Best homeless shelter in New Orleans, Louisiana (LA) 2024

I'm thankful for the shelter this organization provided for me and my family during our time of need. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed. First and foremost, when we arrived I got the feeling this shelter isn't kid friendly despite being a shelter for families. There is no play area for the children to play. If they run around due to being energetic they're yelled at. The staff is not sensitive to children with disabilities at all. Our room did not have a working toilet. We didn't have hot water to properly shower. It wasn't until my last day of being here my toilet was fixed. We were put in a room with a microwave that had what appeared to have caught on fire. We didn't have any bed linens or bath towels or wash cloths. I was given a tablecloth to use as a towel for me and my two children. I was told to buy my own toilet paper despite the fact that the storage closet next to my room was full of toilet paper. The rule about having to stay out until 4:00 pm I can respect that but having to sit in a room for 2 hours until 6:00pm until you can go to your room seems ridiculous with children with short attention spans. Lastly, I thought this was the most cruel act ever. I waited in line on a Thursday for the food bank and I was told I could not have food for me and my children because I was a resident at the shelter. Even though I told the workers I do not get food stamps and we didnt have any food or any snacks for my children I was still told no. I have never in my life seen a " christian " organization tell a mother with children she couldn't have food to feed her children. ~Kourtney