St. Charles Department of Community Services outlines growing demand for rental and utility aid

Joan Diaz, director of the St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services, told the parish council on July 21 that the department functions as a safety net for working and struggling families, serving elderly and disabled residents as well as single-parent households throughout the parish.

Diaz said the department provided about $350,000 in direct assistance last federal fiscal year processed through the Louisiana Housing Corporation, served more than 5,559 meals through summer programs, distributed 399 Thanksgiving baskets and provided 735 bags of emergency food. "Our department is designed as the safety net services for struggling families throughout St. Charles Parish," Diaz told the council.

The department reported increased demand for rental assistance and noted that a typical rental assistance amount that used to be about $700 has risen to more than $1,000 because rents have increased. Diaz said the parish drew down about $91,000 last year on a HUD tenant-based rental assistance partnership brought in through Jefferson Parish and that the department supplements federally funded LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) with other local pots of money when LIHEAP funds run out.

Diaz reviewed several program areas: an on-site emergency food bank, summer enrichment and after-school programs at three community centers (Boutchie, St. Rose and Kelowna), homeowner-occupied minor and more substantial repairs through HUD Home and other grants, and partnerships with Catholic Charities, Second Harvest and United Way. She said volunteers and corporate partners supplement core funding and that the parish allocated local general-fund dollars for emergency assistance, medical needs and rent.

On home repairs, Diaz said different funding sources were combined when needed because construction costs (for example, roofs) have risen. She gave funding draw-down figures for some programs in the federal fiscal window she reviewed: about $144,000 drawn down for certain programs, $62,000 spent on health-and-safety repairs, and $54,000 from a USDA grant window used largely for handicap bathrooms and some roofs. Diaz also described a ramp program that formerly received larger United Way funding; United Way funding fell from about $100,000 to $36,000, and Volunteers of America and parish volunteers have supplemented ramp construction.

Diaz said the department is piloting an early morning drop-in (AM) program in Kelowna and will charge a nominal fee for the Boutique site’s early drop-in. She described partnerships for job-search help, including referrals and presentations with Tommy Scott and related CSBG-funded training.

Council members thanked Diaz and asked clarifying questions about expanding morning drop-ins, nonprofit partnerships and how donations are handled. Councilwoman Wilson asked whether the AM drop-ins would be expanded; Diaz said Kelowna will pilot an early drop-in and Boutique will offer a nominal-fee version. Councilman Pilier asked whether the department or its partners are 501(c)(3) organizations; Diaz said the department operates under the government umbrella but partners with nonprofits that have charitable status and that donors to partner nonprofits receive donation documentation.

Why it matters: The presentation provided the council and residents with a fiscal and programmatic snapshot of parish safety-net services and flagged rising rental demand and energy costs as drivers of increased need. Diaz asked the council and the public to note that the department coordinates multiple funding streams and community partnerships to fill gaps in services.

Clarifying details: Diaz said the parish served more than 5,559 meals in the summer-enrichment program last year, distributed 399 Thanksgiving baskets, processed 735 food bags, and drew down roughly $91,000 on a HUD tenant-based rental assistance allocation during the prior year. She reported program-specific draw-downs of about $144,000, $62,000 and $54,000 in other funding windows for home repair and safety work, and noted United Way ramp funding declined from about $100,000 to about $36,000. Diaz also said about 94% of department clients were below the poverty level in the review period.

Speakers quoted or referenced: Joan Diaz, Department of Community Services director; Councilwoman Wilson; Councilman Pilier.

Ending: Diaz closed by thanking council members and community partners and said the department will continue to pilot program expansions to meet growing local needs.