Quick Facts: Louisiana
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 83% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 92% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 76% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 100% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 78% of metrics met
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Systems: 67% of metrics met
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Environment: 35% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 72
State Ranking 2022: 6
2022 Score
2021 Score
81
72
Louisiana Highlights
Louisiana has moved the needle relative to other states including addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness and authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness.
Law & Policy
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The state has a state Runaway & Homeless Youth Act.
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The state allows shelters to take in homeless youth with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.
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The state gives minors contract rights OR allows them to enter into binding contracts for certain purposes (e.g. necessities).
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The state explicitly allows partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
Systems
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness that contains a youth-specific strategy component.
Environment
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The state maintains a community advisory board for youth that informs youth homelessness policy.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Pelican State with emphasis on protecting the rights and interests of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ youth, should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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The state should explicitly allow homeless youth to use SNAP to buy hot restaurant or prepared meals.
Systems
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As part of the state plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, include a strategy to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
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Amend regulations to allow minors to obtain state-issued identification without parental consent.
Environment
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Organize and maintain a self-governing youth action board or council to inform youth homelessness policy within the state.
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Ban harmful and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.
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The state should requires training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
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Establish a protected class status based on one's sexual orientation and gender identity for runaway and homeless youth programs.