Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005

 

Homes available to shelter Katrina evacuees

Relief Homes Georgia, an Internet-based registry intended to find temporary housing in the Georgia area for Hurricane Katrina evacuees from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, is now online and functioning.

Located on the Internet at www.reliefhomesgeorgia.com and including a link to a Spanish version, the Web site was launched by a group of Atlanta-area IT and hospitality industry professionals in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to help make a difference for evacuees relocating in this area. It is intended to serve as a bridge of communication between those who are in need and those who have resources to offer, and more information about the effort can be obtained by going to the Web site.

Information about volunteer hosts which is posted on the Web site will be made available only to relief agencies and will not be released to the general public. The registration form includes places where volunteer hosts can give specific conditions under which they are willing to host, such as choosing the length of the time of stay, number of people, gender of guests, whether hosts are willing to accept children and pets, and other information.

A Relief Homes Georgia spokesperson asked persons who have space for at least one person for one week, to register on the Web site by selecting the “Register to Host” button. Relief Homes Georgia will work with agencies such as the Hosea Feed the Hungry Foundation, Latin American Association, local churches, or other non-profit relief agencies to match the registered temporary housing hosts with families or individuals in need of temporary housing. Once a match is made, the providers of the temporary housing will be contacted by a volunteer from Relief Homes Georgia.

The Relief Homes Georgia Web site contains a number of helpful links for those seeking more permanent housing, food stamps, school enrollment for children, employment, and appropriate medical care when necessary.

The Latin American Association serving the Atlanta area is receiving donations of food and clothing that will be shared with people who take in evacuees.

Relief Homes Georgia is also seeking additional volunteers to help with the program on a day-to-day basis, and contact information can be found on the Web site. Current sponsors include Visions USA Inc., SignUp4, and Jimmy Booth Public Relations.