Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg is a mid-sized college town in south Mississippi, home to the University of Southern Mississippi, with a slower pace than Jackson but real resources if you know where to look. The average household income sits around $45,000 a year, though plenty of families here live far below that line. Forrest and Lamar counties, which make up the Hattiesburg area, reported roughly 140 people experiencing homelessness in the 2023 point-in-time count, a number advocates say undercounts the reality of folks doubled up or sleeping in cars. Edwards Street Fellowship Center has long been a steady presence downtown, offering meals and a place to land during the day. The Salvation Army of Hattiesburg runs shelter and case management for individuals and families trying to get back on stable ground. Pine Belt Community Services can connect you to utility assistance and other aid if you're trying to keep a roof overhead. You've made it this far, and that counts for something — take it one day at a time, and let the people here help carry some of the weight.