LAFAYETTE, La. — A housing rehabilitation initiative in Lafayette Parish is providing crucial assistance to homeowners, allowing them to repair and upgrade their properties, ensuring their homes are safe, sustainable, and in compliance with modern codes. The Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program, aimed at helping income-qualified residents, has already transformed several homes, with one such success story being that of Cynthia Noel.
Noel, a homeowner originally from New Orleans, moved to Lafayette after Hurricane Katrina. Over time, the condition of her home deteriorated, leaving her with costly repairs that were out of her reach. However, thanks to the Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program, Noel’s home has undergone significant improvements, including a new roof, central air conditioning, updated bathroom cabinets, a new water heater, and much more.
“I feel very, very blessed. I’m overwhelmed. I’m overjoyed,” Noel said, expressing her gratitude for the life-changing renovations.
The Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program, run by the Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), is designed to help low- to moderate-income homeowners address housing code violations, ensure Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, improve sewer systems, and increase energy efficiency. The program provides eligible homeowners with a deferred payment loan of up to $50,000, covering a range of repairs and updates, with the labor provided by LCG’s dedicated carpentry crew.
Belle LeBlanc, the Human Services Manager for LCG, explained that the program is not merely a remodel but a true rehabilitation effort aimed at bringing homes up to current building codes. “All of those things are going to be brought back up to current code,” LeBlanc noted, highlighting the importance of making homes safe and functional for their residents.
The program prioritizes elderly and disabled homeowners, with a strong emphasis on allowing residents to age in place. LeBlanc stressed the importance of maintaining these homes as valuable assets, which homeowners can pass down to future generations. The initiative also aims to keep residents in their neighborhoods, ensuring that Lafayette’s core communities remain vibrant and stable.
In Noel’s case, the total cost of the repairs exceeded the $50,000 maximum loan amount. To address the additional expenses, she enrolled in a housing loan program offering zero percent interest, further alleviating the financial burden. In the meantime, LCG provided Noel with one of four available homes for participants, ensuring that she had a place to stay during the renovation process.
Noel reflected on the transformation of her home, saying, “The home itself looks like a totally different home than when I first bought it.”
As the renovations near completion, Noel is eager to move her belongings back into the updated space. “I’m blessed to have learned about the program and to see its outcome. I’m like, ‘Oh Lord, thank you Jesus,’ because finally my house was just falling apart. This was breaking, that was breaking,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
The Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program is just one of several initiatives in Lafayette Parish designed to assist residents in maintaining their homes and ensuring the long-term vitality of their neighborhoods. For more information on the program and other available resources, residents can contact Lafayette Consolidated Government.
With its focus on revitalizing homes and strengthening communities, the Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program stands as a testament to the power of community investment, helping homeowners like Cynthia Noel stay in the homes they’ve worked for and providing them with the means to preserve them for years to come.