Four area Habitat for Humanity chapters are working on a merger.

Lauderdale, Scott, Newton, and Neshoba counties would become Habitat for Humanity of East Central Mississippi.

The four affiliates have voted to start the process. Between now and January, the chapters will disclose their financial records and any problems to each other.

"These smaller counties are rural and it's very hard for them to continue a building program where they don't have the resources of staff being able to be there to continue, keep things going and running by, you know, working on selecting families, helping on organizing the fundraising and all that would need to be done," said Lauderdale County executive director Fonda Rush.

The eventual objective is to be able to build more houses in each county by combining resources.

These four Habitat chapters will take another vote after January. If they're in agreement, then the merger process would continue and become official in July 2010.