Help in Louisiana
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 15 places in Louisiana, most of them in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, plus 7 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people leaving homelessness (11) and after prison or jail (10).
Louisiana 211
Information and referral line covering Louisiana's 64 parishes, operated by a collaboration of eight nonprofits. Dial 211 or text your zip code to be pointed to health and human services near you.
Refugee Services Program
Resettlement and integration services for refugees, approved asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and foreign-national trafficking victims in the New Orleans area, starting at the airport. Includes case management, job placement, interpretation, English classes, and cultural orientation.
Vital Records Registry
Where Louisiana birth certificates are issued. Louisiana is a closed-record state, so you need photo ID, the exact fee, and a completed application. Walk in at the New Orleans central office, mail the application to the PO Box (8-10 weeks), or go through a participating Clerk of Court.
SNAP Eligibility and Application
Louisiana's food-stamp program, now administered by LDH. Apply online through the LA CAFE self-service portal, by phone at 888-LAHelp-U, or on paper in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or large print. After you file, an LDH worker calls for a phone interview.
Ozanam Inn
Downtown New Orleans shelter open since 1955 offering food, shelter, clothing, and showers free to anyone in need, men and women, with emergency shelter and residential programs for women at the Poydras Street facility. Health screenings come through LSU, Tulane, and Healthcare for the Homeless partners.
New Orleans Mission
Faith-based shelter on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard with a 21-day guest stay offering food, clothing, and a bed with no questions asked. Longer-term residents can move into a year-long discipleship recovery program at the Giving Hope (men, Lacombe) or Lynhaven (women, Hammond) retreats, with job training and case management.
UNITY of Greater New Orleans
The nonprofit that coordinates the homeless services system in New Orleans. Street outreach workers find people living unsheltered and connect them to housing and services; the Canal Street office is the administrative hub.
Covenant House New Orleans
Crisis shelter and care center for youth ages 16 to 22 who have nowhere to go, including young parents and survivors of trafficking. Open around the clock all year; walk in on North Rampart Street or call the 24/7 line to get a bed, then move toward stable housing with education, employment, and health support.
Bridge House / Grace House
Long-term residential substance-use treatment for people who cannot afford private care: homeless, uninsured, underinsured, or unemployed adults in the New Orleans area. Bridge House serves men and Grace House serves women; pregnant women get priority admission. Everything starts with a call to the intake department.
St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge's main safety-net charity, with emergency shelter, food, pharmacy and dental assistance, and a One Stop Day Center on weekdays. On hot weekends a cooling center opens at 1623 Convention Street. Call the main office to ask about a shelter bed or other help.
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation
Free civil legal aid across 42 Louisiana parishes for low-income people: evictions and housing conditions, public benefits, debt and consumer problems, protective orders and family law, and replacing lost documents after disasters. Apply online any time or call the intake line during limited morning and Thursday-afternoon hours.
National lines that work in Louisiana
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential treatment referral for substance use and mental health. Finds local programs that take your insurance or none.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 confidential hotline for survivors of trafficking and people who suspect it. Connects to vetted local services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential help for anyone affected by domestic violence. Advocates connect you to local shelters and legal help.
Start right where you are
Each program has a step-by-step checklist for the first 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days, so you always know your next step.