Housing Services

Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program

This is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Funds are designated for improvements to older neighborhoods, and administered by the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government (LCG) Community Development Department.

The objective of the housing rehabilitation program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to low income residents in Lafayette, to ensure that homes meet all standards of the International Property Maintenance Code, and to preserve older neighborhoods.

All work is handled by LCG crews to ensure a quality finished project. When is has been determined that a household qualifies for the program, they will be considered for a grant up to $25,000.00.

 

Criteria for program qualification include, but are not limited to:

• The applicant must reside in the home at the time of application and while on the waiting list, and must have lived in the home for at least 3 years.
• The applicant must own the property.
• The household must meet certain income guidelines (see below). 
• The home must meet federal guidelines regarding its proximity to a flood zone and content of hazardous building materials.

Income Guidelines:

Priority ratings determine placement  on the waiting list. Priority points are awarded in the following areas:

• Income
• Age
• Family size
• Handicap or Disability
• Efforts to maintain your property
• Length of residency at your address
• Length of time spent on waiting list

The higher the priority rating, the sooner the rehabilitation could take place.

Obligations of the Recipient:
Rehabilitation grants are awarded in the form of a conditional grant. This means that the loan requires no pay back (deferred loan) unless the property is sold, rented, leased or otherwise alienated for value within ten years after rehab takes place. After ten years, the grant obligation is canceled.

If the grant recipient dies within the ten years, the grant will not have to be repaid.

Relocation/Moving Grant Program
The Lafayette Consolidated Government maintains four homes within the target neighborhoods that are available to all grant recipients during the rehabilitation of their home. Most are handicap accessible and all are equipped with central heating and air conditioning. Utilities and the use of a telephone are furnished. There is no cost for any of these services.

A moving grant, which covers cost incurred during the relocation process, is also awarded to all recipients. The rehabilitation process takes approximately three to six months.

Housing rehab clients receive counseling during this entire process.

The Rehabilitation Process

• Application: Call (337) 291-8446 or email: rdecuir@lafayettela.gov
• Inspection Of Your Home
• Cost Estimate/Work Write-Up
• Counseling Of The Homeowner
• Contract Signing
• Temporary Relocation of Homeowner
• Rehab Work Begins
• Follow-up Begins
• Mortgage Cancellation

Demolition Grant Program:
This program is also federally funded through HUD. Owners of property may qualify provided: 1) the property is located within the target area and has been unoccupied for at least 1year,  and 2) the owner must meet income guidelines (see below).

At no cost to the owner, this grant allows for the removal of abandoned, dilapidated houses, sheds and garages that are decayed and beyond repair.

A $10,000 maximum amount is available for demolition of residential property.

When a commercial building is being considered for a demolition grant the owner must have owned the property for at least 3 years. The maximum amount of grant funds that may be allocated to the demolition of a commercial building is $4,000.

Recipients of demolition grants are not indebted to the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government in any way. The owner is free to enter into any type of legal transaction regarding their property.

The housing staff determines eligibility and provides counseling before the actual demolition takes place.

Income Guidelines:

Questions concerning demolition grants may be directed to (337) 291-8423.