Doubling Impact in the 9th Ward

Louvis Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that focuses on building permanent supportive housing for the City of New Orleans homeless population. Founder Lou Anne White, who serves as the Executive Director for Louvis Services, has had years of involvement in permanent supportive housing, an evidence-based model that combines affordable housing with flexible services. “We really want to focus on moving people off the streets,” said White. Partnering with local architectural companies and volunteers, Louvis constructed the first duplex house in the Lower 9th Ward. When it came time to finance the project, White went to local banks but was turned down. She then came to HOPE. “With us being a fairly new organization, no one wanted to take a chance with us… but HOPE did,” said White. HOPE provided a $150,000 loan which was used to pay off a construction loan financed by another New Orleans-based Community Development Financial Institution. Along with the housing duplex, Louvis also offers the Edible Landscape program, where tenants can learn about gardening and grow their own fruits and vegetables. Since the completion of the first duplex, Louvis has been awarded four additional duplex properties in the Lower 9th Ward through the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. White plans to use this housing model to create more housing for individuals who are homeless living in New Orleans’ under-resourced communities.