St. Charles Parish Community Action Advisory Board Meeting – August 13, 2026

The Community Action Advisory Board of St. Charles Parish met on August 13, 2026, at 5:06 p.m. in Council Chambers. The transcript's spoken opening says August 12, 2026; the date used here follows the provided meeting timestamp. The board had a quorum, approved the agenda and prior minutes, welcomed alternate Donnie White, heard the director's annual report and a combined June–July program report, and discussed a possible future center in the Paradis area.

Consent Calendar

• A motion to accept the agenda as written and approve the minutes of the previous meeting passed by voice vote with all in favor.
• Board members and staff acknowledged Donnie White as the alternate serving for Rose Lego, and noted the board has never failed to have a quorum.

Discussion Items

Director's Annual Report

• Ms. Joan Diaz highlighted the program's community impact and thanked the parish council for consistent support. She reported that LaHEAP disbursed $335,410 in direct assistance last year, with the majority in seasonal assistance and $35,000 reserved for documented crisis/disconnect cases.
• Emergency assistance exceeded $300,000 in direct assistance from Community Services Block Grant and local council funds, with over $100,000 more in Atmos energy credits applied to gas bills.
• The crisis food bank and Second Harvest partnerships provided food, and council-funded local grocery purchases helped fill gaps. Last year the board distributed 375 Thanksgiving baskets and 30,000 snacks at the three center sites.
• The summer food program served 7,000 meals even though initial food orders were planned for about 4,000; the program used home-cooked meals, had minimal waste, and no child went without a full meal.
• Home repair programs used local funds, United Way ramp funding, and volunteer labor from St. Charles Borromeo. Ramps are now rarely contracted out, and the program has a waiting list of six qualified homeowners.
• The centers served 35 or more children at each site, with every child taking three bus field trips. Programs expanded to include forecare in St. Rose and senior activities. Waterford 3 donated $9,000, all from employee donations and efforts, toward kitchen upgrades.
• Diaz said St. Charles is recognized as a model community action program and follows the individualized case management model.

Combined June–July Program Report

• Sheila reported 197 HEAP clients served with $84,950 spent, impacting 389 household members; 34 HEAP crisis clients served with $10,256.65 spent, impacting 693 household members.
• Local emergency assistance served 33 clients with $8,431.06 spent, impacting 79 household members; services included 22 board assistance, 5 electric, 3 rent, 2 Medicaid/medicine, and 1 shelter.
• Atmos/SHARE assistance served 8 gas-disconnect clients with $2,629.97 spent, impacting 17 household members. Regular HEAP and crisis funds are exhausted; possible additional funding will be known near September.
• Second Harvest served 114 clients, impacting 208 household members. The home repair program expended $41,792.26 in June–July; a current project had work written up at $13,581.85.
• Labor of Love and a contractor served homeowners: 3 clients through the St. Charles Women's Club grant; 9 clients under a contractor with 8 HVAC repairs plus plumbing, electrical, flooring, door, hot water heater, grab bar, and handicapped toilet work, totaling $25,665.01.
• A new Atmos grant replaced a $1,900 hot water heater and provided fans to four homeowners. A USDA grant project is awaiting HVAC parts.
• The United Way ramp grant of $36,875 funded two ramps through Labor of Love volunteers and two grab bar/toilet installations by a contractor; total spending was $7,560.05, with six qualified homeowners still on the waiting list.
• Summer snacks totaled 6,132 at the three sites; summer enrichment participation was 62 at St. Rose, 60 at Colonna, and 60 at Boutte. No SNAP outreach materials were distributed because HEAP funds were exhausted; clients were referred to Catholic Charities and Social Concerns.

Discussion: Future Expansion and Facilities

• A board member asked about adding a center in the Paradis area. Diaz said there are no current plans, but ongoing discussions and a possible Mount Zion partnership remain open; expansion depends on staffing and funding, and the model can be replicated.
• A board member suggested pursuing donated bank or corporate buildings to convert into community centers. Diaz noted construction costs are significant, citing a St. Rose patio enclosure project estimated at over $20,000; an IMTT donation and budget reallocations will fund that project. The kitchen expansion at Colonna remains a goal.
• A board member thanked IMTT for being a good neighbor in St. Rose despite community complaints, noting IMTT's support for the community center and asking that its contributions be shared with neighbors.

Additional Business

• The board noted that St. Charles Parish will deliver sandbags to seniors during storm season through parish phone numbers.
• The chair closed with a prayer referencing Hurricane Betsy and reminded members of the next meeting on September 9, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda and minutes were approved unanimously.
• The board received the director's annual report and the June–July program report.
• No formal resolutions were voted on; discussion items were informational and forward-looking.
• The next regular meeting was scheduled for September 9, 2026. The meeting closed with a prayer for storm season and was adjourned.