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LAPLACE — As the next executive director of the St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority, Attorney-at-law Jarrette T. Tuicuit plans to improve transparency, lead the reconstruction of housing complexes, and introduce programs to bridge the gap to homeownership.

A native of Reserve, Tuircuit was raised in St. John Parish. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and moved to Georgia for a year before returning home to pursue law school. He has been actively involved in the community as an assistant district attorney under St. John DA Bridget Dinvaut, in addition to operating his own law firm and title company.

“I was born and raised here, and I want to see it excel just like St. Charles or Ascension. We have to give that same love and dedication here. I feel that sometimes people in the higher positions don’t give it the love and attention that it needs,” Tuircuit said. “I definitely want to introduce some organization in the office. I want the office to be transparent. I came in under the Bridget Dinvaut administration as an assistant DA, and there are a lot of things that DA Dinvaut has done that I admire and want to transfer over so the Housing Authority can redeem itself in the eyes of the public.”

According to Tuircuit, transparency starts with making the Housing Authority more accessible to landlords and tenants.

“If a citizen has a concern, let them come into the office rather than having to resolve it over the phone or email,” he said.

He also plans to streamline organizational procedures to get the Housing Authority on track with paperwork required by the United States Department of Housing Urban Development.

As he steps into this new position, Tuircuit hopes to recruit landlords to expand Section 8 housing availability in St. John Parish. However, he also sees the importance of rebuilding housing developments in Reserve, Edgard and LaPlace.

Units in Edgard and LaPlace have already been demolished, and Reserve is next on the list to be torn down. Available housing for tenants is currently limited to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and 22 units in Garyville.

“There is a need to rebuild those (complexes) in Reserve, LaPlace and Edgard because housing is essential. I essentially want to make it more modern, more energy efficient, and more accessible to people, but I also don’t want it to be a crutch,” Tuircuit said. “This should not be a long-term goal for residents. It should essentially be a steppingstone to get where you need to be in terms of homeownership.”

While the St. John Housing Authority does not currently offer assistance to bridge the gap to home ownership, Tuircuit has observed successful programs in other cities and municipalities. Down the line, he plans to utilize his experience in the real estate industry to host seminars for first time home seekers.

“I know there is a lot of work to do, but I am excited to tackle it and have my name associated with the renewal of the Housing Authority here in St. John Parish,” Tuircuit said. “When I see where we are and where we’re going, I’m excited to see the change.”

Established in 1939, the St. John Parish Housing Authority was created to provide safe and sanitary housing for low-income individuals and families in the community.

The next St. John Housing Authority meeting will be held at 5 p.m. June 13 at the Garyville Library. For more information, call 985-359-9035 or visit the office at 1708 Chantilly Drive Ste. D in LaPlace.