As temperatures dropped to dangerous levels, Tyler Jackson, a warehouse supervisor at the University of Southern Mississippi, knew the city’s homeless population faced a life-or-death struggle. With survival already a daily battle, the cold posed an even greater threat.
Jackson’s dedication to helping the homeless began more than 20 years ago after a brief encounter with a man sitting outside a Walmart. The two spoke for about 15 minutes, and the man’s gratitude left a lasting impression on Jackson.
“I just thought it was kind of sad that the best part of his day was just talking to a random stranger,” Jackson said. “And it kind of just went from there.”
What started as small acts of kindness eventually grew into a larger effort. Jackson and his friends would ask if there was anything they could do for those in need and often invited them to meet at the Deluxe Inn. This led to the creation of the nonprofit #MeetYouThere.
Initially relying on donations from friends and family, Jackson and his group were able to help people for a night. However, after arriving at the hotel to find 40 people waiting for assistance, Jackson realized the need was greater than he had anticipated.
A pivotal moment came when Jackson shared a video on Facebook of a man they had helped. In the video, the man expressed how life-changing it was to have a warm bed, a clean shower, and a safe place to sleep. The post resonated with viewers, resulting in an influx of donations. Among those who saw the video was Gabrielle Jordan, a local resident struggling with depression.
Inspired by Jackson’s posts, she felt compelled to help.
“In today’s society, there isn’t a lot of help,” Jordan said. “People are for themselves, and that’s it. Nobody wants to deal with someone else’s issues, besides Tyler….You know they say it only takes a mustard seed of hope and courage. Tyler gives those mustard seeds out.”
Jordan’s involvement marked the beginning of a strong partnership. Together, she and Jackson have continued to support Hattiesburg’s homeless population, turning Jackson’s nonprofit vision into a reality and making a lasting impact on the community.
