Louisiana financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Louisiana
If household costs are hard to manage, Louisiana has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the parish or regional application route when a program is handled by a local agency or community provider.
Money Fit serves Louisiana residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
The best starting point depends on whether the need involves a state benefit, parish-based housing or utility help, or another community service. Eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and application methods can vary.
Apply for SNAP or cash assistance
Louisiana's CAFÉ portal is the current application and case-management system for SNAP, FITAP cash assistance, and the Kinship Care Subsidy Program.
Find nearby help statewide
Louisiana 211 serves all 64 parishes with free, confidential, 24-hour referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, employment, family services, aging, disability, and other needs.
Housing or energy assistance
LIHEAP, weatherization, affordable housing, public housing, and homelessness help are handled through Louisiana Housing Corporation, local agencies, housing authorities, and community providers.
Louisiana changed which agency administers several core benefits. SNAP, FITAP, and KCSP moved from the Department of Children and Family Services to the Louisiana Department of Health on October 1, 2025. CAFÉ remains the online application and case-management system. For these programs, call 888-LAHelp-U (888-524-3578).
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Louisiana SNAP or WIC when it fits the household. For food needed sooner, Feeding Louisiana and 211 can connect residents with the regional food bank and local pantry network serving their parish.
Louisiana SNAP
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible Louisiana households. Applications can be submitted through CAFÉ, by phone, or with a paper application delivered to Louisiana Department of Health Economic Stability.
LAHelp-U: 888-524-3578
Louisiana WIC
WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC clinics complete enrollment.
WIC help: 800-251-BABY (800-251-2229)
Feeding Louisiana food-bank network
Feeding Louisiana's five regional food banks serve all 64 parishes through hundreds of community partners. The statewide locator can connect residents with the food bank serving their area and nearby pantry or meal resources.
Program administration changed, but the application route remains familiar. Louisiana Department of Health now administers SNAP, while CAFÉ remains the online application and case portal. Older references that tell residents to contact DCFS for SNAP can send people to the wrong agency.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Louisiana energy assistance, weatherization, rental housing, public housing, homelessness services, and tenant legal help are handled through different state and local organizations. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
Louisiana LIHEAP
LIHEAP may help eligible households with heating or cooling bills, crisis utility assistance, and some equipment-related needs. Applications are handled by the Community Action Agency or local provider serving the household's parish, and available funding can vary during the year.
Louisiana Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization may help qualifying households reduce energy use and improve home health and safety through approved improvements. Louisiana Housing Corporation lists the regional providers serving each parish.
LAHousingSearch.org
Louisiana Housing Corporation supports a free statewide rental-search resource for affordable and market-rate housing. Search by location and contact the property directly to confirm availability, rent, accessibility, and eligibility.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local housing authorities and specialized state programs. Waiting-list status differs by agency, so households should contact the authority serving their community directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
Louisiana homelessness services
Louisiana Housing Corporation funds homelessness programs and supportive housing, while 211 can help identify emergency shelter, coordinated-entry contacts, rent and utility assistance, and other local housing resources.
LouisianaLawHelp.org
LouisianaLawHelp.org provides current housing legal information and a parish-based directory of nonprofit legal-aid organizations. Eligible residents may receive free or reduced-cost help with eviction, subsidized housing, landlord-tenant disputes, benefits, debt, and other civil legal matters.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Louisiana Medicaid and LaCHIP cover different eligibility groups. Medicaid applications use the Louisiana Department of Health Self-Service Portal, while Healthy Louisiana manages health-plan enrollment for most Medicaid and LaCHIP members.
Louisiana Medicaid
Louisiana Medicaid provides health coverage to eligible children, adults, parents, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. Applications can be submitted online, by phone, by mail, or through a local application center or Medicaid office.
Medicaid Customer Service: 888-342-6207
LaCHIP and Healthy Louisiana
LaCHIP provides health coverage for eligible children through Louisiana Medicaid. Most Medicaid and LaCHIP members receive services through Healthy Louisiana managed-care plans and can compare or change plans under current program rules.
Healthy Louisiana: 855-229-6848
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, substance-use, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Some Louisiana Medicaid members will have new federally required work or community-engagement rules beginning January 1, 2027. Louisiana Medicaid says affected members will receive notice when action is required. Keep contact information current and use official Medicaid notices rather than older eligibility summaries.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Louisiana uses separate systems for child care assistance and family cash assistance. CCAP is administered by the Department of Education, while FITAP and KCSP are administered by the Louisiana Department of Health.
Child Care Assistance Program
CCAP helps eligible Louisiana families pay for child care while parents or guardians work, attend school, or participate in job training. The current CAFÉ child care portal states that applications are subject to eligibility screening and placement on the waitlist until enrollment seats or additional funds are available.
CCAP Household Eligibility: 877-453-2721
Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program
FITAP provides temporary cash assistance for eligible families with children when household resources are not enough to meet basic needs. Work-eligible participants may also be required to participate in the STEP employment and training program.
LAHelp-U: 888-524-3578
Kinship Care Subsidy Program
KCSP provides monthly cash assistance for eligible children living with qualifying relatives other than a parent. Louisiana Department of Health now administers the program, and applications use the same Family Support and CAFÉ routes as FITAP and SNAP.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Louisiana unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose work through no fault of their own may be able to receive temporary unemployment benefits. HiRE is Louisiana's online system for new claims, weekly certifications, claim information, and job-search services.
Unemployment Call Center: 866-783-5567
Louisiana Works American Job Centers
American Job Centers provide job-search assistance, job matching, career counseling, training information, veteran services, computer access, and other workforce support. Louisiana Works maintains a statewide office and service locator.
LouisianaLawHelp.org
LouisianaLawHelp.org helps residents find nonprofit legal-aid providers by parish and legal issue. Services may cover housing, public benefits, debt, family safety, employment, healthcare, disability, disaster recovery, and other civil legal matters.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on income or participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Louisiana uses separate aging, disability, and protective-service networks. Area Agencies on Aging and ADRCs can help with local services, while adult-abuse reporting routes differ by age.
Area Agencies on Aging and ADRCs
The Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs coordinates Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Councils on Aging, senior centers, meals, transportation, caregiver support, legal assistance, and other services for older Louisianans.
Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs: 225-342-7100
Louisiana Adult Protective Services
APS investigates suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or extortion involving vulnerable adults ages 18 through 59 and certain emancipated minors with qualifying disabilities who live in the community.
APS reporting line: 800-898-4910, available 24 hours a day
Louisiana Elderly Protective Services
Elderly Protective Services handles reports involving abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of adults age 60 and older. The statewide toll-free line is staffed during weekday business hours. Call 911 first for immediate danger.
Elderly Protective Services: 833-577-6532, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Louisiana 988
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide, or substance use concerns. Louisiana's 988 network uses certified crisis centers and can connect people with additional behavioral-health services when appropriate.
Call or text: 988
Louisiana Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
The statewide hotline is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day. Callers are routed to the domestic violence service provider serving their area for safety planning, shelter, advocacy, and other support.
Louisiana hotline: 888-411-1333
Louisiana 211
Louisiana 211 serves all 64 parishes and provides free, confidential help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents can call or text for referrals to food, housing, utilities, healthcare, employment, family services, disaster resources, and other local support.
Call: 211
Text: ZIP code to 898-211
Louisiana and federal disaster assistance
GOHSEP coordinates state disaster recovery and posts current information about Individual Assistance, local resources, and federal recovery programs. FEMA assistance becomes available only for qualifying declarations, eligible losses, and designated locations, so check current event information after a disaster.
GOHSEP: 225-925-7500
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Louisiana residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
