St. Tammany Parish – Rental Assistance Program (STRAP)

****STRAP is no longer accepting applications***

Please contact us by phone at (985) 898-3016 or by email at (STRAP@stpgov.org) if you have any questions.

Eligibility

A family that is qualified to receive rental help cannot use it in conjunction with any other type of rental aid that is subsidized by the federal government.

The following households are eligible to apply for assistance through the St. Tammany Rental Assistance Program (STRAP), and the application process will begin on April 5, 2021:

• Households with an annual income that is lower than or equal to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), which is around $56,300 for a family of four
• Households impacted by COVID-19 that have seen a decrease in household income incurred significant costs, or found themselves in a tough financial situation; and
• Households that are on the verge of losing their homes or who are threatened with housing insecurity
• The necessary supporting documentation must be submitted before any payment can be released.

Website maintained by the United States Treasury Department for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in the state of Louisiana

Additionally, the Grants Department is responsible for the administration of the following programs, which are as follows:

• The purpose of disaster risk reduction, also known as mitigation, is to reduce a community’s reliance on financial assistance from the federal government in the event of a natural disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), working in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, distributes funds for hazard mitigation to residential properties that meet the eligibility requirements in St. Tammany Parish (GOHSEP).
• STAR Transportation is a demand-based public transportation service that operates within the boundaries of St. Tammany Parish. All of the residents of the Parish have access to the system. The program offers two different kinds of services, the first of which is transportation in rural areas, and the second is transportation in metropolitan areas. It is designed to transport passengers to and from important services and destinations both inside and between cities. This is a non-emergency service that operates on a first-come, first-served basis and provides service from the curb to the building.

Grants FAQs

• Whom should I speak with if I want information regarding short-term assistance for housing or about weatherizing my home?

You can receive short-term aid for housing or weatherizing your home by contacting the Community Action Agency in Slidell at (985) 646-2090 or in Covington at (985) 893-3923. These numbers will connect you to the appropriate location.

• I am thinking about making an application for a mortgage loan with a low interest rate that is tailored toward people like myself who are buying their first home. Whom should I speak with at this organization to obtain further information regarding these loans?

We highly recommend that you call the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA) at (888) 454-2001 or visit their website at www.lha.state.la.us to obtain information regarding programs that were created to assist first-time home buyers as well as a list of participating lenders. You can reach the LHFA by dialing their toll-free number, which is (888) 454-2001. Simply dialing one of these numbers will provide you with the requested information. In addition to this, we recommend that you contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at the number (202) 708-1112 and inquire about the FHA loans that they offer. Simply calling the number will accomplish this for you.

• Who should I contact if I want to learn more about whether or not there are grants available to fledgling businesses that are just getting off the ground?

We strongly advise you to get in touch with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) so that they can offer you information and assistance. They will be able to do this for you if you do this. You are welcome to get in touch with the Small Business Development Center at any of the following universities, or you are welcome to get in touch with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center by calling the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at the following number, (318) 342-5506, is how you do it. The website for the Loyola University Small Business Development Center is www.lsbdc.org, and the phone number for that center is (504) 864-7942. The phone number for Southeastern Louisiana University is (985) 549-3831, and the phone number for the University of New Orleans is (504) 539-9292.

• I’d like to pursue my artistic interests, but I’m not sure if it’s possible for me to get money from St. Tammany Parish.

Residents of St. Tammany Parish do not get grants on an individual basis from the parish government. In spite of this, the Louisiana Division of the Arts has designated us as a sub-grantee, which means that we are authorized to award funds in support of artistic endeavors. Please contact the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs at (985) 867-5095 or arts@stpgov.org if you would like additional information regarding the funding opportunities for artistic projects that are now available.

• What are the steps that I need to take to submit an application for a grant to increase the level of my home?

In order to lessen the impact of residential damage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides applicants with the opportunity to apply for general competitive grants on a yearly basis in addition to disaster-specific funds. For each and every opportunity, there are requirements that need to be satisfied; for further information, please see the page devoted to Residential mitigation.

Angela Silva

Angela Silva, a dedicated 42-year-old consultant specializing in government housing and rental assistance, hails from Sydney, Australia. She completed her education with a degree in Urban Planning from the University of New South Wales. Angela’s career has been marked by her relentless advocacy for affordable housing solutions, where she has worked extensively with both local governments and international agencies in Asia-Pacific regions. Her initiatives have led to the development of sustainable housing projects that cater to low-income families. Outside of her professional environment, Angela enjoys a peaceful life with her partner and their two adopted dogs, engaging in community gardening and urban sustainability projects.