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November 11, 2014
The distribution of $3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant money, coming from the 2011 Hurricane Gustav/Ike Recovery Program, has resulted in the construction of 12 affordable apartment units in Lafourche Parish.
Seven of the units are in Raceland, and five are in Thibodaux.
The apartments in Raceland are being facilitated through the Lafourche Parish Housing Authority, while the ones in Thibodaux through Lafourche Arc.
“It was a blessing for us at the housing authority to be able to partner. We were very honored to be selected by the Lafourche parish government to receive that small grant to construct these homes for affordable rentals,” said Lafourche Parish Housing Authority Executive Director Bethyl Pitre.
Applicants for both complexes must have an income that isn’t greater than 80 percent of the area’s median income.
“Lafourche Arc is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the parish in this endeavor. We are looking forward to providing our community with safe, affordable housing for individuals with disabilities and the elderly,” Lafourche Arc Director Lester Adams said in a release.
All seven in Raceland, located on Greenville Street, are two bedroom, one bathroom apartments, and they will be rented for $773 per month with a minimum of two occupants and a maximum of four occupants. Construction for these apartments is completed, and the housing authority is aiming for a Dec. 1 move in date.
Meanwhile in Thibodaux, there will soon be four, two bedroom, two bathroom apartments and one single bedroom apartment for affordable rates. Lafourche Arc will try to place people with special needs in the two bedroom apartments, while setting aside the one bedroom unit for an elderly person. The apartments are located on Westover Drive and are nearing completion.
The two bedroom apartments in Thibodaux will cost in the neighborhood of $700 per month, and the single bedroom unit will be less than that, according to Adams. He eyes a mid-December move-in date.
“We decided after hurricanes Gustav and Ike that we needed to make further investments into our parish and what was truly a dire need for sturdy, dependable rental housing,” Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph said in a release. “It is exciting to see the grant money awarded to us be used on such worthwhile projects like these that will provide quality housing to multiple families in our parish for years to come.”
Rent money collected will be directed back into the units to maintain and insure them with any additional money going toward more low-income housing.
Officials cited a lack of affordable rental properties in Lafourche Parish as a reason why these apartments were so needed.
“The city of Thibodaux has a lot of apartments because it’s a university town but when you move out of the city or the immediate area of Thibodaux there are very few apartments and complexes,” Pitre said. “People coming into our parish to work because work brings them here or just young people completing school, starting a life, just have a very difficult time finding something affordable.”
One of the Raceland apartments has already been filled by a very thankful Brittany Washington.
“I am so thankful for the parish doing this,” the 27-year-old said in a release. “It is so hard to find something reasonably priced, let alone new these days. I can’t wait to move in, and I hope others have the same opportunity as me to find this type of housing for them and their families.”
Others wishing to apply for the apartments may still do so.
Those interested in applying for the Raceland apartments may visit the Lafourche Parish Housing Authority office at 3920 Peggy Street in Raceland to fill out an application or call 985-537-5289 for more information. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those interested in applying for the Thibodaux apartments may visit the Lafourche Arc office at 634 Chocktaw Road in Thibodaux to fill out an application once they are made available or call 985-447-6214 for more information. The office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
These houses in Raceland will be available for a projected Dec. 1 move in date for $773 per month.
