On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter was joined by Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) Executive Director Kevin Delahoussaye to announce the City of Lake Charles’ partnership with LHC’s Keys for Service Program.
The Keys for Service program, was initially tailored specifically for Louisiana’s essential workers, offering forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance to homeowners who occupy the property for a required period of time, making it more accessible and affordable for borrowers to purchase their primary residence.
The City of Lake Charles will offer a program that piggybacks off the LHC program, providing down payment and closing cost assistance for City Employees who purchase properties inside the city limits, thus offering its employees the opportunity to apply for and benefit from both programs.
“We have a tremendous team here at the City of Lake Charles,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “My administration reached out to LHC to ask if they would be interested in this partnership, and we are honored with their response. This is yet another way can say thank you to our employees, by helping them accomplish the dream of homeownership.”
“The Keys for Service Lake Charles Partnership is a collaborative effort that will allow us to make homeownership a possibility for eligible families and individuals,” said LHC Executive Director Kevin Delahoussaye. “For many that need assistance with the down payment and closing costs, Keys for Service helps these potential homebuyers achieve that homeownership dream. Homeownership builds wealth for the homebuyer and the surrounding community. We are grateful for this partnership, and we know that our efforts here will greatly help out the City of Lake Charles.”
The City’s program applies only to City of Lake Charles employees who have one full calendar year of employment with the City to be eligible, and the home must be located within the City of Lake Charles. 
Qualifying employees can benefit from up to four percent or $10,000 in assistance, whichever is less, and applicants will benefit on a first come, first serve basis. There is no cash back to borrowers and all other LHC Keys for Service program criteria apply.
 
To learn more about Keys for Service, employees should visit www.lhc.la.gov/keysforservice.