It was an extremely busy night for members of both the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council as they decided to approve a measure by Lafayette-Mayor President Josh Guillory to use U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development money for small businesses.

Both council also had other issued to hear about and to discuss, but the issue about the HUD funding to address homelessness took center stage according to our news partners at KATC.

The HUD funding, some argued, should have been designated for people who are experiencing homelessness, as figures show it has risen by 58 percent since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory's idea was to use that funding for small businesses, and representatives of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority say they will be matching the HUD money with $200,000.

The councils voted for Guillory's idea, but the plan still needs to be approved the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. We will keep you updated when more details are provided.

There were other items that were discussed at last night's meetings. One of the issues that was asked about and then updated, is the search for Lafayette Police Department's new Chief. Back in January, Toby Aguillard resigned his position as the Chief, and there was a committee designated to search for a new Chief. Guillory says the search was halted when the pandemic began, but he says the search team will be quickly resuming the search for a new person. In the interim, the city of Lafayette has been served by Scott Morgan who has held the post.

Another item that was announced at last night's gathering has to with a new Covid-19 screening site. The site, announced by Lafayette Councilwoman Nanette Cook, will begin their testing next week. On three different days, people will have the opportunity to get tested for Covid-19. The testing site will be located at Patlola Medical Center at 901 Wilson Street. This will be a drive-thru facility. They will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays between one and four in the afternoon and on Fridays from nine o'clock in the morning until noon.

 

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