and the City of Meridian Police Department (MPD) want to make affordable housing neighborhoods safer, stronger, viable and remain committed to strengthening all of Meridian’s public housing communities. National statistics show that public safety is enhanced tremendously when police officers live within the neighborhood. On October 16, 2013, MHA, along with MPD implemented the HUD approved “Officer Next Door” program to assist in ensuring a crime-free community in the Western Gardens neighborhood. Effective January 6, 2014, the program will be expanded to include the Eastern Gardens community.
Over the past six months, both the Eastern and Western Garden’s public housing communities have been challenged with increased criminal incidents and growing signs of gang-related activity. In an effort to reverse this upward surge, MHA will provide an apartment at each location to full-time sworn Meridian police officers at no cost to the officers. The apartments must be used as the officer’s primary source of residency during the 12-month leasing period with MHA. While participating in the “Officer Next Door” program (OND), the participant(s) will maintain a high visibility level, participate in resident association meetings, patrol the property periodically and utilize other community policing measures authorized by Meridian’s Police Chief, James Lee.
Other collaborative efforts between MHA and the MPD include the opening of the East End Choice Neighborhood Police sub-station and the implementation of the MHA-MPD police community policing liaison program.
The Meridian Housing Authority exists to provide decent safe and affordable housing opportunities with reasonable accommodations for eligible citizens of Meridian, Mississippi. Additionally, the agency conducts several social service programs that promote self-sufficiency, empowerment and respect. MHA currently owns and manages 1,215 viable public housing units and administers 211 Housing Choice Vouchers throughout the City of Meridian. MHA also owns 87 units of affordable housing apartments in various locations of the City known as Queen City Apartments.
For more information regarding MHA’s Officer Next Door Program (OND) initiative, visit www.meridianhousing.net and click on “press releases.
