LAFAYETTE, La.–The Affordable Housing Alliance understands building and rebuilding a community takes a village. To see a room filled with Black developers, realtors, contractors, investors, advocates, culture bearers, and others shows community care and effort.
Historically, Lafayette natives and rural Black families from smaller surrounding towns were heavily concentrated in North Lafayette due to Jim Crow segregation laws and affordability.
Over the last 25 years, some generational families have left the area, attracting interest from onlookers and outsiders. The state’s minimum wage of $7.25 sets a low standard for encouraging businesses to give employees fair raises and livable wages and salaries.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Policy Development and Research, the average sale price of a new home is $255,800 and for existing homes $198,800 (a 12% increase to 2020).
Rental rates have also risen, forcing residents to move to surrounding areas like Scott, Broussard, and Carencro. In addition, the lack of tenants’ rights subjects residents to neglect and financial predatory behaviors from landlords and property managers.
Organized and hosted by Dr. Chris Williams and the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce at Lafayette’s Downtown Convention Center, the “State of Louisiana Inaugural Meeting” discussed the challenges Northside Lafayette faces, coalition building, and action plans to rebuild the Northside.
Preying on vulnerable communities is Systemic Racism
Lifelong residents fear that developing companies and city entities plan to gentrify historical Creole of Color and African American communities.
To combat this, the Affordable Housing Alliance plans to proactively involve itself with entities and spaces that make civic decisions.
“I presently live in McComb, and I get those letters every week, and one time I called and cursed them out and told them don’t send those letters no more. And now I’m getting phone calls. It’s systematic racism. You know, because they come after people in a bunch of different ways and we need to empower ourselves and the youth to where we can deal with these people, you know,” Ms. Trincella Bonnet said.
Like numerous cities in America that face gentrification, predatory entities see the rich culture and land in North Lafayette. Residents suspect big company developers will rebuild and sell to other demographics instead of revamping and reinvesting into the present area and community.
Touching stories from residents
Dr. Williams also spoke about a family member who moved to Lafayette and was told not to move to the Northside. Luckily, his family encouraged him not to believe the hype.
He then shared a powerful story about historical notary business owner, Mr. V. Clyde Coco.
“Mr. Coco was older, and he began to have health issues, and his son moved him to Tennessee. And his son, being the person that he was called saying, ‘I’m getting all these calls, these guys are trying to buy my dad’s house. I wanna sell it up to a nonprofit or a group that’s not going to flip it or turn it into an Airbnb,’” Dr. Williams shares.
The family sold the home to a local organization that is rehabilitating it and placing a family in it. Dr. Williams encouraged deliberate decision-making when investing and remodeling our communities.
As funds funnel through large corporations and government agencies, the Affordable Housing Alliance plans to get involved, ask pertinent questions, and consistently organize.
Members spoke passionately about the need for Lafayette Consolidated Government to build and model a city-level Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) allocation of contracts and funds.
Lafayette native and advocate Flex Mouton shared, “Right now the DBE program is in place with federal contracts, not local. It does not mandate or govern local contracts. We are asking for LCG to [model] what they are doing in Baton Rouge, and present it to the council, and say we’d like Lafayette to be able to [guarantee] a 25% mandate to DBE contracts.
The Affordable Housing Alliance plans to join wings under an active organization, which will platform the coalition’s mission. Dr. Williams strongly believes Lafayette’s diverse Black community has the talent and tools to overcome and succeed.
Ms. Bonnet and Executive Director of McComb-Veazey Coterie, Tina Shelvin-Bingham, encouraged the Affordable Housing Alliance to include the youth and align with their learning capabilities and preferences.
““Not every one of our youths has access to people like you all in this room and the people who have helped guide you as well. So [we must] be able to coach and mentor our youth to be able to get them going in the direction that we need them to go. Because we need more trades in our community,” Shelvin-Bingham said.
Shared resources included DBE certification information, local banking, Neighborhood Coteries, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, national media coverage, and more.
Some residents in the region, including Veazey native and COO of Louisiana Creole Culture Milton Arceneaux, say that Black natives leave the Northside and Lafayette due to local systemic inequalities and lack of opportunities.
To change this Brain drain, community members must commune, exchange, share, and support each other while fighting the oppressive and suppressive systems.
The Affordable Housing Alliance will host ongoing meetings, activities, and initiatives to collectively and equitably rebuild North Lafayette.
