Faith-Based & Community Initiatives/Disaster Relief Resources
Disaster Relief Resources
USDA's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives understands that during times of disaster people turn to those they trust the most for help -- often it's faith-based and community organizations. This webpage provides links to a variety of resources that faith-based and community organizations may find helpful as they conduct and coordinate disaster relief activities.
Please know that this is not a complete list of resources that may be available during times of disaster. The inclusion of any particular link should not be construed as promotion or endorsement of that organization by the USDA or the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers emergency housing information regarding local housing shelters, homeless assistance, and housing and disaster recovery assistance.
Affected persons should register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for transitional housing assistance. (Some disaster assistance is contingent upon registration with FEMA.)
Register online or call toll-free: 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY: 800-462-7585).
Many nonprofit organizations may also provide emergency housing, including:
FEMA, the National Association of Realtors, and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy have created "Disaster Housing Resources" to assist those in need find immediately available rental properties while their home is repaired or a new home constructed.
Housing Opportunities for Katrina Survivors is a housing services hub where individuals and organizations can offer housing space to those affected and hurricane survivors can search for available rooms, houses, and apartments.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for providing nutrition assistance for disaster-affected areas requiring a Federal response. FNS activities, in collaboration with other organizations, include obtaining and distributing food supplies and authorizing Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a comprehensive webpage offering information for identifying unsafe food, food storage and sanitization, feeding infants and young children, and drinking water tips.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider through a toll-free telephone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Child care is an essential part of disaster relief efforts as parents search for jobs and housing, return to work, and attend to emotional health. Child Care Aware helps parents find child care in their area and information on financial assistance to pay for child care. (800) 424-2246
Individuals anywhere in the country, including the impacted areas and evacuation sites, who are seeking unemployment assistance can call the U.S. Department of Labor toll-free at 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365) for information on registering for unemployment insurance and disaster unemployment assistance. Individuals can also visit America's Service Locator to locate the nearest One Stop Career Center.
The Labor Department has also established a Hurricane Recovery Assistance webpage to provide information on how to access unemployment insurance and disaster unemployment assistance, steps to keep workers safe during clean-up and recovery operations, among other information.
People who lose their jobs due to the disaster may apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), which provides weekly benefits to individuals who are unemployed and not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance compensation. Call 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) or the local unemployment office for information. FEMA has also compiled "Frequently Asked Disaster Assistance Questions" to further assist people in need.
There are a number of websites devoted to helping people find employment. Two in particular -- Katrina Jobs and the Hurricane Recovery Job Connection -- are focused on assisting those who lost their jobs in the wake of the hurricanes find employment.
Operation Hope is providing a number of services and resources to those affected by Hurricane Katrina, including budget counseling, working with creditors, and preparing an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit, and many other services.
If you have resources to donate or sell to disaster response agencies, please register those items in the National Emergency Resource Registry (NERR). If you are a disaster response organization, you can also register with the NERR to request resources.
Please note that if you have multiple housing properties available, please register with NERR. If you have single properties available, please register at Disaster Housing Resources.
Register your organization's volunteer opportunities to help in relief efforts (and other activities) at USA Freedom Corps.
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) coordinates planning efforts by many voluntary organizations responding to disaster. The objective is to help a wide variety of volunteers and organizations work together more effectively and efficiently in a crisis.
The Humane Society of the United States has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions about its disaster response on the Gulf Coast and its ongoing pet reunification efforts.
