Project Build a Future

“We’ve set our sights on growth,” Blake said. “We’re planning to build even more homes in 2024 and help even more families achieve the American Dream of owning their own home.”

The centrepiece of the year ahead will be the first phase of an eventual neighbourhood of homes off Fitzenreiter Road.

The effort will start with building three to four homes in 2024.

Overall, the sweeping initiative effort entails:

1. Building quality, affordable homes of 1,000 square feet (two bedrooms), 1,400 square feet (three bedrooms) and 1,800 square feet (four bedrooms).
2. Ensuring they are fortified and resilient against hurricanes.
3. Deploying environmentally conscious development.
4. Using multiple exterior styles.
5. Securing construction gap funding through private and business supporters.
6. Gathering subsidies by government, city and parish grants, and financial lenders.

Post-purchase program

PBAF has a post-purchase program for homeowners that centres on financial management and independence. It includes initial meetings with a topic specialist and PBAF’s program contact who coaches the post-purchase journey.

The topics include insurance needs; savings; retirement planning; equity, escrow and borrowing power; refinancing; remodeling and additions; wills, successions and funeral planning; and homeowner rights.

Call to community

There are multiple ways the community can help meet the challenge of offering affordable homes:

1. Some givers help directly with generous donations to the program — and some of these are matched by employers’ matching gift programs.
2. Others help by donating building materials, equipment, furniture, appliances or professional services related to homebuilding.
3. Land for new homes is always needed, of course. The agency acquires property by fair-market-value purchase, donation, or a combination of both.

Project Build a Future

Project Build a Future has built and developed 117 home sand given $500,000-plus in assistance in Southwest Louisiana. To learn more, visit projectbuildafuture.org and its Facebook page.

We’re building hope one home at a time.

1. LAND/PROPERTY GIFTS
2. IN-KIND, MISSION-RELATED DONATIONS
3. TRIBUTE GIFTS
4. MATCHED GIVING
5. PLANNED GIVING AND LEGACY GIVING
6. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES