BREAKING NEWS: NFL Legend Brett Favre Invests \$3.6 Million to Turn Mississippi House into Shelter for Homeless Youth
*By Angela Price, National Correspondent | May 6, 2025*
**HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI —** In a heartfelt and unexpected move, Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has announced a \$3.6 million personal investment to convert a sprawling, long-abandoned Southern estate into a shelter and resource center for homeless and at-risk youth in his home state of Mississippi.
Favre, 55, made the announcement early Tuesday morning during an emotional press conference held on the weatherworn steps of the old Delacroix Manor, a once-grand plantation-style house nestled just outside Hattiesburg. The house, which has sat vacant for more than 15 years, will be transformed into **“The Way Home House”**, a 24-hour shelter and development hub for youth aged 13 to 20.
“I’ve played on some of the biggest stages in the world,” Favre began, his voice cracking slightly. “But nothing compares to what we’re starting here today. This is about saving lives, not scoring touchdowns.”
### From Football Glory to Community Grit
Brett Favre, known for his ironman streak with the Green Bay Packers and a gun-slinging style that made him a legend, has largely stayed out of the public eye since his retirement in 2010. While he’s made headlines over the years for both philanthropic and controversial reasons, Tuesday’s announcement marks a new chapter — one rooted in giving back in a deeply personal way.
According to Favre, the inspiration came after a quiet meeting last year with local outreach workers who told him about the sharp rise in youth homelessness across rural Mississippi.
“I met a 16-year-old girl who was sleeping in a laundromat,” Favre shared, pausing. “Her mom was in jail, her dad nowhere to be found. She still showed up at school every day. That stuck with me. It haunted me.”
In Mississippi alone, over 5,000 youth experience homelessness each year, according to a 2024 report by the Southern Youth Services Network. The Way Home House is intended to provide not only beds and meals, but also long-term stability — including mental health support, academic tutoring, vocational training, and spiritual counseling for those who seek it.
### A Home with History — and a Future
The Delacroix Manor, built in 1894, had become more a symbol of decay than elegance. Weeds overtook the front columns, and vines coiled over the once-polished balconies. For years, developers eyed it as a teardown.
Now, thanks to Favre’s investment, it’s getting a second life.
Renovation plans reveal a multi-wing design featuring 20 dorm-style rooms, a counseling wing, communal kitchens, and even a small football field in the back — “for therapy and play,” Favre said with a smile. Local architect Clara Middleton, leading the restoration, confirmed that much of the home’s historical charm will be preserved.
“This house has a story,” Middleton said. “And now it’s about to help shape thousands more.”
### The Team Behind the Mission
Favre isn’t going at it alone. He’s partnering with the Mississippi Youth Hope Collective, a local nonprofit that’s worked for over a decade supporting vulnerable teens in the state. They’ll manage day-to-day operations, and Favre has committed to funding at least ten full-time staff positions for the first five years.
“He didn’t just show up with money,” said Carlton Reed, director of the Collective. “He came with a notepad full of ideas and questions. He wanted to learn. He listens. That’s rare.”
Favre’s daughter, Breleigh, who is pursuing a graduate degree in social work, is also joining the initiative. She’s taking on the role of youth engagement coordinator and says she’s looking forward to being part of something “bigger than football.”
“We’ve seen these kids,” she said. “They’re not statistics. They’re survivors. They deserve the world.”
### Reaction Across Mississippi — and the Nation
News of the project spread quickly, drawing praise from both the sports world and humanitarian circles.
Aaron Rodgers, Favre’s former Packers successor, posted on social media: “Incredible move by a legend. Respect, #4.”
Mississippi Governor Trey Calhoun issued a statement calling it “a landmark investment in the future of our state’s youth.”
Even longtime rivals took notice. Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said during a podcast taping, “Say what you want about Favre the competitor — this move is first-class.”
Locally, residents gathered by the dozens near the property’s gates after the announcement, many sharing tears, hugs, and memories of what the Delacroix Manor once represented.
“This was a house of privilege once,” said Tameka Holmes, a nearby resident. “Now it’ll be a house of purpose.”
### Redemption and Resolve
Favre didn’t shy away from addressing past controversies — including missteps in how previous funds were handled in other ventures. In fact, he brought it up himself.
“I’ve made mistakes,” he said. “But I’m not here to talk about the past. I’m here to build a future. This is where my heart is now.”
He also confirmed that all finances related to the shelter will be publicly transparent and overseen by an independent board that includes youth advocates, local leaders, and at least one former foster youth.
“Accountability matters,” Favre said. “And trust is earned, not assumed.”
### What’s Next?
Construction on The Way Home House is set to begin in July, with an estimated completion date of March 2026. The project will include sustainability features like solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and a community garden that will be tended by both staff and residents.
Favre ended the press conference the same way he started most of his NFL games — with a grin and a statement of belief.
“I don’t know much about politics, and I sure ain’t perfect,” he said. “But I know what it means to fight. These kids have been fighting their whole lives. It’s time they had a team behind them.”
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**The Way Home House** isn’t just another charitable venture. It’s a bold, transformative effort led by one of football’s most enduring icons. And for hundreds of Mississippi’s forgotten youth, it may be the first real home they’ve ever had.