Louvis Services, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing housing and supportive services to people facing homelessness in New Orleans, recently held an open house and ribbon cutting celebration for the newly constructed Fats Domino tiny house duplex located at 2229 Fats Domino Avenue in the Lower Ninth Ward.
In 2020, NANO welcomed the opportunity to join the partnership with Louvis Services by providing pro-bono architectural design assistance including design and construction drawings, permitting services, and construction administration utilizing sustainability strategies. NANO designed the duplex as a creative solution to help transition local homeless individuals from the streets into brand new, permanent housing.
The duplex units incorporate sustainable and local building materials, energy efficient appliances, and an edible landscape program in which tenants can actively participate. Each unit is ADA-compliant to provide accessibility for persons with disabilities. The result of these efforts will be to uphold the mission of Louvis Services: to spark hope, encourage innovation and aid in developing financial stability and emotional well-being for our New Orleans homeless community.
“This is our first tiny house, and our goal is to replicate the model throughout the city of New Orleans,” said Lou Anne White, executive director of Louvis Services. “Our mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities to end homelessness in New Orleans – one person at a time.”
Financing from NewCorp, Hope Credit Union, the Own the Crescent Program and individual donors — along with a $25,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation — enabled Louvis Services to break ground in October of 2022 on their first one-bedroom duplex prototype slated to be move-in ready this May.
