The mission of the ASSIST Agency is to raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life for low-income individuals, families, and communities in southwestern Louisiana.

There are six broad goals: Two goals speak about family-oriented outcomes; two goals address community-oriented outcomes; and two goals specify agency-oriented outcomes. We believe that these six goals provide an excellent starting point for planning and tracking as well as action. These goals are outlined and explained below:

Goal 1: Low-income people become more self-sufficient. (Family level goal) This includes employment and economic asset enhancement and utilization. ASSIST has focused upon assisting clients who have been living in our shelter improve their life skills and job skills and assisting them in gaining employment. ASSIST has provided safe and affordable housing along with food assistance to low-income residents in support of employment stability.

Goal 2: The conditions in which low-income people live are improved. (Community level goal) This includes community improvement and revitalization along with community quality of life and assets. A variety of community supports have been utilized in assisting our clients with their emergency needs such as helping with their rent to prevent eviction and helping with their utility payments to meet the rising cost of electricity and gas.

Goal 3: Low-income people own a stake in their community. (Community level goal) This includes civic investments and community empowerment through maximum feasible participation. Our agency utilizes the assistance of six volunteers, two each from the low-income community of each parish that we represent, to serve on our governing board and various committees. This process allows residents of low-income neighborhoods in our service area to become connected to and involved in the needs and well-being of the community.

Goal 4: Partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income people are achieved. (Agency goal) This includes expanding opportunities through community-wide partnerships. Since our agency is not able to reach all of the low-income people in our area, we have established a training program for individuals and other agencies so that they can provide prescription medications at no charge through Pharmaceutical Access Programs and the Lafayette Community Pharmacy Clinic. This facilitates the accessibility of affordable healthcare to a larger number of low-income people in our community.

Goal 5: Agencies improve their capacity to achieve results. (Agency level goal) This includes broadening the resource base. While dollars mobilized from the value of volunteer time is small, the impact is much larger. Our ability to serve the low-income community requires that additional help be utilized to enhance our services.

Goal 6: Low-income people, especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive environments. (Family level goal) This includes independent living, emergency assistance and child and family development. One of the main services that we provide to help senior citizens maintain independent living is our Pharmaceutical Access Program. While providing the necessary medication which would otherwise be cost prohibitive or a major drain on their financial resources, monies were freed up so that the people in this category could maintain their standard of independent living.