If you are interested in buying a new house in Plaquemines Parish or on the Eastbank, the United Way would like to talk with you.

As part of its ongoing effort to help with rebuilding efforts in the southern part of the parish, The United Way has received a state grant of $6.7 million to assist new private home owners with the purchase of a home in 1 or 2 areas near the newly opened community centers in either Boothville, Buras, Davant or Port Sulphur.

To gather information about the housing needs of home owners interested in moving to these areas, the United Way is conducting a survey of prospective home buyers. The survey results will tell the United Way how many people are interested in purchasing a private home in southern Plaquemines and Eastbank, what size homes are needed, what is an acceptable price range, and what services residents will need to make a decision to buy a new home.

For those interested in purchasing a new, single-family home in these areas, a representative from the United Way Housing Plan Team will be conducting a housing survey at the following locations Tues., Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 5:

•In Port Sulphur, 4- 6 p.m., at the YMCA/Community Center at 278 Civic Drive, behind South Plaquemines High School
•In Buras, 4-6 p.m., at the YMCA at the YMCA/Community Center at 36342 Hwy 11
•In Belle Chasse, 4-6 p.m. in the Belle Chasse Library at 8442 Hwy 23
•In Point-a-la-Hache, on the Eastbank, 3-5 p.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church at 15670 Hwy 15.

This particular state grant is focusing on current residents, dislocated residents or Plaquemines Parish workers in the Lower Parish and Eastbank, who are interested in purchasing a new home along with a private lot in a small subdivision close to the new community centers.

The state grant will be used to assist private home buyers to purchase a home through private financing by home owners.

The United Way would like to locate housing near the new community centers, so that residents will have access to the services offered by non-profit community center agencies, including the YMCA, Council on Aging, Community CARE and Plaquemines Parish Government. Community Centers offer a wide variety of services including fitness centers, community meeting rooms, swimming pools, senior center services, including transportation and a daily lunch five days per week, a variety of health and fitness programs, after-school programs, summer camps, counseling for youth and families, and other services.

Carl Elliott, from the United Way Housing Team, will be there to answer your questions and will be available to assist you in filling out your housing survey. The housing plan is scheduled for completion in January, 2011.

Community Centers in Buras and Port Sulphur have opened in September and the YMCA is reporting about 1,000 new YMCA members in those communities within two months. The Percy Griffin Center in Davant and the Boothville-Venice Community Center are scheduled to open within the next 60 to 90 days.
The new senior center in Port Sulphur is also open for seniors, and proving senior activities and a daily lunch Monday through Friday.