The Morgantown Homecoming Program (MHP) was developed by the Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority (FMHA) in 2005 in response to a request by the residents of Morgantown to assist in the stabilization and preservation of the near campus neighborhoods that were at grave risk of being taken over by the ever-increasing student rental market.  Finding affordable Workforce Housing continues to be a challenge in Morgantown.  With the increased demand created by the students and larger employers, families are finding it nearly impossible to compete for single family housing in the quaint Morgantown neighborhoods where they can enjoy a short commute to employment and services.  With that in mind the MHP mission became to promote homeownership and housing choice in Morgantown’s near campus neighborhoods.

The MHP selected the four neighborhoods with the highest incidences of student housing conversions which included Greenmont, First Ward, Wiles Hill and Woodburn.  In these targeted neighborhoods the MHP purchases, improves and converts existing rental units or existing owner occupied homes into single family owner occupied homes with a deed restriction for continued owner occupancy.  The MHP also constructs new homes on in fill lots within our targeted neighborhoods that also convey a deed restriction for continued single family owner occupancy.  The MHP has been very successful in establishing an owner occupied foothold and a base for expansion has proven successful with significant community impact.  Over the years the program has gained significant momentum.  

Morgantown Homecoming is funded by FMHA, with assistance of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. Staff and marketing are provided by a grant from the C.W. Benedum Foundation, received in March 2008.