Providence House

Providence House is a place of transformation for homeless families with children. Year after year, we have watched men, women, boys, and girls walk through our doors with nothing more than a garbage bag and leave with permanent housing, an education, a job paying a living wage, parenting skills, confidence, and an extended support system – the Providence House Family. The transformation process looks like chaos sometimes, but the end result is stunning!

Each day our team has the pleasure of transforming lives. While a daunting task, it is the most important work that we can do for families as well as our community. In fact, empowering homeless and low-income wage earners changes the landscape of our economy – permanently! Our holistic approach to breaking the homeless cycle centers around education and workforce development. For 36 years, Providence House has served as a beacon of light and hope in a place riddled with blight and poverty. We are only able to have this kind of impact and change lives because of you, our supporters!

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
- 4-STAR Child Development Center (open to all children)
- Full service Adult HiSET/GED Program
- Full service Workforce Development Program and Job Skills Training (Bossier Parish Community College Instructional Site)

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
- On-Site Counseling
- Family and Children's Case Management
- Parenting and Life Skills Training
- Children's Services Division
- Housing Counselor
- Full-Service Dietary Team dedicated to the healthy outcomes for families
- Providence House Donations Center (resource center for families, babies, and children)
- Budgeting and Financial Literacy

HOUSING SERVICES
- Emergency Shelter Service
- Long-Term Residential Housing 
- Case Management
- Rental, Utility, and Mortgage Assistance (Homelessness Prevention)

Together, we change the narrative about poverty and homelessness! 

Testimonials

COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS LIFE-CHANGING FOR FAMILIES AT PROVIDENCE HOUSE.

With Spring 2024 Graduation barely in the rearview mirror for eight families, the following story is woven from their collective stories.

Single men, single women, and married couples come to Providence House with their children after facing hardships in life that many of us would be unable to navigate. They come tired, hopeless, and with broken spirits; but the drive to do better for their children helps them succeed.

Fresh starts and new beginnings for homeless families with children can be found at Providence House! We stand on the belief that there are two critical tools that will break the homeless cycle permanently: education and job skills training. Even so, the work begins with love. Our services, support, and programs can lead to a self-sufficient life, but if we do not begin with love then the work and the mission are not worthwhile.

Shreveport-Bossier ranks 9th of 11 peer cities in terms of home ownership. Only 61.5% of the population enjoy owner occupied housing and 43.8% of those homeowners experience a housing burden. A housing burden requires 35% or greater of your income to support just the expense of the home. Families need housing, but it must be safe and affordable. Providence House is able to meet the needs AND equip parents with resources to live safely long-term. 

While at Providence House, parents can accomplish a sense of independence, self-awareness, and motivation to continue with life. Our in-house case managers describe graduating families with words like grateful, persistent, and teachable. Underlying it all is a fierce determination to succeed. Families graduate from Providence House with better parenting tools, job training certifications, financial literacy, a solid foundation, and a strong resolve to continue to thrive – not just survive.

Each graduating class is asked to hand down advice to current and future residents. Here’s what recent graduates had to offer:

• Keep your head up, it will get better.
• Providence House is going to love you like you are family, and they are going to ensure you succeed.
• Put your trust in God and take advantage of all the resources provided.
• Remember your why!
• Stay to yourself, stay focused, and never give up!
• Take it one day at a time and take advantage of all Providence House has to offer.
• Take your time and absorb everything you can and use all the skills you learned to help you obtain a better life.

Without a doubt, the work taking place at 814 Cotton Street is not only hard work, it is heart work!