New Orleans leaders mark National Homeownership Month, urge more funding for counseling and homeowner stability

Councilman Eugene Green recognized local housing counselors, lenders and longtime real estate professionals during a City Council ceremony marking National Homeownership Month, and speakers used the event to urge the council and state to bolster funding for housing counseling, down‑payment assistance and neighborhood resiliency programs.

The recognition noted that New Orleans’ homeownership rate was cited as 49 percent — higher than the national rate of about 45 percent — and that the city ranks among the top municipalities for Black homeownership, remarks that council members and housing leaders said should be highlighted alongside ongoing affordability challenges.

“Homeownership is the foundation,” Deborah Davenport, director of programs at Desire Community Housing Corporation and a HUD‑certified housing counselor, said during the ceremony. Davenport and other counselors said counseling work — from credit repair to closing‑cost navigation — remains the first step before residents reach a lender.

Frank Williams of the Parkway team at eXp and other industry veterans said many prospective buyers are discouraged by the complexity of the process and that more outreach and education are needed so people do not “get discouraged and won’t try anymore.” Mindy Denicola, mortgage division staff at Hancock Whitney Bank, said she has worked with first‑time buyers for decades and praised the role of participating lenders who “bridge the gap” for financing.

Crystal Jones Taylor, a former interim director of HUD’s New Orleans office and current nonprofit leader, said the Housing Authority of New Orleans and other local partnerships have produced models that move Section 8 voucher holders into ownership in some cases. She described collaborative efforts with banks, the Louisiana Housing Corporation and USDA to “demystify” the process and expand affordable homeownership options.

Speakers urged that the city’s recently created Housing Trust Fund be used to support homeownership as well as rental stability. “It may include closing cost assistance programs. It may include down payment assistance,” Councilman Green said, noting that the council adopts final funding decisions but that recommendations from stakeholders will shape the trust fund’s early priorities.

Multiple speakers warned that getting people into homes is only part of the work; maintaining stability is also critical. One presenter said that rising insurance costs are pushing homeowners toward sheriff sales and foreclosure, and asked the council to consider a “holistic approach” that pairs homeownership programs with stability funding.

Panelists and council members also recommended greater investment in neighborhood‑scale resiliency measures, specifically expanding the fortified roof program. “If we started to do major clusters in certain neighborhoods with fortified roofs, that would bring the cost of insurance down in a complete neighborhood,” one speaker said, noting a partnership between Hancock Whitney and the Federal Home Loan Bank on fortified roof financing.

Councilman Green and the presenters emphasized collaboration across city, state and federal partners. Several speakers asked the state legislature and state agencies to take a more active role on insurance regulation and funding for resiliency programs, but no formal requests or votes were taken during the recognition.

The event included the presentation of proclamations and a group photo; numerous longtime housing professionals received recognition for decades of service to New Orleans residents.