CV NEWS FEED // Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has vetoed a funding appropriation to Catholic Charities of Acadiana that had designated $1 million for the organization’s emergency homeless shelter services.
The move to cut funding to the local Catholic Charities comes less than one week ahead of the start of its 2024-2025 fiscal year, which will likely have a serious impact on the organization’s future efforts to combat homelessness in the Acadiana region, local news outlet KLFY reported on June 25.
The funding for Catholic Charities had been one of four spending appropriations Landry vetoed in House Bill No. 1 of the 2024 Regular Session.
According to the report, Landry stated in a June 24 letter to Louisiana Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier (R-Eunice), and President of the Senate Cameron Henry (R-Metairie), that he made the decision after determining that it was not “an efficient use of state resources.”
Chief of External Affairs for Catholic Charities Ben Broussard said in a statement released on June 25 that the organization was “saddened” by Landry’s decision.
“Currently, Catholic Charities shelters 87 homeless individuals nightly, offering safety to those experiencing homelessness in Acadiana,” Broussard remarked.
Broussard also noted that Catholic Charities is the largest provider of shelter in the Acadiana region.
Last year alone, according to the report, Catholic Charities sheltered 410 individuals in its emergency shelter, aided 135 individuals to find permanent housing, and helped 60 households avoid homelessness by reconnecting them to “natural support systems.”
