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HOSPITALITY CARES

Hospitality Cares is a crisis grant program offering emergency financial assistance to eligible hospitality workers.

HOSPITALITY MENU

APPLY FOR A CRISIS GRANT

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GRANT ELIGIBILITY

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START A WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN

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THE PROGRAM AWARDS EMERGENCY GRANTS OF UP TO $2,500 TO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AT BUSINESSES RUNNING ACTIVE UNITED WAY WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

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 UWSELA education, health, and financial stability initiatives serving our seven-parish community.

UWSELA identified the partnership with LHF as a tactic in its fight to support the roughly 50% of the population living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Threshold. These households don’t earn enough to afford the cost of living in their parish or save for an emergency. 

Southeast Louisiana’s high cost of living — including housing, transportation, and childcare — places 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 hospitality businesses 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.

EMERGENCY CRISIS GRANTS

Hospitality Cares offers emergency grants up to $2,500 to eligible employees at businesses running active United Way campaigns in the hospitality industry. The funds will provide temporary assistance during times of crisis to assist with housing, medical, and utility bills.

Funds for the program’s crisis grants are generated through employee contributions to UWSELA hospitality workplace campaigns. Fifty percent of campaign proceeds support emergency crisis grant allocations overseen by the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation (LHF), and 50% are dedicated to existing United Way of Southeast Louisiana education, health, and financial stability initiatives serving our entire seven-parish community.

To apply for a crisis grant through the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, visit louisianahospitalityfoundation.org/crisis-grants/.

HOSPITALITY CARES RESOURCES

COUNSELING & GROUP THERAPY

In partnership with Loyola Counseling Center & Education, Hospitality Cares is extending mental health outreach and care to hospitality industry workers in our seven-parish service area. Offered services include direct individual, family, and couple therapy, and group therapy exclusively designed for the hospitality industry. To access counseling, call (504) 864-7858 or email LCCE@loyno.edu.mailto:LCCE@loyno.edu.

LEGAL SERVICES & EDUCATION

In partnership with Loyola Law College of Law and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Hospitality Cares will provide legal services to hospitality workers, including one-on-one direct civil legal aid and online monthly ‘Know Your Rights’ webinars on hot topics. To apply for legal services by telephone at (504) 529-1000 or online at SLLS.org.

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

The program awards emergency grants of up to $2,500 to eligible employees at businesses running active United Way workplace campaigns in the hospitality industry. The funds will provide temporary assistance during times of crisis to cover basic financial needs, including housing, medical, and utility bills.

Your community needs you. Donate now.

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OUR PROGRAMS

United Way offers a variety of options for people to support their community, whether through donations, advocacy, corporate partnerships, or joining one of our groups.

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Helena Moreno

Campaign Email:  letsgo@helenamorenola.com
Contact Phone Number:  (504) 655-2878


Campaign Website and Social Media Handles
www.helenamorenola.com
@HelenamorenoHQ  |  @helenamorenola

Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

Yes.

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget?

Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more. I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources. There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider.

Commitment:  If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS. As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important. New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care. It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds. Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

Yes.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs. Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school. This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments?

Yes.

How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them. If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.