Page 168 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2025

HOME
story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
Just reading or singing those words to ourselves leads our thoughts to cherished times of the past while shifting us into planning mode for upcoming celebrations this month. Hopefully family will be gathered around, treasured recipes will once again highlight the feasting table, and thoughtfully chosen presents will awe and delight, most particularly the youngest among us. Our homes, tidied up and beautifully decorated, will be the center of festivities and the canvas on which memories will be painted.
It is a pretty picture to imagine, isn’t it? All the color, the aromas, the happy noise of laughter, and the crackle of excitement when families come together at home. It is easy to take having a place to call home for granted. Creating a home is part of who we are. We have a need to protect and secure those we love. We need safe spaces for family gatherings and serene sanctuaries for healing.
There are those who will be homeless during the holidays. For one reason or another, it does not matter why, there will be men and mothers and children without a soft place to lay their heads. Sugarplum dreams will not come, nor will Santa. For some there will not be a dinner table filled with smiling relatives, there may not even be a hot meal. Living outside, as
authorities define homelessness, is a reality for many in our Gulf Coast community.
This holiday season let us not ignore the uncomfortableness we feel when we hear the stories of struggle. Let us not deny the issues but rather look for ways to make small differences. We spoke with the Hancock Resource Center (HRC) about the shortage of housing in our area. The HRC has been helping stabilize housing in the six lower South Mississippi counties for over 16 years.
Organized to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery, the nonprofit has evolved into a hub for federal, state, and private funding focused on reducing housing uncertainty. From veterans to victims of violence to families displaced by natural disasters, the HRC tirelessly works to get people into better living situations where they can get back on their feet. With temporary housing, rent assistance, and home repairs, their efforts give the most vulnerable among us shelter. This time
of the year, they organize food drives, toy drives, and provide opportunities to adopt families giving them necessities and holiday presents.
President Rhonda Rhodes, who has been with the HRC from its inception, is quick to share that there are several nonprofits
168 | December 2025
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