COMM. JACKSON ANNOUNCEs OVER $40 MILLION SECURED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN NORTH LOUISIANA HOUSING

Photo : Galilee City Apartments

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) approved $53,083,894 to make capital investments in housing development across North Louisiana. In total, over $260 million in funding was awarded to 26 developers in regions across the state that were eligible. Grants are awarded to communities large and small, urban and rural with an emphasis on helping the Lake Charles community continue its rebuilding efforts it was devastated by floods in 2020 and 2021. View all local grants announced today.

“As I have traveled this, I’ve heard time and again from families and seniors in public housing that a decent home in a safe community shouldn’t be too much to ask for,” said Joshua Hollins, Executive Director, LHC. “With this investment today, we are committing to work with our local stakeholders and private development partners to provide quality housing that communities, families, and individuals who live there can be proud of.”

All developments must meet the FORTIFIED Multifamily Gold Standard; will conduct a multi-hazard risk and vulnerability assessment; manage surface stormwater, provide access to potable water during emergencies, flood-proof buildings, provide emergency power, install back-flow preventers, construct with ‘flood-hardy’ materials and assemblies and ensure all mechanical systems are elevated. Developments are also required to Green Building Standards to support energy efficient appliances and internet access.

The grants announced today are provided through LHC's competitive Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Piggyback Resilient Mixed-Income (PRIME) NOFA . The funds will help support private sector development to help build, renovate, and/or modernize workforce housing in their respective communities. Specifically, Caddo Parish will receive just over $34 million to help with critical renovations of at The Fairmont Towers Apartments, Lakeside Garden Apartments, and Galilee City Apartments. Funding was awarded for the construction of new single family homes for King Oaks V.

"We are grateful for the support from the Louisiana Housing Corporation. The PRIME 2 funding will enable us to create meaningful change and positively impact the lives of those in our community" says Carlos Guice, President, SPC Development Corporation (Lakeside Garden Apartments and Galilee City Apartments).

“Quality housing is essential to stabilizing families and neighborhoods,” Steven Jackson board member for North Louisiana and Caddo Commissioner District-3 said. “Today’s investment ensures that we’re putting working families first, keeping seniors in safe, sanitary, and decent housing, and supporting working class individuals who are rent burdened. The work this money funds is the kind of investment our communities need in order to repopulate neighborhoods, support community schools, and encourage spur other economic activity. I am calling on our local leaders and stakeholder to come together to build masterplans around these developments so that we can see holistic development from street improvements, blight removal, water and sewer upgrades, and educational opportunities.

LHC April Board Meeting

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