Hurricane Relief Program – Round Two Applications

OVERVIEW

The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation has committed $100,000 to launch their Hurricane Relief Program that is providing one-time $500 grants to eligible hospitality workers who have suddenly found themselves struggling to keep up with their bills.

Hospitality workers across Louisiana have been impacted by recent hurricanes, including Laura and Delta in 2020, and now Ida in 2021. These natural disasters create unplanned financial emergencies for people in the storm’s path.

For Hurricane Ida, 25 Louisiana parishes were identified as disaster areas by FEMA, which includes thousands of hospitality industry workers and their families. These individuals had to decide “Do I stay?” which would involve purchasing supplies to survive without the possibility of basic services such as running water and electricity; or “Do I evacuate?” which would involve unplanned expenses including transportation, housing and meals for days, or even weeks, in some cases.

In reality, almost every hospitality worker in southeast Louisiana was unable to work due to storm closures, damages, and other factors. However, housing and utility expenses are still their responsibility, along with other basic living expenses. These individuals continue to navigate resources, but need more help.

The Hurricane Relief Program grants are providing much-needed relief to struggling families who are still surviving within a heavily impacted industry ravaged by the pandemic. Additional support has been provided by Bud Light, Bulleit Frontier Fund, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Commander’s Palace, Entergy, and many other generous donors.

DONATE

Hospitality industry workers play a vital role in the Louisiana economy. We need your support to help more of these individuals who have been negatively impacted by the results of Hurricane Ida.

HOSPITALITY WORKER APPLICATIONS

Round 2 Hurricane Relief Grant Applications are CLOSED. This program has distributed all available funds.

Eligibility Requirements

Each applicant must meet all three program eligibility requirements:

1. Applicant must live in one of the following 25 parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana.
2. Applicant must be directly employed at a Louisiana restaurant, bar or hotel.
3. Applicant must have experienced a housing or utility financial emergency as a result of Hurricane Ida.

Please note that available funds are limited, therefore it is not guaranteed that each qualified request for funding will be approved.

Documentation Requirements

The following documents are required as part of the online application process:

1. Proof of Residence: Applicant must upload ONE of the following for proof of residence:
   • Louisiana driver’s license (cannot be expired)
   • Louisiana state issued ID (cannot be expired)
   • Lease with applicant’s name (must include all pages from page 1 to signature page)
   • Mortgage statement with applicant’s name
   • Water, Gas or Utility bill in applicant’s name (cell phone and internet utility bills WILL NOT be accepted)
2. Proof of Hospitality Industry Employment: Applicant must upload ONE paystub from their employer dated between July 1, 2021 and August 29, 2021. Paystub must include the applicant’s name, the employer’s name, and days worked in the above stated time period.
3. Proof of Financial Burden: Applicant must show proof of financial burden for either housing or utilities expenses.
   • If applicant is applying for housing assistance, they must upload one of the following:
     • Lease with applicant’s name (must include all pages from page 1 to signature page)
     • Mortgage statement with applicant’s name 
   • If applicant is applying for utilities assistance, they must upload one of the following:
     • Water, Gas, or Utility bill in applicant’s name 
     Note: Cell phone and internet utility bills WILL NOT be accepted.