Twenty-five local leaders representing four teams gathered in Demopolis, Alabama, in October 2026 to begin turning community housing priorities into action. 

The gathering launched the West Central Alabama Housing Institute, a yearlong program created through a previous partnership between MHP and Rural Studio, an Alabama-based architectural education program through Auburn University, focused on sustainable rural living and community development. 

The four teams represent communities and organizations from across the region: 

• Team Selma: the City of Selma and Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, and the Selma Housing Authority 
• Team Demopolis: Demopolis Area Habitat for Humanity 
• Team Perry and Wilcox Counties: Sowing Seeds of Hope and Blackbelt & Central Alabama Housing Authority 
• Team York: IV VETS and the City of York 

The first workshop focused on understanding community needs, identifying local assets, developing a shared vision and beginning an action plan. Participants also learned about ways to build power at the community level, as well as from one another about housing needs and opportunities that extend across community boundaries. 

One participant described the value of moving from conversation toward action: “The sessions provided an opportunity to engage with community stakeholders, identify shared housing challenges, and move beyond discussing problems toward developing actionable solutions.” 

That regional exchange is especially important in western Alabama, as participants repeatedly emphasized the need for more opportunities to bring housing leaders together, share knowledge, and strengthen collaboration across the region. They also expressed interest in organizing a larger regional housing summit in the future. 

The Demopolis workshop was the first in a five-part series, with future gatherings rotating among communities in the region. Before the next workshop in December, MHP staff will meet individually with each team to refine their action plan, identify priorities, and record  the steps needed to move their emerging housing project forward. 

Each team will also receive tailored technical assistance throughout the year. By October 2027, the goal is for all four teams to have a housing project in the development process. 

The first workshop gave the four teams clearer priorities, stronger regional connections, and the foundation for actionable housing plans. Over the coming year, MHP’s Housing Institute will help each team move from those plans toward a locally led housing project in development.