LaPlace/Fighting neighborhood in Downtown Lafayette is the oldest platted neighborhood in the city, and it is in crisis. The tremendous needs of our homeless, mentally ill, poor, and neglected are too much for one charity and one neighborhood to bear. Even with the increase in new investment from private and public dollars, our residents report reduced quality of life, escalating fear, anger, and despair saying, “the crime has never been this bad”. 

We need help!

Now is the time to act! Our Council will soon adopt the 2024 budget and we need them to help us.

We need the LCG Administration to provide funding and to partner with a private developer to create solutions to solve this crisis. Permanent supportive housing in other areas of the city, Day Shelter, mental health treatment, and job training are among the many things needed to stop this. 

We need change.

Councilman Glenn Lazard has been a strong advocate for us,  but his request for $1.5million in the 2022 budget session failed to gain support due to LACK OF A PLAN on how to spend the money.

We emphatically urge the LCG Administration to take swift action during this budget year to provide funding to address this crisis. It has already lead to escalating fear and isolation among our elderly, gun violence, injury to innocent people, and good folks leaving the area. 

WE NEED CHANGE NOW!

A comment from one of our newest residents:

AArceneaux says:
Please support this cause. Our most vulnerable brothers and sisters need your help. No one deserves to be outside in this scorching heat.

Hello
I’m one of the Habitat home owners on Olivier and I am so glad to see this petition. Since I have moved in my home it has been very stressful dealing with the homeless being all around my home. I had to deal with numerous time’s having to call the cops because of trespassing in my yard even on my porch. I’ve had to deal with seeing them doing drugs in broad daylight in front my home also in the back. And also having drug dealers coming to sale to the ones on drugs that also resulted in shootings. Not to mention my cameras going off throughout the night because they roam the same areas around my house as well. And the amount of trash is ridiculous that’s left all over the neighborhood. It’s a very scary and stressful situation. For our residents and businesses. These people obviously need help but in a different location not around residents and businesses. I’m hoping this petition will be the start to change for our neighborhood
BB