Photo: Hurricane Katrina survivors begin the long recovery.

LOCAL CONSORTIUM MEMBER MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN HOUSTON

Ruqayya Gibson expressed the feelings of many affected by the wind and water of Hurricane Katrina. “My life will never be the same,” she exclaimed.

Melanie Thornton-Lewis (left) and Ruqayya Gibson check a list of clients in their office at ACTION in Houston.
Photo: Susan J. Meister / UMCOR

Soon after the hurricane made landfall in August 2005, Gibson, Executive Director of ACTION, organized efforts to distribute clothing and food to survivors of Katrina who had come to Houston. Soon, she and her agency were involved with the local Long Term Recovery Committee, and applied for and received a grant through Katrina Aid Today to begin case management services.

ACTION, Accepting Challenges to Improve Our Nation, is an established agency that seeks to empower low and moderate income individuals, families and neighborhoods through housing programs, economic development and other social services in Houston. Recent estimates note that 90,000 persons who evacuated after the devastating hurricane hit the US Gulf Coast are permanent residents in the city.

“Our policy was straightforward,” Gibson said. “We met with survivors and identified their needs with comprehensive assessments. We helped them write a recovery plan. We helped with basic needs and focused on items that would move people along.” ACTION helped one survivor take the local police exam, and another to get her certified nursing assistant license. Special support groups helped single moms stay motivated and find positives in their lives.

“We always asked: ‘What did Katrina teach you?’” Gibson continued.

Case management sees broad perspective

Program Manager Melanie Thornton-Lewis, a native of New Orleans, moved to Houston in 2007 and is “110% committed” to helping survivors. “The biggest challenge was helping our clients understand the case management process,” she said. “We had to help them see the broader perspective, not just what they needed today.

“In many cases, people were reluctant to ask for help,” she continued. “They had never needed assistance before.”

Melanie Thornton-Lewis (left) and Lorenthia Richardson work together on an outstanding survivor file.
Photo: Susan Meister / UMCOR

Lorenthia Richardson wasn’t used to asking for anything when she connected with ACTION. After evacuating from New Orleans, she struggled for months to meet the most basic needs for herself and her eleven-year-old daughter, Shaquante.

“It’s really hard to lose everything and start over,” she explained. “I am extremely thankful for help with a vehicle, tuition, furniture, getting my hair license…. As I was going through everything, all I could do was pray. I have faith that everything will work out.”

Richardson was hired by the agency to help case managers. According to Gibson, most of the staff hired under the grant were “survivors helping survivors.”

Recovery continues for survivors and agencies

As the Katrina Aid Today grant comes to a close, the nine national partners and local consortium members are evaluating their participation in the grant process and assessing their future involvement with Katrina survivors in their communities.

“Being a part of Katrina Aid Today has allowed us to participate in a groundbreaking program where agencies who are usually independent must find ways to work together,” Gibson said. “It made us realize how effective we can be if we work together.”

And, as many have realized, the story of recovery is not over. “”Katrina survivors in Houston still need support,” she continued. “ACTION will continue to help survivors in the way of emotional and motivational support as they continue to learn how to navigate Houston.

“It has been a blessing to serve the survivors and assist them in becoming stable.”

ACTION joined 15 other local consortium members to deliver services to survivors across the country. The other agencies were Asian Social Services Center, Philadelphia, PA; Autauga County Family Support Center, Prattville, AL; Hope Community Services Inc., Orange County, CA; Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; Mennonite Central Committee and El Comité de Récuperacion, Houston, TX; Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, Tulsa, OK; National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), Bethesda, MD; New Concept Staff Development Center, Inc., Milwaukee, WI; Sabathani Community Center, Minneapolis, MN; Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Services, St. Charles, MO; Texas Interagency-Interfaith Disaster Response, Austin, TX; United Way of Central Iowa, Des Moines, IA; UNITY of Greater New Orleans, New Orleans, LA; Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Seattle, WA; Workforce Essentials Inc., Clarksville, TN .

Additional summary information about the work of the nine national partners and local consortium members of Katrina Aid Today are available on the web site, www.KatrinaAidToday.org, and in the newly-released Program Book.