Click to read our successes!

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury as a Housing Counseling Agency in 2010. The Housing Counseling service program mission is to provide comprehensive housing counseling services that meet the needs of low-income families through education and training.

Housing Counseling Agency Announces 2024 Homebuyer Education Classes

Calcasieu Parish’s Housing Counseling Agency, in conjunction with Project Build a Future, has announced its free Homebuyer Education Classes schedule for 2024.

All classes are held at the Allen P. August Multipurpose Annex, 2000 Moeling St. in Lake Charles and participants can opt to attend two, four-hour, back-to-back classes or attend one eight-hour session.

Here is the full 2024 class schedule:

• Saturday, Feb. 17: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., hosted by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
• Monday, April 22: 5-9 p.m., hosted by Project Build a Future
• Tuesday, April 23: 5-9 p.m., hosted by Project Build a Future
• Monday, June 10: 5-9 p.m., hosted by Project Build a Future
• Tuesday, June 11: 5-9 p.m., hosted by Project Build a Future
• Saturday, Aug. 17: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., hosted by Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
• Monday, Oct. 21: 5-9 p.m., hosted by Project Build a Future
• Tuesday, Oct. 22: 5-9 p.m., hosted by Project Build a Future
• Saturday, Nov. 16: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., hosted by Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.

The class walks participants through the entire process of buying a home, step by step. It covers all the fundamentals of homeownership, including the pros and cons of purchasing a home, the role of realtors, all about mortgages (mortgage terminology, mortgage originators, mortgage underwriters and underwriting criteria and mortgage attorneys), financial management and proper budgeting. Other topics include down payments, closing costs, insurance and how to apply for grants.

Residents who are interested in buying a home, are in the process of buying a home, and even those who already own homes, are encouraged to sign up for these classes. Please note that the definition of “first-time homebuyer” is anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years -- even if the person owned a home previously.

“Education is the key to investing in yourself, your family, and your community -- it pays the best interest,” said Maxcine Fontenot with Housing Counseling. “Homebuyer education classes provide participants with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to reach financial goals, increase savings and secure the financial stability needed for homeownership.”

Classes are free to all participants, regardless of income. To register, click on the “homebuyer group counseling” tab below and fill out the application.

Applications are also available at the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Human Services Department office, 2001 Moeling St., Lake Charles. The office is open from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Participants will receive a certificate when they successfully complete classes.

For more information, call the Calcasieu Parish Housing Counseling Agency at 337-721-4030, ext. 5152 or email mffontenot@calcasieu.gov.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Residents in Calcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, Jeff Davis and Cameron parishes can receive free, face-to-face financial counseling from a HUD certified housing counselor. Watch this video for more information:

If scheduling conflicts prevent face-to-face counseling, phone counseling will be on a case-by-case basis.

Our certified financial counselors can help you:

• Establish a realistic plan to address your financial situation
• Support you with free, ongoing counseling
• Pinpoint spending excesses and potential savings
• Setup a Personal Financial analysis for your review
• Offer alternative strategies to help your money go further.

To submit a one-on-one application, click the one-on-one button below and follow these steps:

Step one:  Download it to your computer. 
Step two: Type in the form.
Step three: Submit via the submit button at the top right of the form. 

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer