Local Hurricane Evacuees Seek Independence
-An Update on how to assist Gulf Region Evacuees in the Bay Area-
For immediate release (9/27/2005)
S. S. recently separated from her husband due to the stress of their
evacuation from Hurricane Katrina to the Bay Area. She is currently receiving
unemployment insurance and needs a place to live.
L. G. is a 60 year old man who is eligible for $456/month in SSI
benefits in Louisiana but has not had the capability to transfer his benefits
to California as yet. He is in need of housing.
R. and C. are a couple who sought refuge with a family member in
the Bay Area who can no longer house them. Both are looking for jobs and
need a place to live.
What do these four people have in common in addition to being in the
Bay Area to recover from a horrific hurricane? They all have reluctantly
refused offers of free housing in shared living situations.
The people referenced above, and hundreds like them, are hesitant to
move into other peoples’ homes. Although they are extremely appreciative
of the offers, individuals and families from the Gulf Region want and
need to be as self-sufficient and independent as possible.
Eden I&R, the non-profit agency that has been working along side
the Red Cross to assist hurricane evacuees in finding stable housing,
has been hearing the same story repeated over and over again. Relocated
people are reluctant to be housed with other families; they want to have
their own living space in order to adjust to their new environment and
start looking for employment.
Last week, when a press release was issued asking people to offer their
homes or rentals to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, there was an outpouring
of assistance. Eden I&R’s housing database grew with offers
of free shared housing possibilities. Unfortunately, there were not as
many property owners calling to list their rental units at a reduced,
affordable rate.
Eden I&R is therefore urging property owners with vacant units/houses
to consider significantly reducing rent levels, and/or offering rental
units for free for up to 6 months, so that hurricane evacuees can move
into private living quarters. This will help stabilize their lives, get
their children into school, and allow them to seek employment.
Eden I&R is working in conjunction with the Red Cross, government
departments, housing developers and multiple community based organizations
in order to match the needs of people looking for housing, with housing
units that meet their needs. Eden I&R staff are working directly with
Gulf Region evacuees at the Local Assistance Center located at 6955 Foothill
Blvd, 3rd Floor, at Eastmont (Mall) Self-Sufficiency Center in Oakland,
and over the phone through the Community Housing And Information Network
(CHAIN) at 510-537-2552.
Because information related to resources available for Hurricane Katrina
evacuees is changing on a daily basis, Eden I&R is also seeking volunteers
to help keep the agency’s health, housing, and human services databases
up to date. This information is needed to help provide people with access
to supportive housing services such as child care, legal aid and mental
health referrals.
Important Eden I&R phone numbers:
To Offer Housing: 510-727-9565 (Housing Dept, Monday thru Friday 9am-5pm)
To Receive Services: 510-537-2552 (CHAIN, Monday thru Friday 10am-4pm)
To Volunteer or Donate: 510-537-2710 (Administration, Mon thru Fri 8:30am-5pm)
For additional program information visit Eden I&R’s agency
website at www.edenir.org, and Eden I&R’s service’s website
at www.alamedaco.info. For tax-deductible contributions please send a
check made payable to Eden I&R at 570 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541.
For further information, call Barbara Bernstein, Eden I&R Executive
Director, at 510-537-2710, ext. 8. Ms. Bernstein is also a co-founder
of the non-profit disaster preparedness organization, CARD (Collaborating
Agencies Responding to Disasters) at www.firstvictims.org.
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