An ongoing source of positive change since the 1890s, Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana continues to support people throughout the state with their many programs. Voris Vigee joined the organization 30 years ago as a program coordinator, and she knew at once that she would remain there for the duration of her career. Now current CEO and President of Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana (VOASELA), Voris Vigee is passionate about her work, her team, and the many benefits they offer the community.
When asked about the organization’s growth and success, Vigee is quick to praise her team, and her pride in their work shines through immediately. “We are building a team that creates sustainable impact across the state of Louisiana. The employees are empathetic, creative, and innovative with identifying meaningful solutions. We are transforming and saving lives as a result of the team.” In addition, the supportive Board of Directors allows them to try new solutions until they succeed.
“We work collectively toward the vision with one goal in mind,” said Vigee.
By working with the local business community and other stakeholders, the VOASELA team is able to have a tremendous impact on the people they serve. In fact, the scope of their influence is difficult to overstate. The team offers over 30 programs across a 16-parish area, serving an estimated 20,000 individuals across the state. The economic impact totals $42 million on an annual basis. VOASELA works with veterans, senior citizens, children, and families.
One of the biggest needs that the VOASELA team meets is affordable housing. The Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation is an entity that builds affordable workforce housing for underserved communities and people who need a stable space in which to live. Having built over 1,500 units across the state of Louisiana, Vigee refers to the organization as one of the “largest secrets in the community right now.”
Providing access to secure housing has been one of the team’s goals since 2006. The plan is to increase that total to 2,000 units by 2026.
One of the newest programs in process is the development of a residential facility for pregnant women (or those with young children) where they can live and receive support for substance use issues. In these cases, the women often turn to couch surfing or other temporary solutions because they do not want to leave their children behind. The team thought of this innovative way to serve these women who want to receive services while continuing to mother their children. They are in the process of developing a residential facility in Mid-City where these mothers can be housed with their children. They plan to open this space in June 2025.
One of the VOASELA team’s major plans is to create a hub of services where there is no wrong door. An individual can come in, have their needs assessed, and receive help from a community partner. To help avoid the frustration of getting turned away, this hub of services can meet all needs within a single facility.
Overall, the team is dedicated to building comprehensive support for all individuals and families. This includes safe, quality housing, children’s mentorship programs, behavioral health services, and many more offerings. With help from Vigee and her excellent team, the VOASELA is set to keep making tremendous positive changes to the lives of people throughout Louisiana for years to come.
For starters, the VOASELA would like more exposure. “We no longer want to be the best-kept secret in the city,” said Vigee. “People need to know we are out there doing the work.”
In addition, individuals are invited to donate their time, talent, and treasures to help support the organization. Financial contributions help fill in funding gaps, and the team is skilled at stretching every donation. In fact, 87 cents of every dollar goes to a person in need, and the team delivers much more beyond their basic necessities. Online donations, planned giving, auto donations, and in-kind giving opportunities are all available.
Lastly, visit the Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana website to learn more about the many volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups.
Get Involved
voasela.org, 504-482-2130, info@voasela.org
