Hotel vouchers in Louisiana provide short-term emergency shelter for homeless individuals and families, particularly during crisis situations such as evictions, domestic violence, or natural disasters. The fastest way to access them is by dialing 211, a number that connects you with local programs throughout the state.
Emergency hotel and motel vouchers in Louisiana are distributed locally through regional Coordinated Entry Access Points and charitable organizations, rather than through a single statewide program. Although the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC)—a state entity—provides the funding, interested individuals must contact regional access networks or local ministries, or call 211, to verify voucher availability and eligibility criteria.
Regional Coordinated Entry & Emergency Networks in Louisiana
Louisiana utilizes a regional network system to manage immediate housing crises. These access points assess your vulnerability and assign you shelter resources or temporary motel accommodations, subject to availability:
Greater New Orleans (Region 1)
In the Greater New Orleans area (Orleans and Jefferson Parishes), access to emergency hotel vouchers and crisis housing is provided through specialized telephone lines managed by UNITY of Greater New Orleans. This system serves as the centralized gateway (Coordinated Entry) for anyone facing an immediate housing crisis.
Instead of visiting an office in person, you must call the designated triage phone number—based on your specific household situation—to undergo an assessment and determine whether you qualify for short-term shelter, motel vouchers, or a rapid rehousing program:
Call Your Specific Coordinated Entry Line
These dedicated telephone lines conduct an initial immediate safety assessment, determine homelessness status, and assign available placements in emergency shelters or emergency motels:
For single adults (individuals): Call 504-658-2944. (This line is operated in partnership with the Travelers Aid Society, through the Community Resource and Referral Center.)
For families with children: Call 504-356-1859.
For youth and young adults (under age 24): Call 504-584-1111.
How Hotel/Motel Vouchers Work in Region 1
Since funding for emergency hotel and motel vouchers is extremely limited, they are not automatically issued simply upon request. The Coordinated Entry system prioritizes resource allocation based on specific criteria:
Vulnerability Assessment: During your call, an intake specialist will assess your safety and health vulnerabilities.
Prioritization: Vouchers are reserved primarily for families with young children when traditional shelters are at full capacity, for individuals with serious medical conditions, or for situations involving extreme weather emergencies.
Shelter Referral Alternative: If hotel vouchers are unavailable, the system will seek to place you directly in regional low-barrier options, such as the Ozanam Inn or the Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans.
Baton Rouge Area (Region 2)
In the Baton Rouge area (Region 2), Coordinated Entry and emergency housing assistance are managed under the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC). This region encompasses the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Iberville, and Pointe Coupee. Individuals experiencing homelessness can access the centralized crisis intake system by phone or through in-person access points.
Contact Your Designated Coordinated Entry Agency
Baton Rouge utilizes agency-specific access points—based on your demographic profile or current location—to manage emergency assessments, shelter referrals, and voucher coordination:
Single Adults and General Families: Call or visit the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless (CAAH) at 225-388-5800 (open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Youth and Young Adults (Ages 12–24): Contact Youth Oasis by calling 225-343-6300 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) or by texting 225-910-8017. Alternatively, youth may contact the Empower 225 Street Outreach Program by calling 225-242-9853 (women) or 225-286-9344 (men).
Medically and Health-Focused Intake: Contact Open Health Care Clinic at 225-655-6422 or visit 3849 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) to receive guidance regarding housing integrated with health services.
The Reality of Emergency Hotel and Motel Vouchers in Region 2
Emergency motel vouchers are highly restricted emergency funds used only when the capacity of standard, low-barrier shelters has been completely exhausted. These are allocated based on specific vulnerability metrics:
Prioritization Assessment: Intake staff assess households using a standardized vulnerability matrix. Vouchers are strictly reserved for families with minor children, individuals with medical fragility, or during official activations for extreme weather conditions.
Referral Hierarchy: If you do not meet the requirements for immediate emergency motel placement, the Coordinated Entry system will prioritize your placement in regional physical emergency shelters, such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge or the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope.
Transition to Permanent Housing: Upon entering the Coordinated Entry database, you are placed on a waitlist for long-term Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) or for access to the Rapid Rehousing program, both of which provide ongoing rental assistance.
North Shore / Hammond (Region 9)
In the North Shore region (Region 9), emergency housing assessments and the assignment of temporary shelter are managed by the Northlake Homeless Coalition. This region encompasses the parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Livingston, Washington, and St. Helena. Given that the North Shore region has very few physical emergency shelters (permanent facilities), local agencies rely heavily on vouchers for short-term hotel and motel stays to keep vulnerable individuals safe during an active crisis.
To check for the availability of emergency hotel vouchers or to be placed on the waitlist for the Rapid Rehousing program, you must complete an initial intake assessment.
Main Intake Line: Call the Northlake Homeless Coalition at 985-326-8312.
Physical Office Location: 2410 W. Thomas Street, Hammond, LA 70401. (You must always call first, as funding availability for temporary hotel rooms changes daily.)
Requirements and Guidelines for Obtaining Emergency Hotel Vouchers
Given that funds are limited and allocated through federal and state grants managed by the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (LA BOSCOC) program, hotel vouchers are distributed strictly based on a priority list determined by the degree of vulnerability:
Strict Eligibility: Vouchers are reserved exclusively for individuals or families experiencing literal homelessness and lacking shelter (known as unsheltered homelessness); this means that, at the present moment, you are sleeping in a vehicle, an abandoned building, or on the street.
High-Priority Demographic Groups: Priority is given to families with minor children, seniors, pregnant women, and individuals with severe medical vulnerabilities.
Required Documentation: When meeting with a social worker to activate emergency assistance, you must present a photo ID and your Social Security card.
Central Louisiana (Alexandria Area)
In the Central Louisiana area (Region 6 / Alexandria Area), emergency hotel vouchers and crisis housing assistance are channeled directly through the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition (CLHC). This organization serves as the Coordinated Entry hub for the parishes of Rapides, Avoyelles, Vernon, LaSalle, Catahoula, Concordia, and Winn.
Individuals and families facing an immediate housing crisis cannot obtain hotel vouchers directly from hotels; they must first undergo an initial assessment with the Coalition or an authorized partner agency.
To check for funding availability for emergency hotel vouchers or for shelter availability, you must contact the central intake office:
Main Contact Number: Call the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition at 318-443-0500.
In-Person Resource Center: Visit 1515 Jackson St, Alexandria, LA 71301 (Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Access via Street Outreach: If you are completely unsheltered (living outdoors), the CLHC Street Outreach team can conduct your housing vulnerability assessment directly in the field to determine your eligibility for temporary stabilization options.
Guidelines and Priorities for Emergency Vouchers
Since the availability of temporary motel funding and emergency assistance fluctuates based on local grant cycles and donations, restrictions are strictly enforced:
Literal Homelessness Requirement: Vouchers are reserved exclusively for individuals who are currently unsheltered (sleeping outdoors, in a vehicle, or in an abandoned building) or who are fleeing domestic violence. They are not issued as preventive assistance if you are currently staying with friends or family members.
Demographic Prioritization: When motel funding is available, it is allocated first to medically fragile individuals, seniors, or families with minor children—provided that local physical shelters are at capacity.
Short-Term Nature: Motel accommodations are strictly short-term, interim emergency measures designed to keep you safe while case managers work to facilitate your transition into Rapid Rehousing programs or Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).
Non-Profit and Faith-Based Hotel Voucher Programs
When government program channels are overwhelmed, faith-based charitable organizations serve as the most reliable secondary sources for brief motel stays (typically ranging from 1 to 7 days):
St. Vincent de Paul & Catholic Charities
St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and Catholic Charities in Louisiana provide emergency hotel and motel vouchers; these are intended as short-term, highly restricted rescue funds rather than as conventional housing programs. Since their funding relies on limited local donations and locality-specific grant cycles, they do not issue vouchers automatically. Instead, they utilize them as a last resort to ensure the safety of highly vulnerable individuals (such as families with minor children or people with fragile medical conditions) when local physical shelters are at full capacity.
Catholic Charities Regional Access Points
Catholic Charities coordinates directly with regional “Coordinated Entry” networks to provide emergency assistance, shelter referrals, and situational motel funding:
Greater New Orleans Area: Contact Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans at 504-523-3755. They offer comprehensive case management, housing placement resources, and crisis prevention services.
Baton Rouge Region: Call Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge at 225-336-8700. They specialize in family stabilization, meeting basic needs, and emergency shelter referrals through regional networks.
Acadiana / Lafayette Region: Contact Catholic Charities of Acadiana at 337-235-4972. They manage in-person access centers—such as the St. Joseph Diner—and coordinate local emergency housing interventions.
North Louisiana (Shreveport and Monroe): Call Catholic Charities of North Louisiana at 318-865-0200 (Shreveport) or 318-361-5198 (Monroe). They offer limited-time emergency financial assistance, complemented by financial literacy education.
St. Vincent de Paul Local Parish Conferences
St. Vincent de Paul operates through a community-based system of local church groups known as “Conferences.” The availability of vouchers varies daily, depending on the funds allocated to the specific conference in each neighborhood’s local budget.
The In-Person Assessment Policy: SVdP rarely issues vouchers over the phone or at its thrift stores. To receive assistance, a team of volunteers typically conducts a brief assessment to confirm that the individual is in a state of total destitution (homeless) or is actively facing eviction proceedings.
Baton Rouge Access Point: Contact the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge at 225-383-7837. If physical vouchers are unavailable, you may be referred directly to the SVdP Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter, located on Convention Street.
New Orleans Access Point: Contact the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of New Orleans at 504-827-5842 to verify your assignment to a local parish conference and to inquire about temporary financial assistance lines.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army in Louisiana provides emergency hotel and motel vouchers strictly as a short-term, seasonal rescue measure or for situations of extreme crisis, rather than as a regular housing program. Since their funding relies heavily on local donations and disaster grants, these vouchers are reserved for situations where their physical shelters (fixed-site facilities) are at full capacity, or during extreme weather events (such as severe winter freezes or tropical storms).
Assistance is decentralized; this means you must contact the specific Salvation Army Corps covering your current parish or city to verify if voucher funds are available:
Contact Numbers for Regional Salvation Army Corps
Each location manages its own emergency intake and social services budget:
New Orleans Metropolitan Area Command: Call 504-899-4569 (Location: 4526 S. Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125). If motel vouchers are unavailable, they will check for open beds at their physical shelter, the “Center of Hope.”
Baton Rouge Capital Area Command: Call 225-355-4483 (Location: 7361 Airline Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70805). They provide immediate crisis assessments and operate local shelter programs.
Central Louisiana (Alexandria Corps): Call 318-442-0445 (Location: 620 Beauregard St, Alexandria, LA 71301). They serve Rapides Parish and the surrounding areas of the central region.
Acadiana Area (Lafayette Corps): Call 337-235-2407 (Location: 115 E. 3rd St, Lafayette, LA 70501). They coordinate local social services and seasonal emergency shelter options.
North Louisiana (Shreveport Command): Call 318-424-3200 (Location: 200 E. Stoner Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101). They serve Caddo and Bossier Parishes and surrounding areas.
Northeast Louisiana (Monroe Corps): Call 318-325-7336 (Location: 105 Main St, Monroe, LA 71201). They provide emergency clothing, food, and guidance on locating temporary shelters.
Disaster-Related Temporary Housing
FEMA Support
If you have been displaced due to a federally declared natural disaster in Louisiana, you may apply for FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program through DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. This program covers direct hotel stays while long-term housing solutions are being determined.
