What We Do

The The Greater New Orleans First Responders Fund will develop and manage an aggressive housing initiative for first responders of Orleans Parish. The dualistic structure of this initiative addresses both our recruiting and retention goals by providing a tangible benefit that our local departments can easily leverage. The first component of our housing program offers financial assistance to first responders to be used as a down payment towards the purchase of a home in Orleans Parish. Although this financial assistance will be distributed in the form of a loan, a percentage of the principle amount will be forgiven at specific intervals of active tenure ship through the life of the loan. This component addresses our retention goals by targeting experienced first responders who have been employed with their department for a minimum of three years. We believe that loan forgiveness based on active tenure is an effective incentive for Orleans Parish to retain its' high quality first responders. In addition to providing financial assistance for the purchase of a new home, a second program will provide apartment units to newly recruited first responders in Orleans Parish. Our plan is to address large apartment owners in the greater New Orleans area with our program and ask that they donate to the FRF 1% of their total units for the occupancy of newly recruited first responders. With cooperation of apartment owners in the greater New Orleans area, we anticipate a stock of 200 to 300 units to offer recruits. These units will be free to first responders, providing an additional benefit to complement their salary package amounting to approximately $7500 a year.

The Greater New Orleans First Responders Fund intends to:

1. Work with local departments to determine the pressing needs
2. Establish a home ownership assistance program for first responders
3. Create a rental program offering apartments to first responders