Lafayette, LA - President Walter Comeaux

Habitat for Humanity Residential Subdivision

The Lafayette Consolidated Government's Community Development Department collaborated with Lafayette Habitat for Humanity, Bank One, the Lafayette Builders Association and volunteers from the University of Southwestern Louisiana to build the City's first Habitat for Humanity Residential Subdivision.

With property donated by Bank One's Northside Branch, seven new single-family homes were built in the Square One Residential Subdivison, offering economically disadvantaged families an opportunity for private homeownership. Lafayette's Community Development Department awarded Habitat for Humanity $80,000 in CDBG funds to use for neighborhood infrastructure improvements, including the construction of roads and sidewalks, lighting, drainage and landscaping. The Lafayette Builders Association helped Habitat secure a Federal Home Loan Bank grant for construction of five of the houses. Bank One is sponsoring one home and Habitat is seeking corporate funding for the one remaining. Some materials are purchased, some are donated, and all construction is done by volunteers.

The Square One Residential Subdivison is located in the heart of the CDBG target area and addresses a high priority - providing affordable housing for very-low-income people. The families repay the cost of the home through an interest-free mortgage, and their repayments go into a fund that is used to construct additional homes.

Contact: Tim Breaux, Director, Department of Community Development, (318) 291-8400

The United States Conference of Mayors

J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone (202) 293-7330, FAX (202) 293-2352

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