The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Human Services Department will host its first-ever virtual Landlord Recruitment Event from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
The event, conducted via a virtual Teams meeting, will focus on the new National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) guidelines, a new inspection model from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It prioritizes tenant safety and holds landlords to a higher standard when it comes to maintenance by focusing on three areas -- the housing unit itself, the building's interior common areas, and the building's exterior and site. The scoring system assigns greater weight to issues found inside the residence.
The meeting will also provide an overview of the landlord’s role in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and will discuss strategies for improving landlord participation and recruitment in the program.
James DeBlanc II, Parish Housing Inspector, will lead the event. Several staff members will also be on hand to discuss the Housing Choice Voucher and Permanent Supportive Housing programs.
“We are moving in a new direction because of NSPIRE,” said DeBlanc. “Understanding the NSPIRE guidelines ensures properties not only meet compliance standards, but also provide safe, high-quality housing that benefits both residents and the community.”
During the event, landlords and residents will have the opportunity to have online face-to-face interaction with staff members.
The link to join the virtual meeting will be available at calcasieu.gov/section8 beginning at 9:30 a.m. on March 20.
For more information on this event, call Human Services at 337-721-4030, ext. 5119 or email DeBlanc at jdeblanc@calcasieu.gov.
