Lafayette Selects Reinvestment Fund & WRT to Lead Citywide Housing Needs Assessment
LAFAYETTE SELECTS REINVESTMENT FUND + WRT TO LEAD CITYWIDE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT
National search attracted more than 15 firm teams to help Lafayette chart the future of housing
Lafayette, LA – Following a national search that attracted more than 15 firm teams from across the country, the Lafayette Housing Partnership has selected Reinvestment Fund + WRT to lead the City of Lafayette Housing Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study. The team distinguished itself through its familiarity with Lafayette, continuity with the city’s Market Value Analysis, analytical depth, and focus on translating research into an actionable implementation strategy.
As Lafayette continues to grow and housing needs evolve, community leaders are seeking a clearer understanding of what housing the city needs more of, where it is needed, for whom it is needed, and how Lafayette can both preserve and strengthen its existing housing supply while creating new housing opportunities. The assessment will examine the market, financial, and regulatory conditions affecting both preservation and new development.
The Housing Needs Assessment represents a $125,000 community investment, jointly funded by Lafayette Consolidated Government ($50,000), Lafayette Economic Development Authority ($25,000), Lafayette Housing Authority ($25,000), and Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority ($25,000).
The competitive search and selection process was facilitated by the Community Foundation of Acadiana and included a review of qualifications and proposals, as well as finalist interviews. The approximately six-month assessment will launch this fall, with final recommendations anticipated in spring 2027.
Building upon the Market Value Analysis previously completed by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Reinvestment Fund + WRT will conduct research and market analysis alongside stakeholder and community engagement. The final assessment will translate that work into housing production targets, development feasibility findings, near-term priorities, and a long-term implementation roadmap to help guide housing policy, preservation, investment, and development decisions.
Upon completion, the findings and recommendations will be presented publicly at a Lafayette City Council meeting, followed by the release of the final assessment.
“Our goal is a Lafayette where people have access to quality, stable places to live and where our community can continue to grow,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet. “That means being thoughtful and intentional about how we invest in housing and the infrastructure that supports it, strengthening our neighborhoods today while building for Lafayette’s future.”
“Housing is economic development. Talent chooses where to live based on quality of place, and employers follow talent," said Mandi Mitchell, President and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. "LEDA commissioned the Market Value Analysis to understand how our neighborhood housing markets are working. This assessment turns that foundation into a plan for the housing Lafayette needs to retain and attract the workforce that powers our economy."
Residents will play an important role in developing that understanding. In the coming months, people throughout Lafayette will be invited to participate in a citywide housing survey and community engagement opportunities designed to capture their lived housing experiences.
“This study will give us a clearer understanding of Lafayette’s current housing needs, where the greatest gaps exist, and what types of housing are needed across our community,” said Latweeta Smyers, Executive Director of the Lafayette Housing Authority. “The findings will help LHA and our community partners make more informed decisions about where to invest, what types of housing are needed, and how we can strategically expand and preserve housing opportunities throughout Lafayette.”
“Communities across the country are confronting housing challenges, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” said Sara Patenaude, PhD, Director, Policy Solutions – Southeast, Reinvestment Fund. “Lafayette has an opportunity to bring rigorous market analysis, resident experience, and development feasibility together in a way that can inform locally grounded action and serve as a model for other communities.”
The assessment is being advanced through the Lafayette Housing Partnership, a coalition of more than 20 public, economic development, housing, nonprofit and community partners working to create a more coordinated approach to housing in Lafayette.
“There is an old principle of leadership that says you should know those you labor among. I believe the same should be true of a city,” said Alex Lazard, Executive Director of the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority, which is serving as project manager and fiscal agent for the effort. “Before we decide what programs to create, what products to finance, what policies to change or what housing to build, we should deeply understand the people we are trying to serve.”
“My hope is that Lafayette can model something nationally through this process — a community willing to understand itself before prescribing solutions for itself,” Lazard continued. “If we combine rigorous data with the lived experiences of our residents, we can build policies, products and investments that truly respond to Lafayette and help create a city that works for everyone.”
Details about the citywide survey and upcoming community engagement opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks.
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About Reinvestment Fund – www.reinvestment.com
Reinvestment Fund is a national, mission-driven financial institution that combines capital, data, research and expertise to strengthen communities and expand opportunity. Founded in 1985, the organization works with public, private, philanthropic and community partners across the country to understand markets, inform policy and direct investment toward stronger, healthier and more equitable communities. Reinvestment Fund is a federally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
About WRT – www.wrtdesign.com
WRT is a national planning and design firm bringing together planners, urban designers, architects and landscape architects to help communities address complex challenges through thoughtful, community-centered planning and design. With offices in Philadelphia and San Francisco, WRT works across scales and disciplines to develop strategies that reflect local conditions, engage and empower communities, and translate community aspirations into plans and projects that can guide future action.
About the Lafayette Housing Partnership
The Lafayette Housing Partnership is a collaborative of public, economic development, housing, nonprofit, philanthropic and community organizations working together to strengthen Lafayette’s housing ecosystem through shared data, coordinated strategies and collective action.
The Partnership includes: 232-HELP; Acadiana Apartment Association; Acadian Home Builders Association; Acadiana Planning Commission; ARCH; Catholic Charities of Acadiana; Community Foundation of Acadiana; Downtown Development Authority; Lafayette Consolidated Government; Lafayette Economic Development Authority; Lafayette Habitat for Humanity; Lafayette Housing Authority; Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority; Maraist Financial Services; One Acadiana; REALTORS® Association of Acadiana; Schumacher Family Foundation; SunCHDO; United Way of Acadiana; and additional community partners.
