HRI Communities developed Bonne Terre Village I, which serves seniors in Houma, Louisiana, in 1996 in response to Hurricane Andrew. Since then, the coastal community has been impacted by many major storms, with Category 4 Hurricane Ida causing significant damage in 2021.
“[Ida] really exposed the vulnerability to the housing supply, displacing hundreds and hundreds of low- and moderate-income seniors,” says Chris Clement, senior vice president at HRI. “Learning what we did through recent storms, we wanted to implement those best practices for disaster resilience.”
Seeing the need for disaster-resilient housing for seniors in Houma after Ida, HRI took the opportunity to revitalize and preserve the 51-unit Bonne Terre Village I. The $11 million development secured an allocation of 9% low-income housing tax credits and benefited from local financial assistance. It also committed to long-term affordability through a new 45-year regulatory agreement.
The renovation scope focused on sustainability, energy efficiency, and disaster resilience. It incorporated a new cementitious skin to provide waterproofing over the existing exterior insulation and finish system; added impact-rated windows; and installed a backup generator for life-safety systems, lighting, and HVAC systems to create a “cool room” in the community center where seniors can escape the dangerous summer heat.“It’s a place where seniors can feel safe and can weather the storm,” adds Clement. “They know they are in a safe building built on high ground with premium windows. And to be able to give seniors climate control could be a life-preserving effort. It’s crucial.”
The development serves a mix of income levels from 30% to 60% of the area median income; four units are set aside as permanent supportive housing with project-based rental assistance. In addition, the Terrebonne Council on Aging has an office on the first floor, providing social services to residents as well as seniors in the community.
