
CV NEWS FEED // Catholic Charities of Acadiana in Louisiana is struggling to find sufficient funds to run its emergency homeless shelters after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry recently cut $1 million in state funds previously allocated to the organization.
Kim Boudreaux, the CEO of Catholic Charities of Acadiana, stated in a news release that the cut is “a significant setback to our pro-life efforts to care for our vulnerable neighbors experiencing homelessness.”
“Our shelter serves as a critical lifeline for 87 individuals each night who have nowhere else to turn,” she added. “We face an uncertain future for those who seek shelter with us as a last resort.”
CatholicVote previously reported that Landry had cited immigration as the reason for the cut, saying:
Part of Catholic Charities mission is to support the influx of illegal aliens into our country. Taxpayers should never foot the bill for nonprofits who are contributing to the illegal immigration crisis our nation is facing. I don’t believe the majority of our legislators would support this either.”
According to The Current, Catholic Charities sent out an email on July 9 urgently asking for donations. Catholic Charities also pointed out the success of its emergency homeless shelter operations, stating that last year it sheltered 410 unduplicated individuals, the majority of whom were from the Acadiana region.
“Last year, Catholic Charities of Acadiana successfully diverted 60 households from an experience of homelessness by helping to reconnect them to natural support systems,” Catholic Charities added. “Also last year, Catholic Charities of Acadiana returned 135 individuals from its shelter to permanent housing.”
