A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide

Hoarding support in Lafayette, Louisiana.

A respectful place to begin, whether you are looking for support for yourself, worried about someone you love, or trying to respond to a safety, housing, care, or practical concern in Lafayette or Lafayette Parish.

People first.Then the stuff.A Fight the Blight initiative

Start here - Fight the Blight

You can begin with the part that feels most urgent today.

Our virtual groups give people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns a place to connect from Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, and nearby Acadiana communities. We can help you think through what kind of next step may fit.

For immediate danger

Call 911 for a medical emergency, fire, immediate danger, or active threat. For emotional distress or a behavioral-health crisis, call or text 988; Louisiana also provides a crisis-response system with mobile crisis and crisis-care pathways. For current food, shelter, housing, utilities, transportation, or benefits navigation, dial 211 and confirm local availability.

First conversations

A few good places to start

You do not need to know the perfect service name before reaching out. These organizations can help you understand the landscape and identify a next step.

Private-pay hoarding support, organizing help, groups, and family guidance - broader service area; scope, cost, scheduling, travel, consent, safety, and capacity rules apply; not emergency care

The Peer Tree

The Peer Tree is the private-pay pathway for organizing help, decluttering support, groups, family guidance, and practical next steps when a grant or public program is not the right fit. Ask about scope, cost, travel, consent, safety, and whether support is available in Lafayette or Lafayette Parish.

Digital peer-support pathway for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns - online; no cost or eligibility claim verified; not therapy or emergency support

Unburied

Unburied, from The Peer Tree, offers a judgment-free digital pathway with peer support, groups, and tools for people directly affected and for friends or family supporters. It is not therapy, a crisis service, or a substitute for emergency help.

Qualified public behavioral-health, addiction, developmental-disability, counseling, and crisis-intervention pathway - Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion Parishes; intake, clinical, insurance, eligibility, and service-area rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Acadiana Area Human Services District

Acadiana Area Human Services District provides behavioral-health, addiction, developmental-disability, and crisis-intervention services across seven Acadiana parishes, including Lafayette. Its published access information says no one is denied for inability to pay and a sliding scale is available; confirm the current clinic and intake route directly.

Information, referral, and resource-navigation pathway for food, shelter, housing, health, utilities, and social services - Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish; availability, eligibility, and provider capacity must be confirmed; not emergency dispatch

Louisiana 211

Use Louisiana 211 to ask about current local food, shelter, housing, health, utility, senior, disability, disaster, and family resources. Confirm the direct provider, hours, eligibility, and capacity before traveling or sharing sensitive information; use 911 for immediate danger.

Safety and stability

When the concern involves safety, housing, or crisis

These pathways serve different situations. Read the labels carefully before calling, especially when a response may involve crisis care, protective services, shelter, housing rules, legal advocacy, or emergency dispatch.

Emergency dispatch for immediate danger, fire, medical emergency, or active threat - Lafayette and Lafayette Parish; emergency use only

911

Call 911 when someone is in immediate danger, a fire or medical emergency is happening, violence is occurring, or emergency responders are needed. A housing or clutter concern that is not immediately dangerous may need a planned code, housing, health, or support response instead.

Free 24/7 phone, text, and chat crisis support - Louisiana and nationwide; not a substitute for 911 when danger is immediate

Louisiana 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 for emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a behavioral-health or substance-use crisis. Louisiana identifies 988 as a direct connection to accessible crisis support; use 911 for immediate danger, fire, or a serious medical emergency.

Official mobile-crisis, behavioral-health crisis-care, brief-support, and stabilization pathway - Louisiana, including the Acadiana region; triage, clinical, eligibility, and deployment rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Louisiana Crisis Response System

Louisiana Department of Health describes a crisis-response system that includes mobile crisis response, behavioral-health crisis care, community brief crisis support, and crisis stabilization. Use the state page to identify current regional access and call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.

Qualified regional crisis-intervention and behavioral-health pathway - Lafayette and six nearby Acadiana parishes; clinical triage, intake, fee, insurance, and service-capacity rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Acadiana Area Human Services District Crisis and Behavioral Health

AAHSD publishes crisis-intervention and outpatient behavioral-health services for adults, children, and adolescents, along with sliding-fee access for eligible households. Call 337-262-4190 to confirm the current Lafayette route; use 988 or 911 according to urgency.

Free confidential domestic-violence advocacy, safety planning, and emergency-shelter pathway - Lafayette and six Central and South Louisiana parishes; case-by-case intake, confidentiality, safety, and capacity rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Faith House Domestic Violence Crisis Line

Faith House is a nonprofit domestic-violence crisis center with emergency shelter, nonresidential support, transitional housing, permanent housing, advocacy, and a Family Justice Center. Call 1-888-411-1333 or the Lafayette outreach line at 337-232-8954; use a safer device if monitoring is a concern.

Official victim, medical, legal, shelter, and referral navigation pathway - Lafayette city and parish area; crime, safety, jurisdiction, and confidentiality rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Lafayette Police Department Victim Services

Lafayette Consolidated Government lists victim and witness assistance, local shelter contacts, medical access, elder support, child-abuse reporting, and legal referral information. Use the page for planned navigation and call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.

Official abandoned-property, nuisance, and property-maintenance complaint pathway - Lafayette city and parish jurisdiction; portal, inspection, notice, compliance, and legal rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Lafayette Consolidated Government Property Compliance

Lafayette Consolidated Government accepts reports about abandoned properties and property-use concerns through its My Government Online compliance portal. Anonymous reports may not be trackable; use planned code-compliance channels for non-emergency concerns and 911 for immediate danger.

Official protective-services reporting and response pathway for suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect of an older adult - Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish; screening, confidentiality, and response rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Louisiana Elderly Protective Services

Louisiana's Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs coordinates elderly protective services and other aging supports. Use the state pathway to report a concern or ask for local guidance; call 911 when danger or a medical emergency is immediate.

Official child-abuse and child-neglect reporting pathway - Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish; mandated-reporting, screening, confidentiality, and response rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Hotline

Call the Louisiana DCFS child-protection hotline at 855-4LA-KIDS when you suspect a child is being abused or neglected. Use 911 for an immediate threat, serious injury, fire, or other emergency; DCFS determines screening and response.

Free 24/7 crisis support for veterans, service members, and people who support them - nationwide, including Lafayette; crisis scope and emergency-response rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans, service members, and their supporters can call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or use the Veterans Crisis Line chat. Use 911 for immediate danger, fire, or a serious medical emergency.

People and practical help

Housing, food, care, transportation, and ongoing support

These listings connect the local community with housing, food, behavioral health, benefits, transit, survivor advocacy, disability support, peer support, and practical resources. Ask about current availability, cost, scope, consent, and safety before relying on them.

Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher pathway - Lafayette; income, household, waitlist, application, accommodation, and program rules apply; not emergency shelter

Lafayette Housing Authority

The Lafayette Housing Authority provides public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher pathways for very-low and extremely-low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities. Confirm current waitlists, application requirements, accommodations, and unit availability directly.

Official coordinated-entry, supportive-housing, and homelessness-navigation pathway - Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish; screening, referral, household, and provider-capacity rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Louisiana Housing Corporation Homelessness Solutions

Louisiana Housing Corporation directs people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to coordinated-entry access points and the Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care. Use the parish search route or 211 to identify the current Lafayette access point and confirm availability.

Public fixed-route and ADA demand-response transportation pathway - Lafayette Parish; route, fare, schedule, accessibility, prequalification, reservation, and service-change rules apply; not emergency transport

Lafayette Transit System and Paratransit

Louisiana DOTD lists Lafayette Transit System service across Lafayette Parish, including seven fixed routes and contracted ADA paratransit. Paratransit users must be prequalified; confirm current routes, fares, reservations, and pickup rules before traveling.

Qualified adolescent, adult, and geriatric behavioral-health and psychiatry pathway - Lafayette and surrounding region; assessment, referral, insurance, appointment, and capacity rules apply; not emergency care

Ochsner Behavioral Health Acadiana - Lafayette

Ochsner Behavioral Health Acadiana provides specialized behavioral-health care for adolescents, adults, and older adults in Lafayette and surrounding communities. Confirm current assessment, insurance, referral, and appointment requirements; use 988 or 911 for crisis needs.

Aging and disability resource pathway for meals, legal help, transportation, home repair, benefits, and caregiver navigation - Lafayette and nearby Acadiana parishes; age, referral, program, and capacity rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Cajun Area Agency on Aging

The Cajun Area Agency on Aging serves Lafayette and nearby parishes with aging and disability resource coordination, legal and health promotion referrals, transportation, material aid, and other supports. Confirm age, program, income, and service-area rules directly.

Free civil legal-assistance pathway for eligible low-income Louisiana residents - Lafayette and broad south and central Louisiana service area; income, case type, conflict, intake, and capacity rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation provides civil legal help involving housing, eviction, benefits, consumer matters, and safety for eligible residents. Complete the current eligibility screen or call intake; submitting an application does not itself create an attorney-client relationship.

Local nonprofit utility, rental, food, shelter, Medicaid, transportation, and stability pathway - Lafayette, Iberia, and St. Martin service area; income, household, document, and program-capacity rules apply; not emergency dispatch

SMILE Community Action Agency

SMILE provides Lafayette emergency assistance, LIHEAP energy help, rental assistance, emergency food and shelter, Medicaid application help, and transportation assistance for eligible residents. Current applications may require identification, Social Security cards, proof of income, and bills; confirm the intake checklist before traveling.

Family shelter and transitional-stability pathway for families with minor children - Lafayette; household, intake, safety, length-of-stay, and bed-capacity rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Lighthouse Family Shelter - The Outreach Center

The Outreach Center's Lighthouse Family Shelter provides beds, meals, case management, basic needs, transportation, referrals, employment help, and permanent-housing support for families with minor children. Confirm current intake and capacity directly.

Nonprofit domestic-violence shelter, advocacy, transitional-housing, permanent-housing, and Family Justice Center pathway - Lafayette and six Central and South Louisiana parishes; confidential intake and capacity rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

Faith House of Acadiana

Faith House offers free, confidential, voluntary services for people experiencing domestic violence, including emergency shelter, housing, advocacy, counseling, and legal and law-enforcement coordination through the Family Justice Center of Acadiana. Confirm safe contact options and current capacity.

Nonprofit food-bank and nutrition-support pathway - Lafayette; client, service-area, intake, schedule, and capacity rules apply; not emergency shelter or medical care

Acadiana Cares Food Bank

AcadianaCares operates an onsite food bank in partnership with Second Harvest and connects clients to nutrition resources. Confirm current hours, documentation, and eligibility before traveling; use 211 for additional food options.

Regional food-bank, pantry, and food-finder pathway - Acadiana; household, service-area, schedule, and capacity rules apply; not emergency shelter or medical care

Second Harvest Food Bank - Lafayette

Louisiana Department of Health identifies a Second Harvest Food Bank location in Lafayette. Use the current food-finder or referral route to identify a direct pantry or distribution partner and confirm hours and eligibility before traveling.

Official future household-hazardous-waste, bulk-waste, recycling, electronics, tire, and residential-disposal pathway - Lafayette city and unincorporated parish residents; facility opening, accepted-material, residency, load, and usage rules apply; not emergency disposal today

Lafayette Consolidated Government Environmental Quality Convenience Center

Lafayette Consolidated Government is constructing a permanent Environmental Quality Convenience Center at 400 Dugas Road. The page lists planned accepted materials and resident rules, but the facility is marked coming soon; confirm opening and operating details before relying on it.

Official residential bulky-waste collection for large appliances, furniture, televisions, and limited tires - Lafayette service area; curb placement, item, schedule, and hazardous-material rules apply; not emergency removal

Lafayette Large and Bulky Item Collection

Lafayette Consolidated Government describes weekly bulky-item collection for large appliances, furniture, televisions, and up to five tires for residential service. Construction debris and hazardous waste are excluded; confirm the curbside schedule and safe placement rules before setting items out.

Official curbside and drop-off recycling pathway - Lafayette; residence, accepted-material, schedule, and service-charge rules apply; not hazardous-waste disposal

Lafayette Recycling and Drop-Off

Lafayette offers curbside recycling to eligible city residences and drop-off recycling through Acadiana Waste Services. Confirm the current accepted-material list, schedule, and service-area rules; hazardous waste, electronics, batteries, and many household items are excluded.

Official city-parish service-navigation pathway for garbage, recycling, utilities, permits, property issues, and resident requests - Lafayette; jurisdiction, hours, and service rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Lafayette Consolidated Government Services and 311

Lafayette Consolidated Government provides resident service navigation, garbage and recycling schedules, utility contacts, permits, and a 311 route for general questions. Use 911 for immediate danger and confirm the correct department for planned needs.

Official food, cash-assistance, and benefits-application pathway - Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish; income, household, identity, document, and program rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Louisiana SNAP and Cash Assistance

Louisiana administers SNAP and cash-assistance programs for eligible households. Use the state's current application and screening route or ask SMILE or 211 for local application help; approval and timing are not guaranteed.

Official Medicaid and health-coverage pathway - Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish; income, household, identity, program, and eligibility rules apply; not emergency dispatch

Louisiana Medicaid and Health Coverage

Louisiana Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible residents and maintains current application and program information. Review the state pathway or ask a qualified community provider for application help; approval and coverage are not guaranteed.

Official public-housing, project-based rental-assistance, and Housing Choice Voucher information pathway - Louisiana; income, household, waitlist, unit, and program rules apply; not emergency shelter

Louisiana Housing Corporation Public Housing and Vouchers

Louisiana Housing Corporation maintains public-housing and rental-assistance information and can help identify state and local options. For Lafayette applications, also confirm current waitlists and accommodations with the Lafayette Housing Authority.

Local multi-agency navigation route for housing, shelter, food, care, utilities, transportation, benefits, legal help, and safety - Lafayette Parish; provider hours, eligibility, and capacity must be confirmed; not emergency dispatch

Lafayette Community Resource Navigation

When a need crosses multiple systems, combine Lafayette city-parish services, 211, SMILE, the Louisiana Housing Corporation, AAHSD, Faith House, local shelters, food resources, and legal aid. Confirm each current provider before traveling or sharing sensitive information.

A note from the Alliance

Start with the person. Then decide what the situation needs.

This guide is anchored in Lafayette, Louisiana, and includes city, county, state, nonprofit, national, and independent pathways. A listing here does not mean Fight the Blight endorses every provider or can guarantee availability. The Hoarding Alliance is not a city or county agency, therapy practice, emergency service, or cleanup company. We will keep reviewing this page, but please confirm details directly before relying on them.

Need help choosing a path? Contact Fight the Blight