Beyond helping you cover basic needs like food and housing, grants for felons in Louisiana can also help you train for a good job or go back to school. We’ve put together this simple guide to help you understand the types of financial assistance you could get.
Basic Needs Grants For Felons in Louisiana (2025)
Government benefit programs targeted at low-income households don’t discriminate against felons.
Felons who qualify can get money for food, help with utility bills, free medical care, and free phone service. If you’ve got kids, you may also qualify for monthly cash assistance. Let’s take a closer look at these programs.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP (Food Stamps) gives low-income households money for groceries. You’ll get an EBT card reloaded with your allowance every month.
To qualify you need to fall under the income limit for your household size.
For a single person that means a monthly income under $2,510, For a 3-person family, the income limit is $4,304.
The maximum a single person can get is $292/month. The larger your family, the more you can qualify for. A 3-person family can receive up to $758/month.
You can get SNAP benefits even if you’re living in an emergency shelter or halfway house. In Louisiana, SNAP benefits can also be used to buy fast food or pay for a meal at a restaurant.
Check how much you could get: Find Out Here.
Woman, Infants, Children Program (WIC)
WIC is a food grant female felons could qualify for if they:
- Are pregnant
- Were pregnant in the last six months
- Are breastfeeding a baby under one year old
- Have a child under 5 years old
The amount you’ll receive depends on your income, household size, and family composition. Benefit amounts are different for infants, children, and adults.
A single mom-to-be can qualify with an income under $2,322/month, while a family of 3 can make up to $3,981/month.
Visit HERE to learn more.
Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP)
FITAP is a monthly cash benefit given to low-income parents with dependent children. Assistance is limited to 60 months in a lifetime.
A family of 2 can receive up to $376/month, while a family of 3 can get up to $484/month.
To qualify for FITAP, felons need to meet income and asset limits and have at least 1 child under 18 living at home.
All work-eligible FITAP recipients must participate in the Strategies to Empower People (STEP) Program.
STEP aims to make sure you can become financially self-sufficient through education, support, and on-the-job vocational training.
You can learn more HERE.
Find Out If You Qualify For Free Healthcare
If you’re a felon on a low income, you could be eligible for free or low-cost health cover through Louisiana’s Medicaid program. Felons can qualify for Medicaid in several ways.
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you’re eligible for Medicaid. You may also be eligible if you’re:
- Disabled
- Pregnant
- A low-income parent of a child under 19
- Getting payments from the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program
- Aged 19 to 64 years old with a household income less than 138% of the federal poverty level for your household size
How much is 138% of the federal poverty level? Currently, a single-person household can have an income of up to $1,799.75/month. The bigger your household, the higher the income limit – a 3-person household can make up to $3,064.75/month.
Get more information: https://ldh.la.gov/page/about-medicaid
Free Phone Plans
Low-income households can qualify for a LifeLine phone plan with unlimited free calls and texts. You’ll also get a small amount of free data (4.5 GB/month). If you had to pay for a comparable plan in Louisiana it would cost you around $15/month.
The income limit to qualify depends on your household size. A single person making less than $20,331.00 will qualify. If your household is bigger, higher limits apply.
Help With Utility Bills
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households pay for heating and cooling. If you qualify, you’re eligible for one payment for heating in the winter and another for summer cooling costs. A crisis grant may also be available if you’re facing a utility shutoff.
Check the income limits to find out if you’ll qualify.
Rent Assistance Programs
To qualify for rent assistance you’ll need to be within the income limits for your household size and pass your Public Housing Authority (PHA) criminal background check.
Income limits are based on the median income for the area, so the limit that applies to you will depend on the city or county you live in.
When it comes to passing the criminal background check, there are only 2 convictions that will result in an automatic denial:
- Manufacturing methamphetamine on the premises of Public Housing
- Sex offenses with a lifetime registration requirement
PHAs carry individualized background checks, meaning the nature and age of your felony will be considered along with mitigating factors and your rehabilitation efforts.
Find your PHA HERE.
Free Job Training And Employment Assistance For Felons
Government grants fund initiatives that help felons train for jobs and find employment.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): The WIOA funds job training and education for unemployed workers and felons.
You could get the money you need to go to college or trade school, or learn while you earn on a job training program. Ask about WIOA benefits at your local Job Center.
Federal Bonding Program: This program gives employers free insurance covering losses up to $5,000. It’s a safeguard that makes employers more willing to hire former felons.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: This is another financial incentive for employers that hire felons within 1 year of conviction or release from prison.
It’s a win-win situation and many large employers utilize this program. Felons get jobs while employers get good workers and a break on their tax bills.
Smaller employers often don’t know about the WOTC so ask your Job Center to give you a letter of introduction that explains the benefits.
Education Grants For Felons
Grants help to make a college degree or vocational certification more affordable and the good news is felons can qualify! Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out how much money you could get.
Pell Grant: Based on your financial need, the Pell Grant provides up to $7,395 per year.
FSEOG: The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant gives students with exceptional financial need up to $4,000 per year.
GoGrant: This Louisiana state grant gives further financial assistance to Pell Grant recipients with unmet financial need. The maximum award is $3,000 per year.
Financial Assistance For Released Prisoners In Louisiana
So far we’ve talked about the help you can get when you’re on a low income. But what about more targeted financial assistance for released prisoners in Louisiana? Are there any specific grants for convicted felons in Louisiana?
While the government allocates millions of dollars every year to help released prisoners reintegrate, the majority of that money goes to nonprofit organizations running prisoner reentry programs.
You may be able to get a small grant from a reentry provider to help with a rental security deposit or to buy the tools you need for your trade, but the main focus of reentry programs is helping released prisoners achieve stability and overcome the many challenges they face,
Reentry programs help with:
- Case management services
- Housing
- Training and Education
- Employment
- Applying for financial assistance programs
- Addiction counseling
- Mentoring and support
- Lifeskills
Call the free 2-1-1 helpline to connect with reentry programs and other resources for felons in your area.
Read Also: Grants For Felons in Wisconsin