PRESS RELEASE
CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY
For Immediate Release: February 18, 2014
For Media Inquiries: Jason Barnes, Special Programs Coordinator, 721-3515
Initiative Announced to Assist Pin Oak Residents
February 18, 2014 – The Lake Charles/SWLA Continuum of Care (CoC), the United Way of Southwest Louisiana, the City of Sulphur and 211 announced the formation of a specialized initiative to assist residents of the Pin Oak trailer park. After the trailer park was sold, approximately 60 residents were given notice that the trailer park was to be closed in March. Understanding the short notice given to the residents, the Lake Charles/Southwest Continuum of Care, the United Way of SWLA, and the City of Sulphur established an initiative to help.
The initiative will provide financial assistance for Pin Oak's residents to aid with the process of relocating. Pin Oak residents can call a special hotline set up by 2-1-1 that will take calls between 9am and 2pm, Monday through Friday. The deadline to call for assistance is February 25th by 2pm. Affected residents must call 2-1-1 and identify themselves as Pin Oak residents to receive assistance. All information given on the call will be kept confidential.
Human Services Director, Tarek Polite says, “The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Continuum of Care and its entire membership looks forward to working with the many public, private, and non-profit partners that have and will come together to assist our neighbors and friends in the Pin Oak Manufactured Home Park.” “I would like to personally thank all of the organizations contacted thus far for their cooperative nature and spirit. We are optimistic that the resources that are being mobilized at this time will go a long way in helping families in the Pin Oak community during this time of transition.”
The Lake Charles/SWLA Continuum of Care is a collaboration of member agencies and organizations, which are concerned for the plight of the homeless in our region, by developing and maintaining a system of coordination and information sharing among service providers that create programs and projects that deliver services to end homelessness in Southwest Louisiana. The organization is operated in conjunction with the City of Lake Charles, the Volunteer Center of Southwest Louisiana, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury serving as its lead agency.
