G.R.A.C.E. Community Services

Rebuilding communities and lives is now perhaps the mantra for the Gulf Coast communities. In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike, Texans and Louisianans look at their surrounding communities and wonder if they made the right decision in hunkering in place or traveling to a shelter. Others that evacuated returned and found their homes and their communities devastated. Is this the Texas and Louisiana we signed up for? G.R.A.C.E. Community Services, an IRS 501 c 3 designated nonprofit agency, remains in place to help ? African-American and Latino communities and individuals shattered by hurricane damage. We are the first African-American disaster agency in the nation, but serve all that come to our door for help. We have direct disaster experience with Hurricane Katrina and Rita in the Tri Parish communities of Louisiana and Houston/Harris County. We have provided home repair, disaster case management, after school programs, and job coaching to over 1900 families and provided marketable skills retraining to 640 survivors that either lost their jobs from a hurricane, or needed marketable skills to become sustainable.

Unlike Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ike brought new challenges that need to be faced and solutions developed that will return Texas to the great place it has always been. But what do we need to do? Typically, in major disasters, everyone is affected. The storm affects all, but the resources to move from hurricane victim to survivor are different based on one's resources and circumstances. Months from now, many Texans will find Hurricane Ike a great cocktail conversation topic and just a couple of weeks of inconvenience. Still others, who are at the lower end of our socio-economic scale, will endure one more battle in their quest to become self-sufficient. The latter group will require assistance in repairing their homes and they will be in need of disaster case management services, often called disaster social services. Without long term case management services for example, three years after Hurricane Katrina, many Louisiana residents still remain in substandard temporary housing, have no jobs or have no marketable job skills, and they continue to reach out to government and charities for help. We desire to help families heal; become sustainable, in permanent housing, and to repair homes damaged. GCS believes in providing a hand up, rather than a hand out.

GCS also believes in disaster preparedness for our Gulf Coast communities. Over the past years, the Gulf Coast, a great place to live, has experienced a number of disasters. Not knowing how to tell the future, it seems wise and prudent to help our at-risk communities prepare for the worst.

Our disaster case management program consists of the following services:

1 Identifying and routinely following up with at-risk families, the disabled, and senior citizens affected adversely by the hurricanes.

2 Developing realistic disaster case management plans for affected families and helping families follow through.
Coordinating with other disaster related and social services programs that help at-risk families get back on their feet.

3 Working with local governments and homeowners. Assisting them with getting back into safe, secure, and sanitary conditions. Standing in the gap when government funds won't complete the task.

Our home repair program consists of:

1 Identifying and ranking the eligible homes that need repair based on FEMA guidelines.

2 Developing a pool of competent estimators that will determine the extent of repairs needed and supplies needed.

3 Working with other agencies, arrange for temporary housing for families while their home is being repaired.
Investigating and developing sub-contracts with competent contractors to do the work. Partnering with faith-based skilled and non-skilled construction teams in order to stretch the FEMA dollar.

Renting storage space for supplies.

Checking and signing off on repairs.

Performing all administrative duties to operate the program.

Acknowledging that the Gulf Coast Region may face future bad weather and other potential catastrophic events; we know that preparedness is vital in reducing the destruction and potential loss of life. To this end, GRACE works with pastors, other community agencies and businesses to help them prepare to take care of their organization, but equally as important, to help them know how to help the underserved communities where they work and worship during times of crisis. Services include the following:

1 Identifying community gatekeepers (church pastors, non-profits, and small businesses), and developing a relationship on how they can help in a disaster.

2 Providing individual and group education on emergency preparedness for gatekeepers.

3 Recruiting and training volunteers, that if called can help their community.

4 Implementing a program of ongoing refresher training and education to gatekeepers and volunteers.

5 Hosting emergency preparedness simulations (real life enactments).

6 Hosting emergency preparedness seminars.

NEED FOR SERVICE
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, called Voluntary Organizations: FEMA Should More Fully Assess Organizations' Mass Care Capabilities and Update the Red Cross Role in Catastrophic Events, the major U.S. charities that respond to disasters would be unable to address fully the need for food, shelter, and social services after a catastrophic event such as Hurricane Katrina or a major earthquake.

Upon reviewing the report, Commissioned by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, it was not surprising to learn that the Red Cross (the only relief organization legally mandated to help the government provide care in an emergency), and three other large charities (the Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Convention, and Catholic Charities) would lack the financial, cultural, and other resources needed to address a Katrina-like event. What was not well covered in the report was the lack of cultural sensitivity and importance of culture in disaster recovery. These major disaster charities and FEMA are geared to respond in the first hours of a disaster. The general thinking is after that, local communities would have had enough time to gather themselves and be on the road to recovery. Traditionally, African-Americans and Latinos have relied on the church to be the beacon of hope and recovery in a disaster. What happens in a disaster like De Moines, Iowa where 17 of the 21 African-American churches were under water? We believe the low-income communities need to have a plan to survive.

If a hurricane, flood or other disaster struck a low-income community and government services were overburdened, if not prepared, then what happens to these communities? After the initial first responders finish their work and leave, who will help the affected families heal and provide disaster preparedness for the community?

Recent catastrophic events have shown that essential government services may be disrupted for some period of time and first responders may be overwhelmed.
The reality is we need to be prepared. By being prepared, individuals and communities can handle the initial 72 hours after a disaster and may serve as temporary alternatives to government resources. But help is needed after the first 72 hours to help low-income communities and individuals get back on their feet. This is the mission of GCS.

It is interesting to learn what America might do if a disaster is coming. Research shows that about six out of 10 Americans surveyed (61 percent) said they have set aside a flashlight, portable radio, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, water and several days of non perishable food. The misbelief was that they are prepared and can get these items quickly. However, given just 30 minutes to gather belongings before evacuating their homes, just 6 percent of people said they would take their emergency kit.

The research did say that Americans would make sure to take their legal documents (35 percent), and photographs (29 percent). Just 11 percent said they would take food and only 8 percent would bring water. Although potentially critical to their health, only 4 percent said they would bring their medicines. The same percentage said they would bring a gun or other weapon. The Bible was an essential emergency item for 3 percent of respondents.

More than one-third (37 percent) of those surveyed said it's "very likely" they will face a disaster - either natural or manmade - within the next decade, and two-thirds think it is at least somewhat likely. If we asked the same August 2007 survey group after Hurricane Ike, the results might be significantly different as they now have seen what a disaster can do to a community.

Americans surveyed said the most likely disaster to strike their community would be a tornado (24 percent), followed by a hurricane (18 percent), flood (12 percent) or earthquake (10 percent). Only 6 percent of Americans listed a terrorist attack as the most likely type of catastrophe to affect their community in the next 10 years, while just 4 percent mentioned a disease epidemic such as bird flu, or a toxic or chemical leak or explosion. We believe that we must help those affected by Hurricane Ike recover, and help prepare our low income, no income, seniors, and special needs communities for future disasters.

TARGET POPULATIONS

GCS works in low-income black and brown communities with families. The priority populations are the elderly, the disabled and single female head of household. Our reasons are simple; the negative impact of poverty has exploded on low-income, disadvantaged residents. Our Case Management team develops sustainability for families and does disaster preparedness for Black and Brown communities.

Upon reviewing the data about Houston's low-income communities, it is evident that these communities will have difficulty in responding, and getting back on their feet after Hurricane Ike. Those that do not own their homes will have to rely on government and empathetic landlords to repair their homes and apartments. Those low-income homeowners without homeowners insurance or disposal income will have difficulty responding to the disaster. These communities have experienced damage from the hurricane, and all experienced more than a week of having no electricity. That means they lost all of their refrigerated food and have little resources to replace it. Others will lose their low wage jobs as a result of the hurricane, and may need retraining and job coaching. Essentially, they will need help in putting their lives back together.

Your financial support will:

1 Support our case management staff as they work with the Hurricane Ike families. Their goals are to repair or find permanent housing and achieve financial sustainability.

2 Support our Disaster Awareness Program so we can educate church pastors, families, community leaders, and organizations on the importance of being disaster prepared before, during and after disaster strikes in their communities. GCS is a certified American Red Cross trainer, and a site for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training

3 Support our Therapeutic After-School and Summer Enrichment and Mentoring Programs that addresses the needs of low to no income families whose children suffer from trauma-reactive behaviors... This program provides the nurturing and care needed to help children heal.

The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita gave America an eye-opener. Over two million households were affected, which ultimately traumatized an estimated four million children. Many of these children living in the Gulf Coast Region experienced the trauma of the hurricanes, as well as the struggles and confusion of relief efforts. The ongoing difficulties of numerous transitions in their lives have left many of these children needing support to heal emotionally. Many children are still living in less than desirable conditions. If not treated, the psychological scares of the hurricanes may have long-lasting effects on these children. It is our desire to not let our children suffer by providing the services they need to heal from the hurricane.