<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Increased housing needs and rising rents due to the influx of workers seeking opportunities at new Lake Area industries, slim pickings in the $100,000 and below house price range and tougher home loan standards due to the housing crisis of 2008 has made the American Dream of home ownership difficult for some Calcasieu Parish residents.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Calcasieu Parish Human Services Department is responding with increased services and housing education, such as credit counseling and homebuyer workshops, especially helpful for first-time homebuyers.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The CPPJ is also collaborating with Project Build a Future on a program called Asset Builders of Southwest Louisiana.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Nicole Miller of Project Build a Future said Asset Builders of Southwest Louisiana is a program that teaches financial literacy, offers support for people working to save for a down payment and grants some matching funding.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“This program helps people who don’t have a lot of wiggle room in their budgets,” said Nicole Miller of Project Build a Future.” They may save $5,000 and the car breaks down and they have to start over.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Qualified applicants who attend support sessions and educational courses may receive $4,000 for every $1,000 saved. More information is available at www.assetbuildersswla.org.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Money is only released at the point of purchase. The program can take six months to two years.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Our programs are constantly evolving as this influx of workers is anticipated,”said Tarek Polite, CPPJ Human Services Director. “We’ve also increased our workshops on fair housing and rental housing assistance.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The fair housing workshops educate the public regarding housing discrimination and the importance of signing a one-year lease agreement, an especially useful tip in a rapidly evolving housing market. Rents have already gone up in Lake Charles.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In an interview in January of 2015, Daphne Richard, SWLA Economic Development Research Director, said that rents were up at least 13 percent compared to last year’s averages.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The parish’s credit counseling programs can help potential homebuyers become mortgage-ready.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“One of the first things we do with the credit counseling is to pull the person’s credit score,” Polite said. “Then we help the individual figure out what’s derogatory and determine if the information is an error or not and if it is how to contact the reporting agency. We also offer ways for them to develop a budget and financial discipline.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The homebuyer workshops</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">help buyers know what to expect during the closing.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Buying a home can be an incredibly complex process,” Polite said. “These workshops are available for all home buyers and are especially helpful for first-time homebuyers.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Polite said that new programs are in the works for the coming year, including one to help educate those who do not use banking services and those who may be struggling financially due to student loan debt.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Polite said that in the move to self-sufficiency, financial literacy is a key component.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The next CPPJ workshop will be held Saturday, January 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">(337) 721-4030.</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Seating is on a first come, first-served basis.</span>