Local Housing Authorities initiatives for hurricane evacuees

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Office of Federal Program Development in conjunction with the Housing Authorities of the City of Lake Charles, the City of Sulphur, the Town of Vinton, the Calcasieu Parish Housing Department, and the Southwestern Louisiana Homeless Coalition would like to advise evacuees of Hurricane Katrina receiving Section 8 or Public Housing assistance in one of the affected parishes prior to the storm of the following information:

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has established a single toll free housing hotline to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. That number is 1-888-297-8685. This number will operate from 7a.m. to 8p.m. CDT seven days a week. Deaf, hearing-impaired or other persons requiring TDD/TYY services can call 1-800-877-8339

Section 8 voucher holders receiving assistance prior to the Hurricane Katrina still have their assistance. If you are a Section 8 voucher holder and you have found a place to stay you can contact the housing authority in the area that you are living and that housing authority can administer your Section 8 voucher for you. Also, if you are interested in transferring to another jurisdiction that administers a Section 8 program, anywhere in the United States, each of the four housing authorities in Calcasieu Parish can assist with that also. Contact information for the housing authorities administering Section 8 programs in Calcasieu Parish are below:

Calcasieu Parish Housing Department
1011 Lakeshore Drive Suite #602, Lake Charles, 337-721-3577

Housing Authority - City of Lake Charles
800 Bilbo Street, Lake Charles, 337-436-7628

Housing Authority-City of Sulphur
312 Brook Street, 337-527-5248

Housing Authority-Town of Vinton
810 Center Street, 337-589-5331