United for New Orleans Relief Fund Assistance: Hospitality Cares Grants
$100,000 in financial assistance related to the New Year’s Day attack to affected Bourbon Street hospitality workers through its Hospitality Cares partnership with the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation (LHF).
LHF will open and vet applications for aid starting Thursday, Jan. 16, at 9 a.m., providing $250 in vital relief to eligible workers in businesses along Bourbon Street, from Canal Street to Conti Street, that experienced a temporary closure or reduction in hours.
The assistance is intended to help with basic care for workers in an industry where a significant portion of employees live below the region’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Threshold.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS*
- Work at a hospitality establishment (restaurant, hotel, bar, or related business) located on Bourbon Street from Canal Street to Conti Street
- Impacted by the business’ temporary closure or reduction in hours due to the attack
- Earn at or below $31,000 as an individual or $85,000 as a household with children (figures informed by the region’s minimum ALICE Household Survival Budget)
- Demonstrate a financial emergency directly resulting from the temporary closure or reduction in hours of their workplace (e.g., inability to pay rent, utilities, or other basic expenses)
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
To complete the application process, the following documents will be required:
- Government-issued ID or driver’s license
- Recent pay stub to verify employment
The application will close once funds are exhausted.
*Due to limited funds, only one grant is permitted per household. Assistance is not guaranteed for every eligible worker.
“We recognize the urgency of responding to this crisis with compassion and speed so that people don’t lose hope for a brighter future ahead, and we also know the emotional toll of this trauma is significant for all those involved,” said Michael Williamson, UWSELA President and CEO. "Hospitality workers are the backbone of New Orleans’ economy, and we need to help them recover and continue to show that, thanks to Hospitality Cares and our generous donors, we are always there for them – no matter what.”
“The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation is proud to partner with United Way to distribute and manage the Hospitality Cares funds for the recent crisis that occurred on Bourbon Street.” David Blitch, LHF President and Co-Founder Consultant. “Our priority is to get funds into the hands of hospitality team members who may have been impacted by the terrorist attack in the French Quarter.”
>> Learn more about the grants <<
>> Frequently Asked Questions about the grants <<
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FUNDERS
Walt Leger III, President and CEO, New Orleans & Company:
“As we continue to mourn the senseless loss of life early on New Year’s Day, New Orleans & Company is proud to support the United for New Orleans Relief Fund, making assistance possible for our city's hospitality professionals, especially those on Bourbon Street and in the French Quarter. Nearly 80,000 families in our area depend on the travel and tourism industry for their livelihoods. These professionals are the heart and soul of our hospitality industry, and are critical to the economic strength of the city, region and state. Our business and tourism community is united with all local, state and federal partners to ensure New Orleans remains an amazing city in which to live, work, visit and invest in. A single act of evil by an ISIS-inspired terrorist will never deter us. In fact, it has only strengthened our resolve and love for the people of this community.”
Currin Wallis, Executive Director, 504HealthNet:
"504HealthNet's Healthy Hospitality initiative is proud to partner with United Way of Southeast Louisiana to ensure our city's hospitality professionals have access to quality mental health care. As New Orleans prepares for major events like the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, we recognize that these celebrations, while vital to our city's spirit and economy, may retrigger emotional trauma for those affected by the New Year's Day attack. Together with United Way, we remain committed to supporting the well-being of the people who make our city so unique and vibrant."
Laura Tuggle, Executive Director, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services:
"Civil legal aid is an essential but often overlooked critical solution to the stabilization of hospitality workers adversely impacted by a crisis - whether it be a disaster or tragic events like the recent Bourbon Street Attack. Instability results in workers facing loss of wages, workplace legal issues, eviction, foreclosure, consumer debt problems, domestic violence, benefits, and other civil legal problems. SLLS will provide one-on-one direct civil legal aid to impacted workers and offer monthly online events and informational sessions to workers on hot legal topics."
Warren A. Bell, Jr., President Board of Trustees, Spirit of Charity Foundation:
“Every dollar donated to the NOLA Strong Fund will provide critical financial assistance for medical care and other essential resources to help them rebuild and recover."
ABOUT HOSPITALITY CARES
Funds for the program’s crisis grants are generated through employee contributions to UWSELA hospitality workplace campaigns. Fifty percent of campaign proceeds will support emergency crisis grant allocations overseen by the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation (LHF), and 50 percent will be dedicated to existing United Way of Southeast Louisiana education, health and financial stability initiatives serving its entire seven-parish community, of which our hospitality workers are an integral part.
UWSELA identified the partnership with LHF as a tactic in its fight to support the 50% of the population recognized as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE individuals and families live above the poverty line, but just one car repair, health emergency, or harsh storm away from falling into poverty themselves.
Southeast Louisiana’s high costs of living – including housing, transportation, and child care – positions many in the hospitality industry under the ALICE threshold and unable to save for emergencies.
The program’s grants are only open to employees of businesses in the hospitality industry running active United Way workplace campaigns. New businesses interested in participating may contact hospitalitycares@unitedwaysela.org for more information. There is no fee to participate in the program.
Click here for more Hospitality Cares resources.
THEIR VOICES: PANDEMIC CRISIS GRANT RECIPIENTS
“I am in tears right now, I just received the email stating I am receiving the grant. I literally just spent my last $9 for gas and groceries. I have been praying for work and strength to get my 10-year-old son and I through these difficult times. I was about to give up, until I read my emails. From the bottom of our hearts thank you…Bills are piling up and now I will be able to get more food for us and pay some of these bills. God Bless.”
“I moved here alone a year ago, so my restaurant and my guests are my family. To see the community come together like this, to take care of my industry during this hard time in our country, gives me so much hope and faith in humanity.”
“When the schools closed down I had to remove myself from the schedule to take care of my five-year-old – then to have our dining room shut down days later. It’s been hard to deal with the stress and financial stress while trying to stay positive for your child and learning how to teach pre-k without bursting into tears. Thanks to the grant, I can breathe a little easier especially since schools have also shut down hot lunches for kids locally. We’ll get through this together.