Re: POLITICS OT...another chance for southerners to help Katrina's victims

[Guest guest]

>This came across my email and I'm passing it on for those of us in the

>south. It's a clearinghouse for places around the south (churches,

>vacant apartments and houses, etc) offering shelter for families left

>homeless. Please pass it onto anywhere you think it could be useful.

>

>Thanks

>Lynn

>

Thanks Lynn. As you may know, my great state of Texas was first to bat

in accepting displaced hurricane victims. Our hospitality is world

renowned. However, with 220,000 displaced people now in my state alone,

and with the other Southern states not reeling from the disaster also

taking in as many people as they can, it is time for states north east

and west to come up to the plate and help out in this very long term

situation.

I don't know how reasonable it is to ask people to take perfect

strangers into their personal homes. And in fact, I have to wonder why

people haven't been housing homeless folks in their own homes in their

own states if this is such a great solution to the problem.

Homelessness would never exist if it were just this simple. I do hope

that some long term charity to address housing, jobs and schooling

issues would emerge. I have qualms about the Red Cross as they will not

be helping beyond immediate disaster relief, and it has been very

difficult for me to find a breakdown of their giving statistics. The

immediate concerns now being met, long term solutions need to be

considered. I don't expect the administration to do any better than

they have thus far.

Deanna

[Guest guest]

> Thanks Lynn. As you may know, my great state of Texas was first to bat

> in accepting displaced hurricane victims. Our hospitality is world

> renowned. However, with 220,000 displaced people now in my state

alone,

> and with the other Southern states not reeling from the disaster also

> taking in as many people as they can, it is time for states north east

> and west to come up to the plate and help out in this very long term

> situation.

I think other states have " come up to the plate " and have been since

before the hurricane even arrived. Arkansas hosted 5,000 evacuees

before the hurricane hit and we are now up to 20,000 people with more

on the way. This is a fairly poor state that only has 2.4 million

people state wide to begin with. We don't have large stadiums to

house people in. They're at our state parks, church camps, churches,

homes (we have 7 families in our neighborhood).

Our church " adopted " a neighboring hotel. We provided clothing and

toiletries for all of them. We're helping them find jobs and

" permanent " places to stay. Our church members are preparing double

portions of our meals several nights a week and bringing them to our

fellowship hall so they can eat every evening.

Saturday communities across the state had a " no-resume-necessary " job

fair for victims that will be here for awhile. The school systems

(mostly poor and over-crowded with " our own " people) have been

enrolling them and providing them with school supplies and uniforms.

Our 4-year universities are accepting students at no cost to them.

Other universities across the nation have accepted students, too, and

are housing entire sports teams to keep them together.

I know Memphis, southern Missouri, and western Oklahoma are all (and

have been) housing people, and I imagine other states are doing the

same. I don't think that's fair to say Texas is the only state doing

anything.

Katy

[Guest guest]

>>However, with 220,000 displaced people now in my state alone, and with the

other Southern states not reeling from the disaster also taking in as many

people as they can, it is time for states north east and west to come up to the

plate and help out in this very long term situation. - Deanna

>>

>

>I know Memphis, southern Missouri, and western Oklahoma are all (and

>have been) housing people, and I imagine other states are doing the

>same. I don't think that's fair to say Texas is the only state doing

>anything.

>

>Katy

>

>

I didn't say that Katy. Look at the quote again. I said it's time for

north, east and west to help, and they are now I understand. I felt the

plea for southerners to do something was a bit out of touch with the

reality of what southern states are doing. Texas is up to 1/4 million

people last count, btw.

Deanna

[Guest guest]

> plea for southerners to do something was a bit out of touch with the

> reality of what southern states are doing. Texas is up to 1/4 million

> people last count, btw.

----> My post wasn't meant as a plea to help more. I know all the

southern states are doing all they can and are stretched to limits

right now. Especially those states surrounding Miss., Lousiana and Ala.

Move-on.org has put together an excellent clearinghouse of offers for

free places displaced families can stay for long periods of time.

Most of these are unrented apartments, churches with space or dorms,

camps etc. A few are private homes. Places are located by distance

from major cities in the south.....why I put " southerners " in the heading.

I posted here to ask people to continue to spread word of Move-on's

service. I understand that asking someone to take a stranger into your

house is a huge decision. (We're contemplating this at my house and

haven't reached consensus yet on it...so I hear you.)

Bye and take care,

Lynn

[Guest guest]

I'm in CA. I've signed up to house one or two people. I suppose we

could accept more if they sleep on the floor. I feel pretty

helpless so far away. I've sent money to my choice of charity (the

Red Cross - yes I do know there is controversy, but they have done

well over the long haul). We are working on our own earthquake kit

as well. I'm calling the Red Cross tomorrow to volunteer to work

the phones as I'm good at that and I'm old and have some special

needs that would prevent me from being any good on site. What else

is there to do?

Connie H.

> > plea for southerners to do something was a bit out of touch with

the

> > reality of what southern states are doing. Texas is up to 1/4

million

> > people last count, btw.

>

> ----> My post wasn't meant as a plea to help more. I know all the

> southern states are doing all they can and are stretched to limits

> right now. Especially those states surrounding Miss., Lousiana and

Ala.

>

> Move-on.org has put together an excellent clearinghouse of offers

for

> free places displaced families can stay for long periods of time.

> Most of these are unrented apartments, churches with space or

dorms,

> camps etc. A few are private homes. Places are located by distance

> from major cities in the south.....why I put " southerners " in the

heading.

>

> I posted here to ask people to continue to spread word of Move-on's

> service. I understand that asking someone to take a stranger into

your

> house is a huge decision. (We're contemplating this at my house and

> haven't reached consensus yet on it...so I hear you.)

>

> Bye and take care,

> Lynn