About Our Services.....

Outreach and Referral

ASSIST Agency provides information on availability of services by ASSIST Agency and other agencies in the tri-parish area such as:  Division of Family Services (Welfare), Food Stamps, Employment, Social Security, Legal Aide anad Community Services. 

Emergency Voucher Assistance (LDOL, FEMA & United Way)

This program is designed to provide assistance on a one-time basis to clients who have suffered a loss due to circumstances beyond their control.

Food for Families

Food for Families is the Louisiana Commodity Supplemental Food Program that assists pregnant women, new mothers, and children under six years of age.  This program provides food selected to meet their nutritional need.   (Vermilion Parish only)

Community Food & Nutrition

Additional food items are made available to low-income families so as to maintain a balanced diet and reduce the rish of malnutrition among low-income families.

Medicaid / LaCHIP Applications

This service is offered for families and individuals to apply for medical services through outreach by assisting potential Medicaid eligible persons to complete the initial application for Health Care Coverage.

Pharmaceutical Access Program

The program is being implemented to assist economically disadvantaged individuals defray the high cost of prescription drugs.  This project is a collaborative effort among ASSIST, the Acadia Parish Medical Society, and pharmaceutical companies.

Affordable Housing

Through our Affordable Housing Program the agency will offer down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers.  We will coordinate this process with our housing counseling and mortgage assistance programs to help qualified buyers become first-time homeowners.

Homeless Shelter

The agency presently has one home (location revealed to clients only) fully furnished.  It is a temporary shelter which offers meals, clothing, personal hygiene, GED classes, job services, day care, clothing bank and medical assistance.  The site capacity is approximately twelve (12) women and children and the maximum stay varies.  THe center coordinates with Lafayette, Baton Rouge and surrounding area shelters.

Apartment Construction/Rental

Besides providing additional housing stock for low- to moderate-income families, we are providing construction jobs, and ongoing jobs for apartment managers.  Presently there is a 36-unit complex in Jennings, LA and a 40-unit complex in Welsh, LA.

Revolving Loan for Small Business Development and Expansion

We help local people in opening and expanding businesses with low-interest loans.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)

We provide earned income tax credit outreach and free tax preparation services for low-income individuals and families.

IDA (Individual Development Account)

Through partnership with Southern University Center for Social Research we are able to offer low-income individuals and families the option to save earnings and acquire assets as a way out of poverty.  Individual Development Accounts are match savings accounts designed to assist working low-income individuals and families in the first time purchase of a home. 

Community Action Partnership Consortia Counseling and Outreach Program

Through our partnership with Community Action Partnership Consortia we assist in locating, identifying and assisting potentially eligible homeowners who were victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and have not yet aplied for the Road Home Program. We will work to eliminate the problems that may be keeping someone from applying by providing private, one-on-one consultations, assisting with the preparation and submission of the application, providing transportation where necessary, and overcoming other obstacles that a homeowner may have encountered with the process. 

Note:  We are continuously looking for new and innovative ways to help our clients achieve self-sufficiency.