Louisiana's Homeless Shelters Louisiana's Soup Kitchens
Louisiana Interagency Action Council HOMELESS Reports 2007 Report 2005 Report Point in Time Homeless Consumer Surveys 2003 Survey 2007 Survey

Using federally allocated funds, grant amounts are awarded by the Louisiana Emergency Shelter Grants Program (ESGP) to localities for assistance to shelter facilities serving homeless persons. Most of the State's 104 shelters have received some measure of funding support through this Program since its establishment in 1987 under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.

An emergency shelter is defined as any facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary or transitional shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the homeless.

A shelter which is assisted through the State ESGP must agree to provide assistance to homeless individuals and families in obtaining appropriate supportive services essential for achieving independent living, and help in obtaining other federal, state, local, and private assistance available for such individuals.

Eligibility for services vary with each shelter. However, a homeless individual is defined by federal rules as:

A. An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;

and

B. An individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is--

1. A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill);

2. An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or

3. A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

Set by each individual shelter.

Contact the emergency shelter in their area by phone or by going directly to the shelter.

See directory of shelters for specific locations and services in your area.