HUD Returns Lafayette’s Housing Authority to Local Control

HUD recently announced that it’s returning the Housing Authority of the City of Lafayette (HACL), Louisiana, to local control, five years after HUD assumed day-to-day administration of the once-troubled agency. HUD took over operational control of the HACL in March of 2011 for substantial default of the agency’s obligations including financial mismanagement, misuse of funds, and a lack of leadership. 

“After five years of hard work and collaboration, we’re turning a new page today at the Housing Authority of the City of Lafayette. While there are so many people who made today possible, I want to especially thank HACL’s residents for their cooperation and patience during this turnaround,” said Lourdes Castro-Ramirez, HUD’S Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, in a statement. 

During the five years of HUD’s control, HACL worked with its employees, residents, and the city to correct long-standing deficiencies and comply with the terms of its Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) with HUD including:

• Hiring a full-time Executive Director;
• Stabilizing its financial management;
• Making improvements to the housing stock;
• Increasing its Section 8 leasing by more than 200 families;
• Appointing a new Board of Commissioners with the expertise and training to effectively set policy;
• Moving to an asset management approach to managing its properties;
• Creating a new Resident Council; and
• Partnering with other housing providers in the Lafayette area.