As Lafayette freezes, St. Joseph Diner loses heating unit
Space heaters are now being used to warm the diner to the extent possible, and Catholic Charities says repairing the unit could take four to six weeks.
Read More
Catholic Charities of Acadiana
New grant in hand, Lafayette orgs hope to create playbook to combat homelessness
Catholic Charities is convening a diverse group of residents, political leaders and other stakeholders to analyze the housing landscape and develop solutions that will increase access to housing for those struggling to attain it.
Read More
‘End of the line’ tent camp for homeless people broken up
Safety concerns forced the move, but aid workers say they aren’t sure where those pushed out of the encampment will go.
Read More
With forecasted weather to be at or below freezing temperatures later this holiday week, Catholic Charities of Acadiana will enact a freeze shelter plan to ensure the safety of those experiencing homelessness.
Source: KATC
How are other communities handling rising homelessness?
Catholic Charities has joined six other local housing organizations in asking Lafayette Consolidated Government for a more permanent solution to homelessness — $6.5 million to purchase an out-of-use hotel that would be retrofitted into a permanent, low-barrier, non-congregate shelter.
Read More
UPDATE: LCG passes $7 million rent assistance plan
December’s booster shot of federal stimulus will send $7 million in rent and utility assistance to Lafayette Parish, a figure that dwarfs previous local allocations but that advocates say still falls short of projected need. LCG is working through how to get the money out quickly.
Read More
Lafayette loses more shelter space as housing needs mount
Closing the shelter was in the works before the pandemic. But the loss nevertheless comes at a bad time.
Read More
‘It’s miraculous’ — no known coronavirus cases in Acadiana’s homeless shelters
Housing advocates say it’s a testament to the swift action taken to stand up emergency housing, isolate people at risk, rearrange facilities to allow for social distancing and communicate the threat to the people they work with.
Read More
Sheltering the unsheltered amid COVID-19
Lacking adequate healthcare, those who are unsheltered are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Local shelters are already at capacity, and more people are becoming homeless each day. It’s a public health problem, according to advocates.
Read More