HBA Members Distribute Water in Jackson, Miss.
Due in part to severe flooding in late August, the city of Jackson, Miss., did not have access to safe drinking water. As news of the water crisis in Jackson spread, the members of the HBA of Mississippi (HBAM) swiftly stepped up to help the community.
“Our Home Builders Association of Mississippi members were gearing up to offer help to City of Jackson flood victims,” said Pat Nelson, executive vice president, HBAM. “When the Pearl River crested at a lower-than-expected level, members directed their efforts to distribute bottled water when the city’s water treatment plant failed.”
The HBA reached out to Good360, a national charity organization that sources essential goods from corporations and provides them to communities in critical need. The goal was to connect HBAM members willing and able to volunteer with a community non-profit partner to distribute water where it was most needed.
The HBA partnered with the team at Anderson United Methodist Church and through Good360’s networks, they secured a truckload of donated water shipped through in-kind support from The UPS Foundation.
The water distribution event occurred on Friday, Sept. 9, at Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson. HBAM members, NAHB’s disaster relief specialist, Jonathan Falk, and church members filled vehicles with cases of donated water for several hours. Water distribution at the church continued throughout the weekend. Approximately 80,000 bottles of water were provided to community members, said Nelson.
To learn how you can help the community of Jackson, visit The Community Foundation of Mississippi.
Latest from NAHBNow
NAHB has promoted Alison Benson, CPA, to chief financial officer and treasurer. Benson brings more than two decades of accounting, financial planning and nonprofit financial management experience to the role. She joined NAHB in February 2026 as vice president, controller, and also served as interim treasurer.
Hone your management skills in an upcoming Nov. 12 live online course titled “Project Controls Fundamentals: Monitoring Scope, Cost and Time” from 1-4 p.m. ET.
Latest Economic News
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge accelerated in September after holding at 3.0% for three consecutive months, complicating the Fed’s path to its 2% target. Consumer spending continued to be pushed up by elevated energy prices rather than income growth, driving the personal saving rate to the lowest level in nearly four years.
The U.S. economy grew at a faster pace in the third quarter of 2026, supported by stronger consumer spending, robust business investment, and increased government spending. However, residential investment remained a weak spot, highlighting the continued challenges facing the housing sector amid elevated borrowing costs.
The latest homeownership rate reached 65.5% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). While this was a modest quarterly decrease, the broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges.