The Pontotoc Dream: a Case Study Analysis of Rural Homeownership in Mississippi

Rural communities face issues with affordable housing just like urban communities, but these problems are not often associated with rurality. Using Pontotoc County, Mississippi, as a case study, this thesis seeks to understand the extent of the affordable homeownership issue in rural communities and identify possible policy solutions. This thesis used a qualitative research approach by conducting semi-structured interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders in the communities of interest within and surrounding Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Using the data collected from these interviews, units of meaning were grouped into categories, which were then grouped into themes. The findings of this study highlight a deep love of community, rapid growth, the lack of affordable housing at all income levels, the need for comprehensive solutions, and some of the barriers to these solutions, including nuanced community attitudes toward growth