Find alternatives to calling the New Orleans Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- Hagar’s House
- Shelter for women and children. Serves as a sanctuary for women and children by providing an open and empowering residential community, resource coordination and a safe space to transition into sustainable housing. Does not accept government funding, and is open to all identities.
- (504) 210-5064
- http://hagarshousenola.org/
- New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter
- Provides emergency or transitional shelter for women over age 18, including women with children and pregnant women, and intact or single father-led families who are dealing with homelessness. For residents, case management, child care, and other social services available.
- (504) 522-9340 x 0 (Operator, non-emergency)
- (504) 356-1859 (Emergency, through UNITY)
- https://nowcs.org/
- Salvation Army Center of Hope
- Provides a hot meal and overnight lodging for single adults, families, seniors and the disabled who have no other option for safe shelter— all in keeping with our mission, “to meet human needs without discrimination.” Shelter for up to 90 days (free for 7 days then $10/day), 2 meals a day provided. A variety of social service programs are also available to those in need.
- Check in by 6 p.m. for reserved bed
- (504) 899-4569, ask about Center of Hope shelter
- 4526 South Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70125
- http://salvationarmyalm.org/nola/center-of-hope/
- UNITY of Greater New Orleans
- UNITY implements evidence-based strategies to end homelessness in the New Orleans area, engages in strategic planning, trains service providers, and performs programmatic monitoring and evaluation of UNITY Continuum of Care member organizations, containing over 63 member agencies and 130 projects.
- (504) 821-4496 (Office, closed due to COVID)
- (504) 658-2944 (Families, emergency)
- (504) 356-1859 (Adults, emergency)
LGBTQ+
- BreakOUT! Youth
- BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans. Programs to build the power of LGBTQ youth ages 13-25 and directly impacted by the criminal justice system through youth organizing, healing justice, and leadership development programs.
- (504) 252.9025
- http://www.youthbreakout.org/
- PFLAG New Orleans
- Provides information and support to LGBTQ+ people and allies. Can connect callers to local resources, provide information about rights, and a supportive ear.
- (504) 862-5912
- https://www.pflagno.org/
- SAGE New Orleans
- Provides advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders in the New Orleans area. Committed to ensuring that all LGBT older adults can live their best lives with the dignity, respect, and good health that they deserve.
- (504) 517-2345
- https://www.sageneworleans.org/
Mental Health
- Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
- Provides fully integrated primary care and behavioral health services for children and adults from two Community Health Centers in East Jefferson and West Jefferson. Primary care providers and mobile crisis intervention services available 24/7. Same day and next-day appointment available. Serves Jefferson parish. All services are free.
- (504) 838-5257 (Primary care, 24/7)
- (504) 832-5123 (Mobile crisis response, 24/7)
- Metropolitan Human Services District
- Mental health services including intervention, assessment, referrals, case management, and peer support. Metro Crisis Response Team available 24/7 for telephone and face-to-face triage, assessment, and intervention. Services for the uninsured and those on Medicare or Medicaid, or qualified for those programs. Serves Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes.
- (504) 826-2675 (24/7 Crisis)
- (504) 568-3130 (Appointments)
- https://www.mhsdla.org/
- ViaLink Crisis and Suicide Intervention.
- 24-Hour telephone crisis counseling services. Crisis Intervention Specialists are ready to listen, provide emotional support and help you develop a safety plan.
- 211 or (504) 269-COPE (2673) or 1 (800) 749-COPE (2673)
- https://vialink.org/crisis-suicide-intervention/
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Louisiana Commission Against Domestic Violence
- The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the federally designated statewide coalition of shelters, non-residential programs and individuals working to end domestic violence in Louisiana. Statewide 24-Hour Hotline.
- 1 (888) 411-1333 (24/7)
- https://lcadv.org/
- Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LAFASA)
- Local sexual assault centers throughout Louisiana. 24/7 Hotline provides crisis support, help with managing trauma, and information about local service providers. Services in English and Spanish. Text assistance available Mon. – Thurs., Noon – 8 p.m.; Online chat also available through website.
- (225) 372-8995 (most parishes)
- 1 (888) 995-7273 (For Tangipahoa, Livingston, St. Helena, Winn, LaSalle, Catahoula, and Concordia parishes)
- Text: (225) 351-7233
- http://www.lafasa.org/
- Metropolitan Centers for Community Advocacy
- Provides wrap-around services including individual advocacy, information and referrals, group support, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, sheltering, individual support, safety planning, and caregiver support to survivors in eight Louisiana parishes. Also provides a 24/7 Crisis Line for counseling and/or referrals for victims. All services to survivors are free and confidential.
- (504) 837-5400 (24/7)
- 1 (800) 411-1333 (Toll Free)
- http://www.mccagno.org/
- New Orleans Family Justice Center
- Provides a range of free services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking and child abuse in the Greater New Orleans area. Services are trauma-informed and non-judgmental. Services in English and Spanish, child care available. Emergency shelter and forensic medical care available.
- (504) 866-9554 (24-Hour Crisis Hotline)
- https://nofjc.org/
- Sexual Trauma Awareness Response (STAR)
- Provides supportive services to survivors to reduce their experience of trauma. Advocacy, counseling and legal services are available to youth and adult survivors of sexual violence at no cost. Services are confidential.
- (855) 435-STAR (24-Hour Hotline)
- https://star.ngo/
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- BreakOUT! Youth
- BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans. Programs to build the power of LGBTQ youth ages 13-25 and directly impacted by the criminal justice system through youth organizing, healing justice, and leadership development programs.
- (504) 252.9025
- http://www.youthbreakout.org/
- Center for Resilience
- Provides educational and intensive mental health supports in partnership with the Tulane University Medical School Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to ensure the emotional well-being and academic readiness of children with emotional health and trauma-related needs in the Greater New Orleans region. Caring, non-punitive, therapeutic services with positive behavioral supports, trauma-informed approaches, evidence-based mental health practices, small-group classroom instruction, and therapeutic recreation activities.
- (504) 308-3501
- https://www.cfrla.org/
- Covenant House New Orleans
- Provides immediate and long-term assistance to youth through 24/7 Crisis Center, emergency and transitional housing, and off-site independent apartments. Open 24/7, nobody turned away. LGBTQ+ affirming.
- 611 North Rampart Street.
- (504) 584-1111 (24/7)
- https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
- Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
- Provides fully integrated primary care and behavioral health services for children and adults from two Community Health Centers in East Jefferson and West Jefferson. Primary care providers and mobile crisis intervention services available 24/7. Same day and next-day appointment available. Serves Jefferson parish. All services are free.
- (504) 838-5257 (Primary care, 24/7)
- (504) 832-5123 (Mobile crisis response, 24/7)
- https://www.jphsa.org/
- Tulane University Youth Drop-In Center
- Provides primary and preventative healthcare, and access to a comprehensive network of primary healthcare and substance abuse, mental health, case management and outreach services to homeless, transient and at-risk youth, age 14 – 23.
- 1461 N. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116
- (504) 827-1071
- https://medicine.tulane.edu/centers-institutes/tulane-drop-center/
Elders
- SAGE New Orleans
- Provides advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders in the New Orleans area. Committed to ensuring that all LGBT older adults can live their best lives with the dignity, respect, and good health that they deserve.
- (504) 517-2345
- https://www.sageneworleans.org/
Crime
- Silence is Violence
- They provide direct victim services, creative youth engagement, and public advocacy, working with clients and partners from every sector to achieve safe, just, and thriving communities. Services include grief support, financial advocacy, and help navigating the Orleans and Jefferson parish criminal justice systems.
- (504) 282-0607
- http://silenceisviolence.org/
- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
- Provides free, civil legal aid to low-income people in six offices, across 22 parishes throughout southeast Louisiana. Assistance to domestic violence and abuse survivors, people experiencing homelessness, elders, and those seeking medical care, among others.
- 1 (844) 244-7871
- https://slls.org/
- The Hite Law Group
- Sliding-scale legal services, specializing in serving the unique needs of the LGBTQ community and survivors of intimate partner abuse.
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday
- (504) 252-0678
- https://www.hitelawgroup.com/
Substances
- Bridge House/Grace House
- A 24-hour, 7 day a week, residential treatment facility that provides no-cost substance-use disorder treatment to men and women in two separate locations. Per their website, they are the only organization offering long-term residential treatment in the Greater New Orleans Area.
- (504) 821-7120
- https://www.bridgehouse.org/
- Metropolitan Human Services District
- Substance abuse and addiction treatment services for the uninsured and those on Medicare or Medicaid, or qualified for those programs. Immediate assistance available for most vulnerable clients. Serves Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes.
- (504) 826-2675 (24/7 Crisis)
- (504) 568-3130 (Appointments)
- https://www.mhsdla.org/
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the New Orleans Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.