In every community across Louisiana, there are people living without the basic security of a home. They are our neighbors, even if they remain unseen. At START CORP, we believe that serving individuals who are experiencing homelessness is not only a moral obligation but also a matter of community health, dignity and shared responsibility.
Homelessness is not a condition that defines a person. Too often it is an experience shaped by trauma, economic hardship, behavioral-health challenges or systemic inequities. The individuals we work with need compassion and practical solutions.
Since START CORP’s founding in 1984, we have dedicated ourselves to walking alongside those most in need, ensuring they are not defined by where they sleep but by their potential to live healthier, empowered lives.
In 2024, UNITY reported over 1,400 individuals were experiencing homelessness in the city and surrounding Jefferson Parish. In the same year, START CORP served 21,114 clients statewide, connecting people to the housing, healthcare and supportive services they need to regain stability.
Our outreach teams go directly into the community to connect individuals with housing case management, peer support and pathways to stability. We operate a women’s shelter and a youth drop-in center, offering safe spaces for some of the most vulnerable among us. And through supportive housing programs, we help individuals transition out of homelessness into permanent homes where they can begin to rebuild.
But housing alone is not enough. Healthcare is a critical part of the solution. With ongoing funding from federal grants, state contracts and philanthropic support, START CORP plans to expand its services even further in the coming years, particularly in New Orleans. The agency is working to develop a new clinic at the former St. Jude Community Center.
The START Community Health Center at St. Jude will deliver comprehensive care in the French Quarter. The facility is being developed over the next year to provide medical, dental, behavioral health, recovery services, pharmacy and housing support all in one location.
The impact of these services extends far beyond the individuals we directly serve. When an unhoused individual moves into stable housing, they are less likely to cycle through emergency rooms, face encounters with the criminal justice system or rely on costly crisis services. Communities benefit through reduced strain on public systems, safer neighborhoods and stronger local economies.
Still, too many of our neighbors remain unhoused. Louisiana faces ongoing shortages in affordable housing and accessible behavioral health care. That is why collaboration is critical. START CORP has built strong partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, health systems and other nonprofit organizations to ensure our programs are sustainable and responsive.
But we cannot do this work alone. It requires continued investment and a shared commitment from all sectors of our community – business leaders, policymakers, community leaders and residents.
At START CORP, we see this truth every day when someone walks into our health center for care, signs a lease for their first apartment after years of homelessness or simply finds the support they need to feel hopeful again.
By honoring the humanity of our unhoused neighbors and providing the tools for recovery, we strengthen not only individual lives but the fabric of our entire community. That is a responsibility – and a privilege – that belongs to us all.
Casey Guidry, LCSW, is CEO of Start Corporation.
