The City of Vicksburg is working with Warren County Habitat for Humanity to acquire four state-owned vacant properties on Roosevelt Avenue on which four homes are planned for construction within the next two years.

“Right now Habitat is prepared to start two additional homes,” said Abraham Green, local director of the international program told the board of mayor and aldermen Tuesday. “Hopefully, within the next year or so… we’ll be prepared to do two more.

The mayor and aldermen OK’d taking the first step toward acquiring the properties. Buildings and Inspections Director Victor Gray-Lewis said the city will petition the state for the tax parcels on the properties — 2500, 2609 and 2615 Roosevelt Ave., and Roosevelt Ave PPIN#030401 — and will then forward those to Habitat, which will be responsible for getting the property from the state.

“The City of Vicksburg has a long history with Warren County Habitat for Humanity,” Gray-Lewis said, adding the board will have to OK conveying the property to Habitat at a future meeting once the tax documents are received from the state.

Green said Habitat is also working on building two homes on two Fayette Street lots conveyed by the city about a year and a half ago. Since Green was installed as director in 2007, he said Habitat has built one home and rehabbed two others. He hopes the property on Roosevelt Avenue will be conveyed to Habitat in time for a September ground-breaking on two homes.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization aiding people attain homes in all 50 states and nearly 90 countries worldwide. Homes are built by volunteers, including the recipients, and sold at cost.