Helping the Homeless
Please do not give directly to the homeless
Many of us in the Garden District feel sympathy and compassion for the homeless and have tried any number of ways to thelp them as they panhandle and loitre around the neighborhood. Our experience is that when we give directly to them it puts our homes in jeapordy of being robbed and causes the neightborhood to experience escalated criminal activity. We implore all of you not to encourage the homeless by giving to them directly, by offering them yardwork, or by allowing them respite in our yards and porches. Instead we encourage you to support our local charities and direct the homeless there where professionals are better equipped to respond to their needs.
For this reason we have composed the following into a downloadable flier which you can print and keep copies of to give to the homeless and show them just how close real help is.
First step to getting help:
Call United Way 2-1-1
225-923-2114 or toll free at (877) 923-2114
Counselors are on duty
- M – F, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
United Way 2-1-1 is an information and referral telephone service maintained by the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center. Trained counselors assist callers by linking them to agencies in their community that can fulfill their particular need.
Some nearby facilities for those in need of food/shelter:
St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room
MAP | 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place
(225) 383-7837 ext 208
Hot meals available 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM daily
Bishop Ott Shelter for Men
MAP | 1623 Convention St.
(225) 383-7343
Bishop Ott Shelter for Women and Children
Sweet Dreams Shelter /
Day Center
MAP | 1623 Convention St.
(225) 383-7341
Suggested CATS bus route: #5 (College)
- Get on bus that is northbound on Park Blvd.
- Continue on 19th St.
- Exit bus at Convention St. (one block after crossing North Blvd. intersection).
On Convention St., walk about three blocks west (toward river). Dining room and shelters are all near intersection of Convention and St. Vincent de Paul Place.
CATS bus fare information:
- Adults: $1.75;
- Children under 5: Free
- Senior citizens (62+), people with disabilities who show a CATS ID card, anyone showing a Medicare card, and students up through high school with ID: 35¢
- You must have exact change ready when you board.