Three Parishes Share One Domestic Violence Shelter. Is Its Funding Enough?
LAKE CHARLES, La. — When Hurricane Laura tore through Southwest Louisiana in 2020, it damaged more than homes and businesses. It also forced the closure of a shelter where survivors of domestic violence could turn when they needed somewhere safe to go.
For nearly four years, that shelter remained closed.
During that time, OASIS — A Safe Haven for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence — continued helping families across Calcasieu, Cameron and Allen parishes, placing survivors in hotels or referring them to shelters outside the region. The residential facility finally reopened in May 2024.
Now, a newly released financial audit offers a look at the resources supporting that work. According to records published November 4 by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, OASIS received approximately $1.48 million in revenue during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
About $1.27 million, or 86%, came from government and organizational grants.
The organization spent approximately $1.54 million, including $1.35 million on programs serving survivors. Of that amount, $317,722 was categorized as direct client needs. Expenses exceeded revenue by $63,539. However, auditors reported no material weaknesses or reportable noncompliance, and OASIS maintained approximately $986,000 in financial assets available for general cash needs.
The figures reveal an organization whose services depend heavily on continued grant funding, although the audit does not indicate an immediate financial crisis. For Southwest Louisiana, the significance extends beyond the numbers. When the shelter was damaged, survivors still needed somewhere safe to sleep. The organization had to find other ways to help them.
Six years after Hurricane Laura, the latest financial records offer a reminder that rebuilding a community also means restoring the places people turn to when their own homes are no longer safe.
Source: Louisiana Legislative Auditor, OASIS financial audit published November 4, 2026.
