Neighborhood Centers Inc. Offers Hope to More People Affected by Hurricane Ike
- By Staff Writer
- Published 06/23/2009
- Economics
- Unrated
HOUSTON- Even as Gulf Coast families make preparations for a new hurricane season, Neighborhood Centers Inc. is expanding its services through a grant from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The $43.2 million award is in response to the needs of thousands of people in Harris County who were affected by Hurricane Ike and still are recovering from the disaster that struck on September 13, 2008. Neighborhood Centers’ Stay Connected Texas program will help to meet the needs of individuals and families in Harris County still picking up the pieces.
The HHSC grant is part of its Hurricane Ike Texas Rise and Connect project, funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The pilot project was formed to help families rebuild their lives by making plans for their own recovery and working through that process.
“We’re here to replace hardship with hope for our neighbors who still are hurting from the effects of this disaster,” said Angela Blanchard, President and CEO of Neighborhood Centers Inc. “Through this project we are able to help individuals and families move through the process of recovery and connect them with services they need.”
Eligibility is simple. Anyone who has ongoing disaster-caused needs from Hurricane Ike and who is not receiving rental assistance through a Disaster Housing Assistance Program may qualify for services.
Stay Connected staff will help individuals and families:
Identify their needs
Develop a plan for recovery
Locate and apply for the services and resources they need.
Stay Connected staff are disaster case managers who will follow up with individuals and families in person, by phone and through email, to help them through all stages of the recovery process.
Neighborhood Centers has named the City of Houston-Focused Care Project, Boat People SOS Inc., SER-Jobs for Progress Inc., and Houstonworks USA as partners in the project. Neighborhood Centers’ Stay Connected program has been in place since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. It has become a model long-term case management program for helping families whose recovery from a natural disaster is particularly difficult. The program is designed to help each family identify its assets and gain access to appropriate resources through each stage of recovery.
For assistance, call Neighborhood Centers Inc. at (713)667-5853.
The HHSC grant is part of its Hurricane Ike Texas Rise and Connect project, funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The pilot project was formed to help families rebuild their lives by making plans for their own recovery and working through that process.
“We’re here to replace hardship with hope for our neighbors who still are hurting from the effects of this disaster,” said Angela Blanchard, President and CEO of Neighborhood Centers Inc. “Through this project we are able to help individuals and families move through the process of recovery and connect them with services they need.”
Eligibility is simple. Anyone who has ongoing disaster-caused needs from Hurricane Ike and who is not receiving rental assistance through a Disaster Housing Assistance Program may qualify for services.
Stay Connected staff will help individuals and families:
Identify their needs
Develop a plan for recovery
Locate and apply for the services and resources they need.
Stay Connected staff are disaster case managers who will follow up with individuals and families in person, by phone and through email, to help them through all stages of the recovery process.
Neighborhood Centers has named the City of Houston-Focused Care Project, Boat People SOS Inc., SER-Jobs for Progress Inc., and Houstonworks USA as partners in the project. Neighborhood Centers’ Stay Connected program has been in place since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. It has become a model long-term case management program for helping families whose recovery from a natural disaster is particularly difficult. The program is designed to help each family identify its assets and gain access to appropriate resources through each stage of recovery.
For assistance, call Neighborhood Centers Inc. at (713)667-5853.