Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care Awarded $16 Million to End Homelessness

Award will fund housing and supportive services

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BoSCoC), led by the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) and Louisiana Housing Authority (LHA), has been awarded more than $16 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to continue the fight to end homelessness. This award is an increase of nearly $1 million from the previous year. In total, HUD has awarded more than $46 million to fund housing and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Louisiana.

”HUD stands with our local partners who are working each and every day to house and serve our most vulnerable neighbors,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. ”We know how to end homelessness and it starts with embracing a housing-first approach that relies upon proven strategies that offer permanent housing solutions to those who may otherwise be living in our shelters and on our streets.”

The LA BoSCoC will award these funds to 27 high-performing programs that have been proven most effective in meeting the needs of people experiencing homelessness, including two new permanent housing programs operated by HP Serve and the START Corporation. These programs will serve more than 2,000 people at a time; more than 600 of these will be experiencing chronic homelessness and more than 700 will be veterans.

”Our mission is to ensure every resident has access to quality housing, and this funding will expand our ability to provide livable, permanent supportive housing solutions to some of the most vulnerable members of our community – individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” said Nicole Sweazy, Louisiana Housing Authority executive director. ”Housing is the first step towards stabilizing these families, but our efforts will also include supportive services such as healthcare, childcare and behavioral health solutions to ensure that these individuals have a successful transition.”

Most recently, LHA has been instrumental in housing individuals and families living under the North Boulevard overpass in Baton Rouge. Local officials, non-profits, property management companies, and members of the LA BoSCoC banned together to provide supportive services and resources to ensure a smooth transition for this community.

The Continuum of Care program funds a broad array of interventions to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those who are living in places not meant for habitation, emergency shelters, and transitional housing programs. HUD serves more than a million people every year through the emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent housing programs it funds.

Louisiana’s homeless rate is declining. The overall homeless rate has decreased by 64% since 2011, while homelessness among veterans has decreased 60% and chronic homelessness has decreased 86%.

For more information about the LHC, visit www.lhc.la.gov or call (888) 454-2001.

About Louisiana Housing Corporation
The Louisiana Housing Corporation was created by Act 408 of the 2011 Louisiana Legislative Session. The Corporation administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of safe, energy-efficient and affordable housing for moderate-to-low income families.

About Louisiana Housing Authority
The Louisiana Housing Authority, a subsidiary of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, serves severely disabled and homeless individuals by providing funding for rental assistance, supportive services, shelter operations, homeless prevention and rapid re-housing assistance.

About the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care
The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care is an organization of agencies and individuals dedicated to ending homelessness in Louisiana. It receives annual funding from HUD through the Continuum of Care program to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Its service area covers both urban and rural areas across 22 parishes, including East Baton Rouge.

Media Contact
Na’Tisha Natt
Director of Public Affairs
nnatt@lhc.la.gov | (225) 763-8720