Calcasieu Parish · HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service)
Buying in Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, DeQuincy or Moss Bluff? HomeStart Advantage, formerly Keys for Service, gives 4% of your loan as forgivable help.
Southwest Louisiana took the brunt of Hurricanes Laura and Delta, and HomeStart Plus exists for first-time buyers in parishes designated for those storms. A lender can confirm whether your purchase in Calcasieu qualifies. Plus offers up to 20% of the price, capped at $55,000, plus up to $5,000 in closing costs, for households at or below 80% AMI.
For everyone else, HomeStart Advantage is the year-round option. The Calcasieu Parish School Board, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, Lake Charles Police and Fire departments and Sulphur Police Department employ the teachers and responders Keys for Service was built for, and now any occupation qualifies.
Calcasieu's HomeStart Assist limits, shared with Cameron Parish, are $93,000 for 1 to 2 people and $106,950 for 3 or more.
| Household of 1 or 2 | Household of 3+ | Highest price |
|---|---|---|
| $93,000 | $106,950 | $554,850 |
Calcasieu's HomeStart Assist limits are $93,000 and $106,950; HomeStart Advantage allows up to $125,000, and a lender confirms the FHA price limit. Compare every area's limits or run the home budget calculator.
Yes. The programs below are run closer to home. Some can sit on top of the state program and some replace it, so your loan officer sorts out which ones work together.
City of Lake Charles
CDBG funds for down payment and closing costs, first-come first-served. The page lists no amounts or limits. Call 337-491-1440.
Checked November 2026 · our sources
61 Louisiana parishes (all except Orleans, Jefferson and a few others)
Guide published 05/13/26, rev. 07/20/26; program page https://thecafa.org/homebuyers/cafa-first-home (shows 7% government rate). This is a separate bond first mortgage: choose CAFA OR LHC HomeStart, not both. Essentially a second regional/statewide option with income and price limits close to LHC HomeStart Assist.
Checked November 2026 · our sources
Read our full write-up →Browse every Louisiana program.
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Calcasieu Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
| Counseling agency | Located in | How far | Offers | Meets you | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcasieu Parish Housing Counseling Agency | Lake Charles | 10 mi | Class and coaching | in person / by phone / online | English |
Taken from HUD's list of approved counseling agencies. Programs differ on which classes they accept.
A few of the Calcasieu Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
Lake Charles and Sulphur teachers, deputies and firefighters qualify, as does every other occupation. See the list of eligible jobs.
HomeStart Plus is for first-time buyers at or below 80% AMI in parishes designated for Hurricanes Laura, Delta or Ida. Ask a participating lender to confirm your parish and address.
$93,000 for 1 to 2 people and $106,950 for 3 or more in non-targeted areas.
Only if you sell or refinance within 5 years. Otherwise the 0% second mortgage is forgiven in full.
Other parishes: East Baton Rouge Parish Jefferson Parish Orleans Parish St. Tammany Parish Lafayette Parish Caddo Parish Ouachita Parish Livingston Parish Every parish
We'll reach out when it reopens. Curious what you could use right now?
See where I stand
Hey there, I'm Denise. See if you're eligible for down payment assistance in Louisiana. It's a handful of questions and maybe two minutes of your time.
What kind of work do you do?
Start my checkNo cost · Your credit isn't pulled · Nothing to sign