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When Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita struck in the fall of 2005, life changed forever for the
residents of the
Gulf Coast. Thousands of families evacuated to
North Texas.
Tarrant County United Way helped during the
crisis.
2-1-1
Texas
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After thousands of families evacuated to
North Texas,
the
2-1-1
information and referral service at Tarrant County
United Way has answered more than
5,000 calls for hurricane assistance.
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2-1-1 information and referral
specialists helped evacuees find shelter, food and
other help. United Way of Tarrant County created a
hurricane relief fund that raised $986,000 for
national and local assistance.
For some, the crisis has
subsided.
A return to
stability
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Some evacuees have been able to return home.
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Others have remained in
Tarrant
County and, with the help of relatives and friends,
have found stability with new housing, jobs and new
support systems.
For others, help is still
needed.
The housing
challenge
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Disaster response professionals say it often takes up
to two years for disaster survivors to get back on
their feet again.
Many who sought
refuge in
Tarrant
County were poor, single-parent families with children
and still need affordable housing and utility
assistance.
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Many who have never sought help are now being referred to Catholic
Charities for the first time.
Tarrant County United Way continues to help.
Long-term
recovery efforts
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Donations to the local United Way hurricane fund are
still at work, along with other hurricane funds, to
help survivors with rent, utilities, household items,
clothing, medicine and rental trucks and trailers to
move back home.
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Also,
United Way
of
Tarrant
County is part of the Long-Term Recovery Committee
that is still helping more than 1,000 households. The
committee includes representatives from local cities
and nonprofits, including several United Way partner agencies.
The road to
self-sufficiency will be long for many people affected
by Katrina and Rita, but
United Way
and its partners are walking with them every step of the
way. |
