The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office recently addressed seven “areas of concern” with an Acadiana agency providing housing and other assistance to victims of domestic violence.
The Department of Children and Family Services in 2025 asked the legislative auditor to look into concerns about Chez Hope, which has a contract to provide services to domestic violence survivors in St. Mary, St. Martin, Iberia and Assumption parishes.
The analysis by the auditor’s office was not an audit or investigation.
The auditor’s office recommended DCFS and Chez Hope communicate better and that the state agency develop clearer statewide guidelines detailing minimum expectations for delivering services such as shelter, food, transportation and assistance with furniture.
DCFS replied that it will develop a guidebook to clearly outline funding rules.
A few of the concerns addressed by the auditor’s office, Chez Hope noted, are necessary because the parishes served include rural areas where there are limited resources. For instance, the auditor’s office suggested the agency study current leases and rental agreements to determine if it is receiving the best rates.
Chez Hope replied that available housing, shelter facilities and commercial rental properties are limited in the rural communities where they operate.
The auditor’s office expressed concerns over whether Chez Hope is accurately reporting performance information and whether it meets expected performance targets that warrant an increased funding request.
Chez Hope replied that they follow performance guidelines provided by DCFS. The guidelines require that clients should be counted once regardless of whether they are served multiple times in a fiscal year, which can misrepresent actual shelter occupancy rates and utilization of services and justification for requesting more funding.