Help from Caddo Community Action Agency in Caddo Parish
Caddo Community Action Agency operates as the main community action agency for residents of Caddo Parish, Louisiana. The agency is based in Shreveport and administers both locally designed assistance programs and parish-managed federal benefit programs as listed below. The focus of the non-profit remains on short-term emergency help as a form of stabilization and family support rather than long-term case management.
Emergency help for housing costs as well as utility bills
The Community Service Block Grant housing assistance program helps households facing immediate loss of their housing. Any financial assistance, when qualified, is limited to one month of rent payments or mortgage principal and interest. Late fees, deposits, and future payments are not covered. Households may only receive this emergency help from community action once, which makes the program a last-resort option. Among other documentation, proof of eviction or a foreclosure notice is required at intake.
- Emergency Shelter Grant, or ESG, is another federal benefit that Caddo Community Action Agency takes applications for. Rent assistance from ESG provides limited support for households facing eviction, with some resources also offered on occasion to homeless people - such as vouchers to pay for motel or hotel rooms. Assistance may be available once every two years for qualifying residents.
In addition to the financial support, housing counseling services are offered to renters and homeowners in Caddo Parish. Counseling focuses on budgeting, understanding housing obligations including legal obligations, and preventing displacement. The Caddo Community Action Agency supports residents who are working through housing instability such as a possible eviction or preparing for homeownership.
While a federal benefit, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is administered for struggling Caddo Parish residents. Assistance from LIHEAP may cover utility bills as wide ranging as electricity, natural gas, propane, wood, or butane. Funding is limited with priority often for seniors or people with young kids first. Benefits from the LIHEAP Louisiana assistance programs are paid directly to the utility provider. The agency limits how often households can receive aid within a defined period, which helps spread funding across the parish during high-demand seasons.
Weatherization assistance, a form of energy conservation, is administered locally through the agency for qualifying households. Community action provides supplies and labor to help people improve the overall energy efficiency of their primary home. Services, which may be free to income qualified people may include insulation, air sealing, double glazed windows, and energy-efficiency improvements. Work is performed by approved crews, and priority is given to elderly residents, families with children, and households with high energy burdens. The program reduces long-term utility costs rather than providing bill credits.
The Shreveport Water Assistance Program is managed through the agency at select community locations. This program helps eligible residents pay past-due water and sewer bills. Assistance for water bills in Shreveport is capped and limited to specific billing periods. Utility accounts must be not shut off (therefore “active”) at the time of application.
Additional services from Caddo Parish community action
Funeral and burial assistance is available for immediate family members of deceased Caddo Parish residents who lack proper insurance or the money to pay for it. The program helps offset a portion of funeral and burial costs, depending on resources and applicant’s qualifications. Any help to pay for a funeral from the Caddo Community Action agency is limited and subject to documentation requirements related to residency, income, and funeral expenses.
The Head Start and Early Head Start programs operated by the agency serve children from birth through age five in Caddo Parish. Special needs students from Caddo Parish can also participate in the Head Start program along with some over-income limit children. Services include early education, meals for the students, health screenings, and family support. Centers are located within the parish and enrollment is limited to income-eligible families. The program emphasizes school readiness and stable early development.
The VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) services are provided seasonally, around “tax-time” to low-income residents. Trained and certified volunteers help prepare and file federal and state tax returns at no cost. The program, which requires applications in advance, focuses on accuracy and ensuring eligible filers receive refundable credits.
Applying for Community Action Agency services
Caddo Community Action Agency operates from its main office at 4055 Saint Vincent Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71108. Call (318) 861-4808. Other offices are at David Raines Community Center (1625 David Raines Road, Shreveport, LA 71107, dial (318) 425-2401) as well as Eddie Jones Community Center (1729 Ford Street, Shreveport, LA 71103, dial (318) 222-2436). Intake procedures, documentation requirements, and funding availability vary by program. Residents must contact the agency directly to determine eligibility and appointment availability.
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