Katrina Evacuee Recovery

Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID): The goal of the agency is to promote educational equity and excellence for eligible documented clients with disabilities while ensuring that they receive the rights and protection to which they are entitled; assure appropriate continuity between the child and adult services systems; and provide the highest quality vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to all eligible persons as quickly as those services are required to enable them to work and live independent, self-directed lives.

• For more information on how to access services, locations and contact info, please visit the website at www.vesid.nysed.gov

Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services: In addition to many other child-care, school-based and family programs and services, BBCS provides a range of job training programs free for eligible documented clients. For undocumented clients there is a fee for service.

• Training for Employment: The Brooklyn Bureau offers a range of vocational training and job placement programs to meet the diverse needs of clients with mental illness. Those ready for work are helped to find jobs, others receive basic vocational training, coaching, and support as they transition to employment.
• Computer Lab for Adults with Disabilities. The Brooklyn Bureau's computer lab provides valuable education and training to clients with mental, physical or emotional disabilities. Clients visit the lab each day to receive literacy instruction and to learn basic vocational tasks. Clients also work to build their clerical, data entry, interviewing and conflict resolution skills. A number of clients also train in customer service, electrical maintenance, carpentry, and plumbing. For more information and how to enroll please visit www.bbcs.org or call 718-310-5600.

CAMBA:CAMBA serves persons of low-income; persons moving from welfare to work; persons who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or transitioning out of homelessness; persons living with or at risk of AIDS and HIV; immigrants and refugees; youth; formerly incarcerated, seniors and other groups, working to become self sufficient. Programs are offered for documented clients.: In addition to many other child-care, school-based and family programs and services, BBCS provides a range of job training programs free for eligible documented clients. For undocumented clients there is a fee for service.

• Job Training and Placement Services: CAMBA offers a full range of direct Job Placement Services to low income New York City residents in a variety of businesses and sectors. Their Job Training program leads to jobs in the following fields: Gourmet Food Service Retail, Security, Banking, in Human Services, and Customer Service.
  
  CAMBA provides job placement and training to limited English speakers. For more information on eligibility and application process, please visit www.camba.org or call 718.282.0108

Federation Employment and Guidance Services (FEGS): FEGS delivers services in Employment & Training among other areas for Katrina Evacuees. This includes career counseling, vocational training, job development workshops, job placement assistance, use of computer resource lab including internet access, MS Office tools, referrals, resume writing, typing etc.

• There is no cost for service. All services except placement are available to those who are undocumented. For more information on eligibility and how to enroll, please visit www.fegs.org or call 212.962.2716*

The Hope Program: A 16 week life skills and job readiness training program located in Brooklyn for impoverished adults. Through classes, counseling, support and reinforcement, members develop the self-confidence and skills needed to work. Job experience is gained in supervised internships. A new class begins every 6 weeks.

• Open house every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 am. For more information please visit www.thehopeprogram.org or call 718.852.9307.

SUNY - Brooklyn Education Opportunity Center (BEOC): The State University of New York Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center provides tuition free classes in ESL, GED, and computers training for documented persons. BEOC also assist students with free tutoring, job placement and internships. Fall, Winter and Spring classes are available.

• For more information, please call 718.802.3330 or e-mail at admissions@bklyn.eoc.cuny.edu

Chinese American Planning Council (CPC): CPC provides job training programs to integrate the Chinese immigrant workforce into the mainstream workforce through short-term skills, adult literacy and vocational literacy and ESL classes. CPC also provides job placement and post-training support services. Areas of training are hotel services and home attendance programs. Payment: Eligible documented clients can be referred through the Government One Stop Centers and enroll in classes for free. Others can pay a fee to join.

• For more information please call 212.941.0041 / 941.0920 x124 or visit www.cpc-nyc.org

Workforce 1 Career Centers: Workforce1 Career Centers (commonly called One Stops) are in every borough and offer comprehensive employment services including job placement, career advisement, job search counseling, and skills training - only for documented clients.

• For information of location and phone numbers for each borough please visit www.workforcenewyork.org/onestops.htm#ny

FEMA's Simpler Katrina/Rita Evacuee Aid Form: ^New! On October 12, FEMA announced that it had greatly simplified the form for Katrina and Rita evacuees to reapply for extended rent subsidies. About 30,000 evacuee households are still eligible for housing aid. The extensions are to February 24, 2007 for Katrina evacuees, and to March 28, 2007 for Rita evacuees. The new one-page form asks for name, address and income, and whether the applicant is seeking a job and still requires housing aid.

To apply, call 800.621.3362 or visit www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm.

Brookings Institution Katrina Index: Aug. 8, 2006 study released: "One-Year Review of Key Indicators of Recovery in Post-Storm New Orleans." A review of key social and economic indicators on the progress of recovery in the New Orleans region since Hurricane Katrina.

www.brookings.edu/metro/katrina.htm

US Army Corps of Engineers Roofing Resources:
rsc.usace.army.mil/teeca/rapp/roof.html
rsc.usace.army.mil/teeca/rapp/index.html

Kaiser Family Foundation Forum on Katrina - One Year Later: On Aug. 8, 2006 the Kaiser Family Foundation held a forum with policymakers and medical professionals on health care experiences and challenges in New Orleans and surrounding areas in the aftermath of Katrina.

www.kff.org/katrinafirstanniversary

Katrina Children at Risk: There is growing concern among experts about the long-term mental health impact on children by Hurricane Katrina. According to studies, trauma in children treated early greatly improves the chances of recovery later on. With hundreds of thousands of children estimated to be already suffering for post-traumatic stress disorder the nation faces an emergency and huge crisis that will impact America well into the future.

For more information go to:
www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/04/25/katrina.schildren.ap/index.html
www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/opinion/09redlener.html

Child Trauma Overlooked in Katrina Recovery: As many as 100,000 children could develop post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of Hurricane Katrina according to sociologist, Lori Peek of Colorado State University, and that six months after Hurricane Katrina, children will start showing symptoms of trauma. Peek's research found that the number-one priority for kids is to help them re-establish a sense of routine and normalcy. "Children are not passive in disasters," she said. "Some of them can minimize their own loss…writing songs and playing games."

To read more, visit:
www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid=3102

Child Trauma Resources: For information on child trauma and how to help children cope with the trauma of disasters go to:

www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/childtrauma.html
www.nmha.org/reassurance/hurricane/children.cfm
www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=109
www.nasponline.org/NEAT/katrina_cope.html
www.childtrauma.org/CTAMATERIALS/Prin_tcare_03_v2.pdf

Katrina Evacuee Study Finds Declining Health: In the April 18th issue of the NY Times, Shaila Dewan reported that a study conducted by the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and the Children's Health Fund, found that families displaced by Katrina are suffering from mental disorders and chronic conditions like asthma and from a lack of prescription medication and health insurance at very high rates.

Among the findings, 34% of displaced children suffer from conditions like asthma, anxiety and behavioral problems and 14% went without prescribed medication at some point; and 44% of their parents and guardians had no health insurance. The study recommends expanding Medicaid to provide universal disaster relief and emergency mental health services, and sending doctors and counselors from the federal Public Health Service to the region.

To read the entire article:
www.nytimes.com/2006/04/18/us/nationalspecial/18health.html

www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu
www.childrenshealthfund.org/op_assist.php

Affordable Housing Resource Center: NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced the creation of the online Affordable Housing Resource Center to assist New Yorkers (Evacuees) with information on more than a dozen city agencies involved in housing matters. The site provides information and advice on buying and renting in the private market, legal rights and responsibilities, and health tips. To access, go to: www.nyc.gov/housing.

Disaster Housing Resources Online: This resource is geared to assist Evacuees in finding housing and for the posting of vacancies for Evacuees. To access, go to: www.dhronline.org.

"Homes For Katrina": A website launched on August 31, 2005, Homes for Katrina is collecting generous offers of vacant housing opportunities (homes, apartment buildings, hotels, etc.) or space within people's homes; and coordinating with organizations in placing and ensuring the safety and privacy of Evacuees and those offering to help. www.homesforkatrina.org

Student Volunteers May Be at Risk in Gulf Coast: Healthy Kids reports that people living and working in the hurricane-damaged and flood-contaminated areas, and those considering joining in the demolition, clean-up and recovery work, urgently need accurate information about the hazards and how to protect themselves. In NYC, a lack of knowledge about the toxicity levels at ground zero has critically affected the health of thousands of relief workers. Many student-volunteers, some as young as 14, are at risk of developing acute and life-long environmental and occupational diseases in the hurricane-damaged and flood-contaminated areas of LA, as confirmed by testing done by Subra Company/Louisiana Environmental Action Network.

For more information, go to:
www.healthy-kids.info
www.leanweb.org/katrina

What Katrina Cleanup Workers Need to Know: The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), in partnership with United Church of Christ Disaster Response Ministries, has fact sheets for Katrina and Rita cleanup workers and area residents about the hazards of mold and how to use a respirator. Fact sheets are available in English and Spanish for download at: www.nycosh.org/environment_wtc/natural_catastrophes_index.htm

Hurricane Katrina Evacuee Households in NYC: Compiled by NYC Office of Emergency Management, this map shows the concentration of Evacuee households per zip code in the 5 boroughs based on information provided by FEMA. Download: PDF

IRS Offers Online Tool for Hurricane Victims: The Internal Revenue Service has created a special online tool to assist victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma that will ease eligibility requirements for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), allowing more options to qualify for substantial tax refunds.

For more information, go to:
www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=151658,00.html

Free Tax Assistance Centers in the 5 Boroughs: The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs has a listing of free Tax Assistance Centers at www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/initiatives/freetax.shtml.

Common Ground Collective: This community-initiated volunteer collective, with the participation of youth volunteers from all over the country, is providing short-term relief and assistance to hurricane victims in New Orleans. Contact the Volunteer Coordination Team at 504.218.6613 or go to: www.commongroundrelief.org.

Coordinated Assistance Network: Offers information & resources on agencies who do case management, advocacy and referrals. For Katrina Case Management resources within and outside of NYC please visit Coordinated Assistance Network.

New York and New Jersey Local Assistance Guide
An inter-agency effort, this guide provides a comprehensive listing of local services available to Katrina Evacuees such as, case management, jobs and health insurance.
Download: PDF | Word

NVOAD Hurricane Guide
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) has developed a comprehensive guide entitled Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - Relief and Assistance Guide - December 2005, to provide guidance to people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and for those who would assist them. Contact information and resources are listed by topic and additional resources are provided in appendices.
Download: PDF | Word

NYDIS Archive of HSC Katrina Evacuee Updates
The NYDIS website has an archive of all the weekly Katrina Evacuee updates from the Human Services Council on relief and recovery services being offered locally and through FEMA to evacuees relocated to the city. The most recent update is March 22.
Download: PDF | Word

Katrina Recovery Yellow Pages
Compiled by Church World Service, the Recovery Yellow Pages is a nation-wide listing of long term recovery initiatives throughout the country addressing the needs of survivors of the 2005 Hurricanes with contact information for each initiative. To add your initiative to the listings, email Lesli Ramly of Church World Service at lremaly@churchworldservice.org.
Download: PDF | Word

FEMA Katrina Assistance Guide - October 2005 Edition
This guide assists people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and for those wishing to provide assistance to them. Contact information and resources are listed alphabetically by topic and general resource information is provided in the back to meet additional needs not outlined in this guide.
Download: PDF