The Diocese of Lafayette, under auspices of the Affordable Housing Porgram (Institutions and Housing Development), has organized, constructed, and supervised care for the aged and infirm, who are dependent, neglected and medically in need of nursing or custodial care. Professional staff develop services specifically designed to meet their physical, social and psychological needs in promoting good health, security, happiness and usefulness in longer living. A conscious effort is made to establish a diocesan presence in all deaneries and regions of the Lafayette Diocese. This Program combines all related institutional services under one management system in order to provide the most effective services possible in the most efficient manner. It is comprised of three major residential settings: Skilled Nursing Services, Assisted Living, and Residential Care for the Aged, Handicapped, and those with special needs.
These developments, located in most sections of the Diocese of Lafayette, provide the following services to the community:
Assets to the diocese in the form of lands and buildings.
Housing for the poor elderly, disabled, handicapped and/or homeless.
Jobs for the community from construction to continuous operation upon completion.
"New Money" pumped into the local communities as an economic aid (Daily Iberian and the Eunice News).
Beautification of "sore spots" in the community where these type of facilities are usually located.
At present, the diocese operates approximately twelve hundred units with sixty-five percent of all rents subsidized by the Federal Government.
The goals of the Program are to promote a greater awareness among priests, deacons, religious, and laity of the health and social needs of the poor, elderly, sick, and underprivileged; and a better recognition of the Church at the diocesan and interparochial levels to respond to those needs through the development of residential and institutional facilities designed to meet particular needs.
The Program involves all eight civil parishes of the Lafayette Diocese, and requires the participation of the corporate officers of the Society of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, LA.
The Affordable Housing Program (Institutions and Housing Development), named coincidentally to enhance operations with federal and state offices and to de-stereotype persons with special needs, consists of three concentrated areas, as previously mentioned, and Advocacy. Affordable Housing is in constant direction in developing physical services to meet special needs following up (after care) to ensure quality service and to be a consistent advocate for programs and services to assist the poorest and neediest of those among us.
HUD announcements of housing units available in diocesan area. (METRO: Non — METRO) Sec. 202 (Elderly) Sec. 811 (all other disabilities). The City of Lafayette is only Metro Area in the Diocese of Lafayette.
Search for suitable site. (Must contain all amenities).
Filing of Application (very lengthy and must have support of local governing authority - Must convince government of community need and of diocesan ability to meet this need). Deadline for filing is April 30th with approval decision made in late October.
HUD notification of fund reservation signed and returned.
Form new corporation, adopt bylaws, assign all sponsor contracts and commitments to new corporation, select and employ consultants.
File IRS 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Have site appraisal completed and send copy to HUD.
Have site topographic survey completed and cross referenced with attorney for preliminary title opinion.
Have soil testing and report completed.
Obtain preliminary title opinion and coordinate with surveyor.
Architect complete preliminary building design drawings and cost estimates.
Architect complete design development drawings for owner's approval.
Architect complete contract documents and working plans and specs and submit to HUD for review.
Negotiate building construction contract with contractor.
Send application for firm commitment to HUD for approval (allow 45 days).
Attorney and consultant to finalize initial closing documents.
Initial closing at HUD.
Start construction within 10 days.
Commence marketing program for occupancy.
Construction period complete.
Record acceptance of development.
Allow 30 day lien period.
Obtain No Lien Certificate.
Close out documentation submitted to HUD with cost certification and audits.
When "Permission to Occupy" is granted the project is turned over to Property management staff for operation under statutory agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.