Louisiana Opens Reentry Housing Provider Applications
Louisiana is accepting nonprofit providers for its Fall 2026 emergency and transitional housing referral list. The state details per-diem reimbursement, facility requirements and a $5,000 monthly provider cap.
Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections is accepting applications from qualifying nonprofit housing providers for its Fall 2026 Emergency and Transitional Housing (ETH) referral list. The opportunity is designed to expand short-term housing and food access for people at risk of homelessness during reentry. Applications are due October 30 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
Only eligible nonprofit housing providers may apply
The Fall 2026 Request for Applications limits applicants to nonprofit housing providers with federal tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) or a similar designation. Applicants must be in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State for at least two years, or since inception if the organization is newer, and must be registered as a vendor in LaGov. A complete application with supporting documentation is required.
Approved Fall 2025 providers must reapply to remain on the list. Providers approved in Spring 2026 do not need to reapply in this cycle. Approved providers remain on the referral list for one year, subject to program terms.
State rates differ by housing type, with a $5,000 monthly cap
The state's September 29, 2026 application documents set allowable reimbursement rates per participant and overnight stay. Rates are ceilings; a provider receives its approved rate, which cannot exceed the provider's published price.
- Emergency shelter: up to $12/dayFor overnight emergency shelter, subject to program participation and referral rules.
- Transitional housing: up to $20.84/dayStandard maximum for temporary housing while a participant seeks longer-term placement.
- Additional per diem: up to $26.10/dayPossible for transitional housing only if a justified request for additional funding is approved; it is not automatic.
- Administrative fee: $1/dayAn additional probation-and-parole compensation fee per participant per day is described in the application instructions.
- Monthly ceiling: $5,000Maximum provider invoice across all facilities, rates and applicable fees; not a guaranteed payment.
The application also describes a conditional $2-per-day incentive for providers housing eligible registered sex offenders who meet applicable siting and program requirements. Operators must verify the full restrictions rather than assume eligibility for the incentive.
What emergency and transitional housing providers must deliver
Emergency shelter means overnight accommodation of no more than 12 hours, with access to food services or at least one meal daily. The program permits emergency shelter for up to 14 days in a six-month period for qualifying participants. Transitional housing is a temporary residence rather than an extended shelter stay; food access or a daily meal is also required.
For people under probation and parole supervision, transitional reimbursement generally may continue for up to six months or until supervision ends, whichever occurs first. The request provides a shorter period, generally up to three months, for specified recently released or unsupervised-parole participants. Placement and any extension depend on the state's eligibility, referral and approval rules.
Providers must meet housing, meal, incident-reporting, screening and inspection standards, permit supervision staff to contact participants, and maintain records sufficient for monthly invoicing. The state can perform preapproval and annual facility inspections. The application also addresses appropriate house rules, limits on resident fees, and restrictions on double funding for the same participant's stay.
Referral-list approval is not the same as a state housing contract
The ETH program uses a referral model connected to Louisiana's Division of Probation and Parole and the Justice Reinvestment Initiative Office. Officers may refer participants directly; indirect referrals identified by community organizations require prior local probation-and-parole approval for reimbursable placements; and certain prerelease referrals may be coordinated by the JRI Office.
Participants generally are people at immediate risk of homelessness under adult felony probation/parole supervision, along with other narrowly specified recent-release and unsupervised-parole groups. The application contains additional limits affecting eligibility, approved referral sources and length of stay. A provider should not interpret selection for the list as authority to bill the state for any resident without the required approval.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Officials may request missing documents, inspect facilities and issue written decisions. The department indicates that processing can take up to three weeks after a complete submission; approval remains discretionary.
How to submit before October 30
Interested organizations should first read the Fall 2026 Request for Applications and download the separate state application packet from the official JRI Community Investments page. The department instructs applicants to upload the entire application packet using its listed Smartsheet submission form by 4:30 p.m. CT on October 30, 2026.
Questions about requirements and the apparent reimbursement-language conflict should be directed to the JRI Office at jriprograms@la.gov. Louisiana indicates that the next expected application cycle is Spring 2027, currently anticipated to open in March 2027.
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Explore Find Services →Editorial note: This report summarizes a state application cycle and the official Fall 2026 Request for Applications, reviewed October 14, 2026. The RFA contains an apparent inconsistency between its stated monthly invoice threshold and monthly cap; applicants should obtain clarification from the issuing agency. No contract award or guaranteed referral count is asserted. OACRA LLC is an independent private publisher, not a government agency. Information is presented for reporting and research; applicants must rely on the issuing agency's latest notices and instructions.
