First Home Closing for Project Boots Homeownership Program

La’Tasha Lewis, a graduate of William M. Raines High School and Edwards Waters University and a mother of two sons, will be the first generation in her family to reside on the Eastside. The Project Boots home developers: Terry Hardmon of The Hardmon Company (left); Carmen Williams (center), wife of Sr. Pastor Harry Williams of In the Word International Ministry; and Dr. Cohen of LISC Jacksonville (right).

“Our original purpose with Project Boots was to change the trajectory and narrative of Jacksonville’s most under-resourced communities, starting with the Eastside, and provide a guided path to access to homeownership for first-time homebuyers,” said LISC Jacksonville Executive Director Dr. Irvin “PeDro” Cohen. “Project Boots was created as an investment in both the Eastside community overall and in the first-time homebuyers themselves. In doing so, we reinvigorate the passion residents feel for the Historic Eastside community, who will in turn demand more for their neighborhood, helping uplift the community as a whole in the process.” He also added, “The future is bright for Project Boots as we have four more homes slated to get started construction by the summer.”

Lewis’s new home, located at 1033 Grant Street, directly across from the proposed new soccer stadium nearby the Eastside’s sports entertainment district, was led by The Hardmon Company, a local developer. Owner Terry Hardmon, also a Jacksonville native, served as the general contractor and hired local builders, including In the Word International Ministry, and subcontractors to build the home, while he oversaw the budget, materials purchasing, and other details.

1033 Grant Street, nearby the Eastside’s sports entertainment district.

Project Boots supports local residents on path towards homeownership by providing down payment assistance and a homeownership training curriculum to participants over the course of 12 months. Once they successfully complete the program, participants are able to purchase build a new or existing home. Participants must meet a monthly savings requirement, which is matched by the program. They must also complete the 12 homeownership training sessions, covering areas such as financial components of homeownership, using homeownership as a wealth-building mechanism, health-related topics, home maintenance, and others. For more information, Project Boots .

Groundbreaking Two New Construction Homes

Left to Right: Dr. Itvin "PeDro" Cohen LISC Executive Director; Ivy Henderson; Dr. Kiersten S. Pough; David Garfunkel President LIFT Jax; and Darnell Smith, North Florida Market President Florida Blue

LISC Jacksonville broke ground October 3, 2023 at 1206 Van Buren Street and 1410 Florida Avenue celebrating the construction of two brand-new homes, allowing LISC to invest in OutEast while providing a path to homeownership for new and returning Eastsiders.  

LISC Jacksonville is exicted to welcome two Jacksonville natives: Ivy Henderson, Landscape Artitect and Dr. Kiersten S. Pouch, Pharmacist.

Dr. Irwin Cohen, Executive Director LISC Jacksonville discussing plans for Project Boots