If you’re looking for details about charities and organizations that are assisting with disaster relief around Houston, check out these resources.
Housing and Shelter
If you are looking for housing, the Hurricane Harvey Disaster Response Page helps people who are in need of immediate housing to find something in their area. If you have a spare room or a home that you’d like to offer to people in need, you can also assist through this program. In addition to registering on their website, you can call them directly at (844) 363-6317.
Airbnb has set up a page where people can open their homes to people in need. If you are looking for a place to stay, these rooms or entire homes are available completely free of charge. Over 700 people have opened their homes to people who had to evacuate their own houses and apartments.
The American Red Cross has an open shelter page on their website where you can find the nearest shelter to you. These shelters, as well as meals you receive while staying there, are completely free of charge.
FEMA has a program called Transitional Shelter Assistance which pays for people to stay in hotels for a certain amount of time or until they have found an alternative housing option. The current deadline has been extended to October 10, with other options possibly available after that.
Cleanup Assistance
Do you need help cleaning up your home due to damage caused by the hurricane? Is there damage that needs repairing? You can sign up for help from the Cleanup Assistance Hotline by calling 1-844-965-1386. You need to sign up on or before October 15, 2017, in order to qualify. The program will be giving priority to those who are most vulnerable.
Counseling Services
Natural disasters are a difficult time emotionally, mentally, and physically. They can take a huge toll on mental health. Talking about it with friends and family is a valuable way of coping. Discussing the events with children is equally as important. If you feel that you want to speak to a professional, there is a hotline where you can do so for free.
You can call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. You can also text TalkWithUs to 66746. In both instances, you will be connected with a trained crisis counselor.
Federal Aid
If you need financial assistance due to the hurricane, you can apply for federal aid through FEMA. The best way to start this process is to call their hotline at 1-800-621-3362. The office is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You may be placed on hold for an extended period of time due to the sheer volume of people calling.
Be sure you have the following before you call:
- Your social security number
- The address of the home where the damage has occurred
- A detailed description of the damage that was done at the property
- Your current mailing address
- Your total household income
- Your insurance information
- The routing and account number for your checking or savings account
These organizations and individuals are doing their very best to help people who have been displaced and need assistance.
Photo by SC Guard | Licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0
Connect with us
