It’s compassionate to help others. But it’s cruel to force someone into needing help.

For too long, the way Louisiana offered help was more harmful than helpful.

Louisiana has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. It ranks second in the number of residents reliant on safety net programs, and one in six Louisianans depend on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Louisiana also suffers from one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the country.

There are many reasons why so many Louisianans are dependent on safety net programs. But regardless of why Louisianans needed help, for years, data showed an uncomfortable truth: The state was trapping people in poverty instead of lifting them out of it.

So The Pelican Institute for Public Policy set out to make an impact.

Following a better example

For years, Pelican’s team has been developing reforms to improve Louisiana’s safety net programs. Unfortunately, year after year, an entrenched state political landscape prevented any real reforms from being possible. But after Louisiana elected a new governor in 2024, that opportunity for success quickly became a reality. And Pelican was ready.

Shortly after Louisiana’s new governor was elected, Pelican worked with his transition team to pitch the concept of “One Door.” The “One Door” policy was inspired by the policies that Utah has had in place for decades. As Pelican’s president, Daniel Erspamer, explains,

“Since 1997, [Utah has implemented] a novel system using federal workforce development funding.

If you’re a Utah resident applying for unemployment insurance, food stamps, Medicaid, or cash welfare, you go through the state’s Department of Workforce Services. Your case worker helps you access the safety net while simultaneously developing a personalized plan of action to help you get back into a good-paying job as quickly as possible.

The system is purpose-built to help people move from government dependence to individual success.”

Unlike Utah, Louisiana’s safety net programs are spread out across multiple agencies and offices. And the system forces caseworkers to focus on compliance over developing the most beneficial (or sensible) solutions for applicants. The result is an inefficient system that doesn’t help people like it could (or should)

When Pelican’s team met with the new governor’s staff, they provided them with research and case studies from Utah showing the benefits of their system. Pelican also connected the administration to national experts and proposed revisions to complex federal and state welfare policies. A major part of the reforms included breaking down silos in state government, integrating workforce programming with social services, and refocusing on independence and self-sufficiency.

Thanks to Pelican’s expertise and relationships at the statehouse, the governor issued an executive order creating the Louisiana Workforce and Social Services Reform Task Force.

Also, throughout the legislative session, Pelican’s team worked directly with lawmakers to craft reform legislation, testified in committee hearings, and activated grassroots champions to create a groundswell for action.

Largely because of Pelican’s work, two bills (House Bills 617 and 624) and two resolutions (House Resolutions 241 and 276), were passed with unanimous bipartisan support in the Louisiana Legislature.

These pieces of legislation contain many of the reforms Pelican has been championing for years. Now, because of Pelican’s leadership, Louisiana’s safety nets are efficiently and effectively helping those who need it. And because of this major achievement, Pelican was named a finalist for the 2025 SPN Bob Williams award for biggest home state win.

It’s compassionate to help those who need it. But true, effective compassion enables people to eventually not need help anymore. Thanks to The Pelican Institute for Public Policy, Louisiana is helping people compassionately and effectively.