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SMILE Community Action Agency is a non-profit serving St. Martin, Iberia, and Lafayette parishes with assistance programs focused on health, education, and economic stability for low-income families.
Data compiled from public sources
SMILE Community Action Agency (St. Martin, Iberia, Lafayette) has operated as a community action organization for over 55 years, serving three Louisiana parishes with comprehensive anti-poverty programs. The organization functions as a clearinghouse for community needs, with an explicit mission to help disadvantaged individuals, children, and families achieve greater economic stability and self-sufficiency.
The agency offers multiple federally-funded assistance programs including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBGP). These programs are designed to address critical needs in housing, utilities, health, and education for residents below poverty thresholds. As a non-profit community action agency, SMILE operates under Equal Opportunity Employer standards and provides auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities upon request.
What distinguishes SMILE is its deep community roots spanning five decades and its multi-parish service area covering three Louisiana jurisdictions. The organization positions itself as addressing the full spectrum of poverty-related challenges rather than specializing in a single service line. Leadership has explicitly committed to combining community-based and faith-based approaches to poverty alleviation, as indicated by CEO Craig A. Mathews' message.
However, the website provides limited detail about specific eligibility requirements, application processes, funding availability, wait times, or measurable outcomes. The organization lists programs but does not clearly articulate what each program provides, income thresholds, or how to access them. Prospective clients must contact the agency directly for service details, and the website lacks transparency about program capacity or current availability.
This is state-level context for Free Help consumers in Lafayette, LA. It does not confirm that Saint Martin, Iberia, Lafayette Community Action Agency or this specific location is licensed.
State regulator
Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
Consumer protection
Source: CreditDoc state-law summary and listed public regulator resources. Verify licensing directly with the listed state regulator before relying on a provider.
Saint Martin, Iberia, Lafayette Community Action Agency offers 12 services including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBGP), Community needs assessment and clearinghouse services, Health support coordination, Education-focused assistance, and 7 more.
Saint Martin, Iberia, Lafayette Community Action Agency has profile signals associated with Low-income residents of St. Martin, Iberia, or Lafayette parishes facing utility or housing cost burdens, Families seeking comprehensive anti-poverty assistance and resource navigation, Individuals needing federally-funded energy assistance or community services block grants.
Key strengths: Over 55 years of established service history in the local community; Serves three parishes (St. Martin, Iberia, Lafayette) providing broader geographic coverage; Offers federally-funded assistance programs (LIHEAP and CSBGP) with no-cost services. Areas to consider: Website provides minimal details on specific services, eligibility criteria, or application processes; Limited business hours (closed afternoons Friday, closed weekends) restrict access for working individuals.
In the Free Help category, comparable providers include Desire Community Housing Corporation, Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, Inc., Louisiana Housing Corporation. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.
CreditDoc Profile Note
SMILE Community Action Agency is profile signals for low-income residents of St. Martin, Iberia, or Lafayette parishes seeking non-profit assistance with utilities, housing, or basic economic stability. The main caveat is that the website lacks transparency about specific program details, eligibility requirements, funding availability, and how to actually access services—interested applicants must call (337) 234-3272 to learn what help is currently available.
Non-profit housing counseling organization serving the Greater New Orleans area, focused on affordable housing production, protection, and fair housing advocacy.
Profile signals: Low to moderate-income residents of Greater New Orleans seeking affordable housing options, Individuals facing housing discrimination or fair housing concerns in the NOLA region
Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center provides free fair housing counseling, discrimination complaint assistance, and eviction defense to residents facing housing discrimination or displacement.
Profile signals: Renters facing housing discrimination based on protected class status (race, family status, disability, etc.), Tenants facing eviction who need legal representation and defense strategies
Louisiana Housing Corporation is a state agency offering homeownership programs, affordable housing development funding, and HUD-approved homebuyer counseling to Louisiana residents.
Profile signals: First-time Louisiana homebuyers seeking below-market mortgage rates and free counseling, Low-to-moderate income households qualifying for affordable housing programs
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