Franklin, LA — The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) joined, Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) partner, St. Mary Vermillion Community Action Agency to break ground on the initial stages of building the St. Mary Hope Apartments which will provide affordable rental housing in St. Mary Parish.
The St. Mary Hope Apartments is a newly constructed project featuring four affordable rental housing units within two duplexes. LHC awarded $949,887 through the HOME Program. "LHC's HOME rental housing program provides loans to affordable developers to build, buy, or rehabilitate affordable housing," said LHC Executive Director Marjorianna Willman. "It is a reward for us to work with St. Mary Vermillion Community Action Agency on this project. They are leaders in their community and are making a difference in the affordable housing industry. We are proud of their success as a CHDO, and this project is a prime example of what LHC strives to do across the state."
A CHDO is a non-profit, community-based service organization that has the capacity and whose primary purpose includes the development of affordable housing for the community it serves. State certification or designation as a CHDO allows for a non-profit organization to become eligible to take advantage of HOME funds set aside by LHC specifically for CHDOs. CHDOs also have the potential support for a portion of their operating expenses associated with their projects. St. Mary Vermillion Community Agency is just one of 20 CHDO partners with LHC. CHDOs are located across various parishes in Louisiana.
Other partners contributing to the affordable housing project include the City of Franklin, Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church, First National Bank of Jeanerette, Ardoin Architecture, Expert Maintenance and Construction, LLC, Law Offices of Landry, Watkins, Repaske & Breaux, and Agape Community Development.
To learn more, click the link to St. Mary Vermillion Action Agency's Website.
Breanne Bizette
Public Information Officer, Louisiana Housing Corporation
