First-time buyers and longtime homeowners alike continue to face obstacles to stable housing. Rising interest rates, higher insurance costs, and expensive repairs cause hardship for many families.
To address these challenges, the Lafayette Consolidated Government, for the past decade has offered a range of housing counseling and assistance programs through its Community Development & Planning Department, specifically known as the Jessie Livingston Taylor Center for Housing and Community Services.
For Lafayette resident Geraldine Decuir, her home has always been more than a place to live. She and her husband built their Lafayette house from the ground up in the 1970s, hoping it would be a lasting family legacy. But over time, the house has begun to show its age.
Roof damage, electrical problems, and other unexpected repairs piled up. Now elderly, battling cancer, and living on Social Security benefits, Decuir found herself facing choices no homeowner wants to make.
“It was stressful on me every time something new broke,” she said. “It left me wondering if I’d have to move and give up my home that I built to leave as a legacy.”
Across Louisiana, there are similar stories as the rising cost of living leaves families struggling to afford the basics, according to United For Alice’s 2025 study on financial hardship. According to the report, half of households in the state now live below the ALICE Threshold, which are families who earn too much to be considered in poverty, but not enough to cover essentials like housing, food, and health care. That often means choosing between rent and groceries or postponing critical home repairs.
First-time buyers face barriers too, including hig prices and interest rates. The National Association of Realtors reports that in 2024, the median first-time homebuyer was 38 years old.
“This is why many of these programs and services are needed,” said Belle LeBlanc, LCG’s human resource manager and a HUD-certified housing counselor. “We give people the tools to advocate for themselves before they reach a breaking point.”
The department’s assistance program includes:
- First-Time Homebuyer Program – Provides low- to moderate-income families with up to $20,000 in down payment assistance through a 0% fixed-interest loan.
- Ramp Program – Installs accessibility ramps for residents with mobility challenges.
- Minor Housing Rehabilitation Grants – Assists with small but critical repairs like painting, safety improvements, and electrical updates.
- Housing Rehabilitation Program – Offers up to $50,000 in home rehabilitation support for income-qualified households, with work provided by LCG’s carpentry crew. Residents are temporarily relocated at no cost during renovations.
- Sewer System Program- This program includes repairing/replacing a aerator, discharge pump, sewer lines, field lines, discharge lines and holding tank.
The department’s housing counseling services include:
- Home Ownership training– Learning the basics of purchasing a home with industry professionals.
- Financial Literacy workshops- Assessing one’s financial situation and fundamentals of money management.
- Home Maintenance Workshops- Learning how to maintain a home, build equity, and DIY small repairs.
Workshops are offered monthly, including bilingual Spanish sessions. Assistance program eligibility is based on income thresholds, typically using HUD guidelines which an application is submitted online.
“We help through every stage. Before you buy, while you own, and even when code violations need fixing,” said LeBlanc.
For Decuir, the Housing Grant Program was the best solution. She was approved after five years on the waiting list. The program granted $50,000 for repairs and rehabilitation with all work handled by Lafayette Consolidated Government’s carpentry crew. While renovations are underway, applicants are placed in temporary housing at no cost.
Eight months later, Decuir returned to a completely renovated home. Crews had repaired ceilings, replaced flooring, upgraded plumbing and electrical systems, installed new air conditioning and a hot water heater, replaced windows, and refreshed the house with new paint.
“It was like a brand-new house,” Decuir said. “At first I was frustrated about waiting, but then realized nothing was coming out of my pocket. I couldn’t afford it on my own. All I had to do was wait.”
LeBlanc noted that elderly and disabled residents are often prioritized for the Housing Rehabilitation Program, while smaller repairs such as accessibility ramps, minor rehab, and sewer system upgrades have no wait list.
“We want to invest in people that live here because a home is something that should be treasure and affordable to maintain or purchased,” LeBlanc said.
While the programs aren’t heavily advertised, applications are always open, and officials say they’re eager to expand them as they work to get more funding, according to LeBlanc.
For those interested in applying for any of the grant programs, applications are online only at lafayettela.gov. To register for a class call 337-291-5450.
