September 8, 2005—Affordable housing organizations that serve those most impacted by Hurricane Katrina—low- to middle-income communities in the Gulf Region—struggle to meet the overwhelming needs of the clients they serve. Meanwhile, similar organizations in other parts of the country scramble to provide temporary and permanent housing for as many evacuees as possible.
NeighborWorks America, a Congressionally-funded organization that provides funding and technical support to more than 235 community development organizations across the country, is providing $275,000 in emergency grant funding to organizations serving evacuees. In addition, NeighborWorks America is serving as a hub for network organizations either seeking or volunteering assistance. As of September 8, more than 150 houses and apartments have been offered to evacuees needing temporary or permanent housing. Most of the housing units, which are located in various regions of the country, come with other services, such as job placement assistance. Many network organizations also offered to send their project managers, housing counselors, and construction specialists to the Gulf region to provide support when the rebuilding begins.
Meanwhile, NeighborWorks organizations in the Gulf region struggle to rebuild after the storm. The office of Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans was flooded; Executive Director Lauren Anderson is running the organization from a hotel room in Baton Rouge. In Jackson, Mississippi—where last week more than 16,000 evacuees were living in shelters or on the streets in cars that have run out of gas—Voice of Calvary Ministries is providing shelter to as many evacuees as possible. The organization’s volunteer center now functions as a shelter. Though its health center was without power last week, health center staff members were out in the community volunteering their services.
In support of these heroic efforts, NeighborWorks America approved $275,000 in emergency funds to organizations in its network that are located in areas damaged by Katrina or supporting evacuees from those areas. The funds will be distributed as follows:
• NHS of New Orleans, $100,000;
• The IMPACT! Group (Duluth, GA), $60,000
• Voice of Calvary Ministries (Jackson, MS), $75,000
• Centro Campesino Farmworker Center (Florida City, FL)
$10,000
• Miami-Dade NHS (Miami, FL), $10,000
• CSP of West Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL), $20,000
The affiliates will use these funds to provide emergency shelters, temporary housing, basic supplies, and similar support for Gulf Coast evacuees. Additionally, a portion of the funds will go toward operational and housing assistance costs. “It is our hope that these grants will aid our efforts to restore the Gulf Coast and rebuild this important community,” said Ken Wade, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America.
Many NeighborWorks organizations began serving evacuees last week. In San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo Area Mutual Housing Association’s Tejano Center provided shelter to children whose parents are missing. Approximately 50 children from evacuee families were expected to enroll in the organization’s charter school; tuition fees have been waived for these students. In Austin, Foundation Communities brought some 65 families from New Orleans staying temporarily at the city’s convention center to the Hearthside Hotel for lodging. Staff members worked on-site helping families to register for FEMA relief, find jobs, enroll children in school and secure permanent housing. They also set up a donation drive and established a food bank for families at the hotel. The organization’s current priority is to find more suitable longer-term housing arrangements for families with children.
Lauren Anderson, executive director of NHS of New Orleans, says the outpouring of support she has experienced has been “unbelievable.” “At times I am more overwhelmed by the love and generosity than I am by the horrific things that are happening to our beloved city and communities throughout the region,” she wrote. “So thank you ever so much—until you are in this situation you do not realize just how meaningful every single message becomes…they are uplifting.”
Note: Members of the NeighborWorks Network, please log in to http://member.nw.org to post information on your specific needs and hurricane relief activities.
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NeighborWorks America's Response to Hurricane Katrina
