The Refinery Expands
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
The construction of a 57-bed transitional housing development at the Refinery Men’s Mission, was ceremoniously announced Friday morning with a groundbreaking event in Opelousas.
Funding for the project will be assisted by a $2 million affordable housing grant obtained through the Federal House Loan Bank of Dallas and Catalyst Bank, which has banking operations in Opelousas.
FHLB representative Steven Markovich and Joe Zanco, director, president and CEO of Catalyst Bank, represented their financial institutions at the groundbreak, along with St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard and Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor.
The Refinery executive director Johnny Carriere announced the possibility of building the new transitional facility on South Street in Opelousas during a 2024 meeting of the Opelousas Noon Rotary Club.
However during that meeting with Rotarians, Carriere, who became executive director of the Refinery in 2007, said the planning and financial package for the transitional development had not been finalized at the time.
Since its inception in 1988 as the Men’s Lighthouse Mission, has provided an emergency housing refuge for men who have fallen on hard times.
Carriere has said The Refinery accepts referrals from a variety of agencies and men who from off the streets who apply for shelter where they receive meals, clothing and a safe place to sleep.
Men who are accepted at The Refinery are exposed to employment preparedness and money management.
The men at The Refinery are expected to attend daily devotionals and required to attend twice-a-week church services, said Carriere.
