Many Louisiana residents today struggle to make ends meet, especially with rising inflation in the current economy. Housing can be a large burden on those living on a low income. Fortunately, there are several Louisiana emergency rental assistance programs that can help you find and maintain stable housing.

Here’s how to get help paying rent and other essential bills for your Louisiana home.

Emergency Rental Assistance Programs in Louisiana

Here are some popular government-funded emergency rental assistance programs available across the state.

Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

The TBRA program is an emergency rental assistance program available through the Louisiana Housing Corporation. This program addresses the needs of individuals and families in need throughout the state. Depending on your eligibility, TBRA can help you with money for rent payments, security deposits, utility payments, and utility deposits.

Section 8 Housing

Section 8 Housing in Louisiana is a federal program run by the Louisiana Housing Corporation. The program seeks to provide rental assistance to low-income families and individuals who are in need of safe and affordable housing.

In order to qualify for housing, applicants must meet certain criteria, which include:

A household income at or below 50% of the median income
Number of people in the household

Interested candidates can begin the application process by finding their local housing authority either online or through your local HUD office. Once the application is submitted, it can take up to a few months to get approved depending on the volume of applicants.

Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance

If you live in a USDA-financed Rural Rental Housing or Farm Labor Housing building, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the USDA. This program makes payments on the tenants’ behalf to owners of eligible projects that are run on a non-profit or limited-profit basis. If you think you may qualify, consider discussing this type of rental assistance with your landlord.

Additional Emergency Rental Assistance Resources in Louisiana

If you require further options for housing assistance, there are additional resources available in Louisiana. Some help with rent or other important housing expenses, such as utility bills.

Louisiana Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

If you’re experiencing housing insecurity because you are not able to pay your utility bills, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help you. LIHEAP offers financial assistance to families that need help paying their energy bills and prioritizes households with members who are children, elderly, or disabled.

To qualify for this program, your household must earn less than 60% of the state median household income. If you receive other benefits, such as SNAP, SSI, or TANF, you automatically meet this eligibility requirement.

Catholic Charities of North Louisiana

This program offers both short-term financial assistance with rent and utility bills and long-term help through financial education resources. Depending on your parish, the Catholic Charities of North Louisiana may be able to help you with emergency assistance once per year or once every two years.

Catholic Charities of South Louisiana

Much like the Catholic Charities of North Louisiana, the Catholic Charities of South Louisiana organization can help you with financial assistance for rent and other essential bills. They currently offer help to eligible people living in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes. You can call them to set up an appointment to apply

When you apply, you’ll need to bring several documents showing your circumstances, including but not limited to a photo ID, proof of income for everyone in the household, and your current lease.

Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana

This organization provides housing support and other resources for people with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in these parishes:

Ascension
East and West Baton Rouge
East and West Feliciana
Iberville
Livingston
Pointe Coupee

You may be eligible to receive support services such as emergency financial assistance for housing and utility bills. You can also apply for help with other essentials such as food and transportation.

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

If you or someone else in your household is a veteran, you may qualify for rental assistance from the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. They offer a variety of programs to help veterans who are facing homelessness. You can get personalized help for your situation by getting in touch with your local Parish Service Office.

Protecting Your Louisiana Home

If you call a place in Louisiana home, we want to help you keep it that way. There are several rental assistance programs, vouchers, and online resources readily available to give low-income residents the opportunity to find and maintain stable housing.

To see what rental assistance programs are available in your area, try out the Affordable Housing Hub’s search tool. You can simply put in your zip code and get a thorough list of programs that may be able to help your household make rent each month.