Don’t call the police if you’re in a situation that requires de-escalation and intervention. Don’t call the police if you can handle a problem by simply contacting your neighbors. Don’t call the police, instead check out the crowd-sourced online database, Don’t Call The Police. 

Don’t Call The Police has lists of alternative organizations you can call to handle specific crisis situations and emergencies. The website breaks up resources based on location, so New Orleans has its own list of local organizations. 

The website was founded because Don’t Call The Police believes that “You should not call the police when a better, non-violent, non-racist alternative is available.”

Don’t Call The Police’s creator Mallory Sepler-King commented that “We created dontcallthepolice.com to ensure that everyone who needs help can access that help safely. By putting all of these resources in one place, our goal was to make safe, non-violent help easily accessible to anyone who needs it. The site can also act as a toolkit for groups working to reimagine public safety and redistribute funds, because it provides a visual representation of the types of organizations that would receive those redistributed funds, and the types of help they provide. Reimagining public safety doesn’t mean building a new system from the ground up – there are so many groups doing this work already. So many of the calls that go to police could be better addressed by someone else – our site makes it easy for people to find that someone else.” 

In other words, Don’t Call The Police shows how and where funds could be reallocated from police departments to organizations that are better suited to handle specific emergency situations.

Unquestionably, police officers are the right people to call if you’re dealing with a violent crime, however, when it comes down to it, a very small percentage of calls to police are about violent crimes. Only 1% of calls to the New Orleans Police Department concern violent crimes like homicide, robbery, rape, and aggravated assault. 

An analysis of NOPD data found that officers in New Orleans only spend about 4% of their time responding to these violent crime calls. They spend 37% of their time responding to noncriminal calls, 15% dealing with traffic, 15% on other crimes, 14% on property crimes, 10% on proactive measures, and 6% on medical and other calls. Their purpose then isn’t as innately tied to preventing violent crimes as most people think. 

Dismissing this notion, and changing how people handle crisis situations is instrumental in reorganizing our society so that the police are not the de facto organization to contact every time an emergency occurs. 

Thenjiwe McHarris, a member of the leadership body of the Movement for Black Lives explained, “We need to experiment with investing in actual infrastructure that can actually deal with root causes of harm, that actually cares about repair and rehabilitation and not punishment.” 

For so many emergency situations law enforcement is not the right organization to call. 

A 2017 study in Camden, New Jersey found that 7% of 911 calls were related to individuals with mental or behavioral health needs. Individuals who needed care, not jail time. People who needed officials with mental health training, not guns. 

Several police killings, such as that of Walter Wallace Jr. and Daniel Prude, have occurred when law enforcement encountered individuals having a mental health crisis. 

For domestic violence survivors, law enforcement is also not a good option. Many domestic violence survivors feel scared to involve the police. “For a lot of us who have experienced that kind of violence, we know that we don’t usually get justice that way,” Misha Viets van Dyk, an organizer with Showing Up for Racial Justice explained.

Similarly, victims of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment distrust the police department because it’s extremely rare that reported cases actually result in convictions. According to a report by RAINN, statistically only 230 out of 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement. Of those 230 reported cases, 46 reports will lead to arrests, 9 cases will be referred to a prosecutor, 5 cases will lead to a felony conviction, and 4.6 rapists will be incarcerated. 

Don’t Call The Police lists out emergency and crisis services that are far more capable of helping domestic violence victims, sexual assault survivors, and individuals who are having mental health crises. 

Each resource offered has been vetted for its policies to make sure that it will not contact law enforcement after you contact it. If there is a chance of police involvement, beyond what’s required by law, Don’t Call The Police clearly describes the circumstances that will result in police involvement in the organization’s description. 

With an emphasis on transparency and accurate information, Don’t Call The Police has been recognized by social justice groups across the country and in New Orleans, including the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition. Don’t Call The Police is constantly updating its listed resources and encourages readers to submit services in their area so the database can remain as useful as possible. 

The following resources are available in New Orleans to people who need immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services. If you’re in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911. If you’re in a situation that requires de-escalation and/ or intervention, use the resources below. 

Housing

• Hagar’s House
  • Shelter for women and children. Serves as a sanctuary for women and children by providing an open and empowering residential community, resource coordination and a safe space to transition into sustainable housing. Does not accept government funding, and is open to all identities.
  • (504) 210-5064
  • http://hagarshousenola.org/

• New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter
  • Provides emergency or transitional shelter for women over age 18, including women with children and pregnant women, and intact or single father-led families who are dealing with homelessness. For residents, case management, child care, and other social services available.
  • (504) 522-9340 x 0 (Operator, non-emergency)
  • (504) 356-1859 (Emergency, through UNITY)
  • https://nowcs.org/

• Salvation Army Center of Hope
  • Provides a hot meal and overnight lodging for single adults, families, seniors and the disabled who have no other option for safe shelter— all in keeping with our mission, “to meet human needs without discrimination.” Shelter for up to 90 days (free for 7 days then $10/day), 2 meals a day provided. A variety of social service programs are also available to those in need.
  • Check in by 6 p.m. for reserved bed
  • (504) 899-4569, ask about Center of Hope shelter
  • http://salvationarmyalm.org/nola/center-of-hope/

• UNITY of Greater New Orleans
  • UNITY implements evidence-based strategies to end homelessness in the New Orleans area, engages in strategic planning, trains service providers, and performs programmatic monitoring and evaluation of UNITY Continuum of Care member organizations, containing over 63 member agencies and 130 projects.
  • (504) 821-4496 (Office, closed due to COVID)
  • (504) 658-2944 (Families, emergency)
  • (504) 356-1859 (Adults, emergency)
  • https://unitygno.org/

LGBTQ+

• BreakOUT! Youth
  • BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans. Programs to build the power of LGBTQ youth ages 13-25 and directly impacted by the criminal justice system through youth organizing, healing justice, and leadership development programs.
  • (504) 252.9025 
  • http://www.youthbreakout.org/

• PFLAG New Orleans
  • Provides information and support to LGBTQ+ people and allies. Can connect callers to local resources, provide information about rights, and a supportive ear.
  • (504) 862-5912
  • https://www.pflagno.org/

• SAGE New Orleans
  • Provides advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders in the New Orleans area. Committed to ensuring that all LGBT older adults can live their best lives with the dignity, respect, and good health that they deserve.
  • (504) 517-2345
  • https://www.sageneworleans.org/

Mental Health

• Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
  • Provides fully integrated primary care and behavioral health services for children and adults from two Community Health Centers in East Jefferson and West Jefferson. Primary care providers and mobile crisis intervention services available 24/7. Same day and next-day appointment available. Serves Jefferson parish. All services are free.
  • (504) 838-5257 (Primary care, 24/7)
  • (504) 832-5123 (Mobile crisis response, 24/7)
  • https://www.jphsa.org/

• Metropolitan Human Services District
  • Mental health services including intervention, assessment, referrals, case management, and peer support. Metro Crisis Response Team available 24/7 for telephone and face-to-face triage, assessment, and intervention. Services for the uninsured and those on Medicare or Medicaid, or qualified for those programs. Serves Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes.
  • (504) 826-2675 (24/7 Crisis)
  • (504) 568-3130 (Appointments)
  • https://www.mhsdla.org/

• ViaLink Crisis and Suicide Intervention.
  • 24-Hour telephone crisis counseling services. Crisis Intervention Specialists are ready to listen, provide emotional support and help you develop a safety plan.
  • 211 or (504) 269-COPE (2673) or 1 (800) 749-COPE (2673)
  • https://vialink.org/crisis-suicide-intervention/

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

• Louisiana Commission Against Domestic Violence
  • The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the federally designated statewide coalition of shelters, non-residential programs and individuals working to end domestic violence in Louisiana. Statewide 24-Hour Hotline.
  • 1 (888) 411-1333 (24/7)
  • https://lcadv.org/

• Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LAFASA)
  • Local sexual assault centers throughout Louisiana. 24/7 Hotline provides crisis support, help with managing trauma, and information about local service providers. Services in English and Spanish.
  • (225) 372-8995 (most parishes)
  • 1 (888) 995-7273 (For Tangipahoa, Livingston, St. Helena, Winn, LaSalle, Catahoula, and Concordia parishes)
  • http://www.lafasa.org/

• Metropolitan Centers for Community Advocacy
  • Provides wrap-around services including individual advocacy, information and referrals, group support, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, sheltering, individual support, safety planning, and caregiver support to survivors in eight Louisiana parishes. Also provides a 24/7 Crisis Line for counseling and/or referrals for victims. All services to survivors are free and confidential.
  • (504) 837-5400 (24/7)
  • 1 (800) 411-1333 (Toll Free)
  • http://www.mccagno.org/

• New Orleans Family Justice Center
  • Provides a range of free services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking and child abuse in the Greater New Orleans area. Services are trauma-informed and non-judgmental. Services in English and Spanish, child care available. Emergency shelter and forensic medical care available.
  • (504) 866-9554 (24-Hour Crisis Hotline)
  • https://nofjc.org/

• Sexual Trauma Awareness Response (STAR)
  • Provides supportive services to survivors to reduce their experience of trauma. Advocacy, counseling and legal services are available to youth and adult survivors of sexual violence at no cost. Services are confidential.
  • (855) 435-STAR (24-Hour Hotline)
  • https://star.ngo/

• StrongHearts Native Helpline
  • The StrongHearts Native Helpline is a culturally-appropriate domestic violence and dating violence helpline for Native Americans, available every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT.
  • 1 (844) 762-8483
  • https://www.strongheartshelpline.org/

Youth

Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.

• BreakOUT! Youth
  • BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans. Programs to build the power of LGBTQ youth ages 13-25 and directly impacted by the criminal justice system through youth organizing, healing justice, and leadership development programs.
  • (504) 252.9025 
  • http://www.youthbreakout.org/

• Center for Resilience
  • Provides educational and intensive mental health supports in partnership with the Tulane University Medical School Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to ensure the emotional well-being and academic readiness of children with emotional health and trauma-related needs in the Greater New Orleans region. Caring, non-punitive, therapeutic services with positive behavioral supports, trauma-informed approaches, evidence-based mental health practices, small-group classroom instruction, and therapeutic recreation activities.
  • (504) 308-3501
  • https://www.cfrla.org/

• Covenant House New Orleans
  • Provides immediate and long-term assistance to youth through 24/7 Crisis Center, emergency and transitional housing, and off-site independent apartments. Open 24/7, nobody turned away. LGBTQ+ affirming.
  • 611 North Rampart Street.
  • (504) 584-1111 (24/7)
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/

• Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
  • Provides fully integrated primary care and behavioral health services for children and adults from two Community Health Centers in East Jefferson and West Jefferson. Primary care providers and mobile crisis intervention services available 24/7. Same day and next-day appointment available. Serves Jefferson parish. All services are free.
  • (504) 838-5257 (Primary care, 24/7)
  • (504) 832-5123 (Mobile crisis response, 24/7)
  • https://www.jphsa.org/

• Tulane University Youth Drop-In Center
  • Provides primary and preventative healthcare, and access to a comprehensive network of primary healthcare and substance abuse, mental health, case management and outreach services to homeless, transient and at-risk youth, age 14 – 23.
  • 1461 N. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116
  • (504) 827-1071
  • https://medicine.tulane.edu/centers-institutes/tulane-drop-center/

Elders

• SAGE New Orleans
  • Provides advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders in the New Orleans area. Committed to ensuring that all LGBT older adults can live their best lives with the dignity, respect, and good health that they deserve.
  • (504) 517-2345
  • https://www.sageneworleans.org/

Crime

• Silence is Violence
  • They provide direct victim services, creative youth engagement, and public advocacy, working with clients and partners from every sector to achieve safe, just, and thriving communities. Services include grief support, financial advocacy, and help navigating the Orleans and Jefferson parish criminal justice systems. 
  • (504) 282-0607
  • http://silenceisviolence.org/

• Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
  • Provides free, civil legal aid to low-income people in six offices, across 22 parishes throughout southeast Louisiana. Assistance to domestic violence and abuse survivors, people experiencing homelessness, elders, and those seeking medical care, among others.
  • 1 (844) 244-7871
  • https://slls.org/

• The Hite Law Group
  • Sliding-scale legal services, specializing in serving the unique needs of the LGBTQ community and survivors of intimate partner abuse.
  • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday
  • (504) 252-0678
  • https://www.hitelawgroup.com/

Substance Abuse

• Bridge House/Grace House
  • A 24-hour, 7 day a week, residential treatment facility that provides no-cost substance-use disorder treatment to men and women in two separate locations. Per their website, they are the only organization offering long-term residential treatment in the Greater New Orleans Area.
  • (504) 821-7120
  • https://www.bridgehouse.org/

• CADA Prevention and Recovery Center
  • Prevention and intervention programs for substance abuse.
  • (504) 821-CADA (2232)
  • https://www.cadagno.org/

• Metropolitan Human Services District
  • Substance abuse and addiction treatment services for the uninsured and those on Medicare or Medicaid, or qualified for those programs. Immediate assistance available for most vulnerable clients. Serves Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes.
  • (504) 826-2675 (24/7 Crisis)
  • (504) 568-3130 (Appointments)
  • https://www.mhsdla.org/