The Need

Poverty

LA has the 2nd highest poverty rate in the nation. In 2022, 19% of residents lived below the poverty line (national average = 12.8%).

More than one quarter of Louisiana’s children live in poverty (26.9%).

The 70805 service zip code has a poverty rate of 41.3%, double the LA rate and three times higher than the national rate.

Violence

In 2021, Louisiana had the highest state murder rate.

149 people were murdered in Baton Rouge. That’s 35 per 100,000 people.

Of the 149, at least 120 occurred in the BR city limits with the 70805 and 70802 zip codes hit the hardest. Neighborhoods known to be plagued with gun violence after decades of poverty and disinvestment.

Foster Care

During 2021, 5,749 children were served through foster care because of child abuse and/or neglect.

Baton Rouge served 421 children in foster care, with a monthly average of 243.

The Baton Rouge Region received 5,524 reports of abuse and neglect in 2021.

Housing

With the combination of the Great Flood of 2016 and hurricanes, including Hurricane Ida most recently, 90% of homes in the area were damaged or destroyed. Thousands were left homeless and many housing providers’ facilities were flooded. The price of available housing increased substantially, while the availability of housing decreased drastically.

In the 2019 HUD Point-In-Time Survey, 353 people were homeless in LA. Due to COVID, a count was not completed for 2020. COVID complications and resulting cost-inflation has increased the number of people at risk of homelessness. We anticipate increased numbers.

Human Trafficking

Baton Rouge is 1 of 4 parishes in LA with the most reported trafficking victims.

In 2019, 543 minor sex trafficking victims (prospective or confirmed) were identified in Louisiana. 106 were ages 12 and under, with the youngest being 2 months old. Some providers did not report data, so the total cases are likely underreported.

Groups vulnerable to human trafficking include youth with foster care involvement, homeless and runaway youth, and youth and adults experiencing housing instability.

271 registered sex offenders live in the 70805 zip code as of November 2022.

Our Strategy

Empower youth and families to escape the cycle of poverty and violence by connecting them to supportive services and developing them in these five areas:

Educational Support

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Life Skills Training

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Career Preparedness

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Housing

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Mentorship

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Our Financials

For information on our revenue & expenses, click the link below.

FINANCIALS

Click Here for the  IRS Form 990 & Additional Information from Guidestar.

Our Partnerships

Partnerships enable us to support and expand the services provided to empower youth. We appreciate all of our partners!

Community

  • HEALING PLACE CHURCH

  • MY COMMUNITY CARES

  • THE FAMILY VILLAGE

  • FAMILY YOUTH SERVICES CENTER (FYSC)

  • JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BATION ROUGE

  • CAPITAL AREA ALLIANCE FOR HOMELESS (ONE STOP)

  • BRCC JAG PROGRAM

  • SETPOINT

  • BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LA

  • CAPITAL CITY ROTARY

  •  CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICES

  • LA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – ADULT EDUCATION

  • DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

  • CITY OF BATON ROUGE

  • LA ALLIANCE OF CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS

  • HOPE MINISTRIES

  • MAGELLAN HEALTH

  • MINDFUL PROJECTIONS

  • JOURNEY TO INSIGHT

  • IRISE COUNSELING SERVICES, LLC

  • PEAK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

  • THREE O’CLOCK PROJECT

Business

  • LA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

  • DEPT OF JUVENILE SERVICES

  • HUEY & ANGELINA WILSON FOUNDATION

  • US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  • US DEPT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

  • LA BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE (LA BOSCOC)

  • US DEPT OF JUSTICE

  • LA ADVOCACY CORPS: AMERICORP VISTA

  • LA STATE UNIVERSITY

  • SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

  • TULANE UNIVERSITY

  • EMPLOY BR

  • CHICK-FIL-A

Our Board Members

  • Johnny Green

    President, Pastor-Healing Place Church

  • Greyson Augustus

    Member, Brooks Brothers – Manager

  • Christopher H. King, Esq

    Member, Assistant District Attorney

  • Jacquise Terry

    Member, Healing Place Church Pastor

  • Guy Oliver

    Member, GW Oliver Construction – Owner

  • JR Crain

    Member, Autumn Grace – Owner & Medtronic – KA Manager

  • Mark Berger

    Member, LA Nursing Home Assoc. – Executive Director

  • Josh Causey

    Member, Repcon President

  • Rhett Spano

    Member, Law Office of Rhett Spano

  • Micheal Scott Enos

    Member, Magnolia Wealth Strategies – Financial Advisor

  • Arianne Bellizaire

    Member, Arianne Bellizaire Interiors – Owner

  • Darren Burychka

    Member, SERVEPRO of EBR Owner

  • Nodgela Thompson

    Member, Area Realty Services & Area Care Equity Services Group Broker/Owner