Nonprofit organizations are making a dent in the Natchez area’s housing needs, one structure at a time.

All last week teens from throughout the nation and other volunteers finished a variety of housing repairs at more than 20 sites in Natchez through the Southern Baptist Convention’s World Changers program.

On Rankin Street, no fewer than 30 volunteers were working Friday to finish porch repairs and outside painting at Etta James’ house.

James heard of the program, which returns to Natchez every two years to do home repairs for those who could otherwise not afford it, through a neighbor.

&uot;It’s a blessing,&uot; James said. &uot;If it weren’t for them, I would have to keep on saving, and who knows how long that would take.&uot;

Volunteers said they also get something out of the weeklong program. &uot;To me, it’s an awesome experience because we’re helping other people,&uot; Charly Conley, a volunteer from Texas, said from a painting scaffold.

&uot;It’s hard doing the work,&uot; especially in the summer heat, said fellow volunteer Ally Carey of Plano, Texas. &uot;But if I was in the same situation, I would want someone to help me out.&uot;

But World Changers isn’t the only organization helping solve the city’s housing needs.

The AJFC Community Action Agency recently started its Affordable Housing Program, which provides down payment assistance for single-family homes.

&uot;We’re now constructing 16 homes in the Broadmoor subdivision,&uot; said program Administrator Fannie Brown.

The program is funded with money from a variety of sources, including government agencies, nonprofits and local businesses.

Potential home owners must put aside money for a down payment, and that money is matched by the program.

How big is the need for decent, affordable housing among AJFC’s clientele? A survey conducted of parents of children in the agency’s Head Start program showed that 89 percent were renting their homes or living with other people.

&uot;When you asked how many of them would like to be homeowners, 85 percent said yes,&uot; Brown said.

The key obstacle to that dream was found to be poor credit, along with not being able to save up for a down payment.

For most of the people AJFC serves, &uot;it’s hard enough to pay for rent, food and clothing, much less save up for a down payment on a home,&uot; Brown said.

So AJFC applied for and received a $32,000 grant from the Foundation for the Mid-South to set up individual development accounts to help people save up those down payments.

A bonus is that one of the criteria for establishing an IDA is undergoing credit counseling classes, Brown said.

Such housing programs &uot;fit in well with our mission (at AJFC): to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty,&uot; Brown said.