<p>For those of us who have recently sent children (young adults) off to school, many of us now have a spare bedroom, right? And we’re certainly a fortunate lot (fortunate enough to send our child to college).</p>
<p>So, what if we want to offer that spare room to a displaced Gulf resident?How do we go about offering it? Is there a registry? Do we call the Red Cross?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.katrinahousing.org/[/url]”>http://www.katrinahousing.org/</a></p>
<p>A New Orleans Blog has posted this url–
apparently a place to register to offer and receive housing.
I am not personally familar with it but it might be worth looking into.
Also, I think your idea to contact the American Red Cross is a good one.
It’s been a while, but in my youth, my family had standing arrangements with the Red Cross to provide temporary housing to folks displaced by fire, etc.</p>
<p>Whhops-momsdream-I forgot to give you the address of the NEw Orleans Blog-
<a href=“http://neworleans.metblogs.com%5B/url%5D”>http://neworleans.metblogs.com</a></p>
<p>My wife and I were thinking of using our spare basement for displace folks from New Orleans. However, my wife made a good point: we become responsible for them. We would have to provide food, laundry, clothing,and maybe medical. In addition, they could be displaced for a year or two. Before you offer up your room, think about it carefully</p>
<p>I wouldn’t expect to provide medical or clothing for them.There are resources available to assist with food and medical insurance. Anyway, anyone taking someone in should expect it to feel like a sacrifice. IMHO, people often “overthink” helping others in need. </p>
<p>The more voluntary hardships we take on in our lives, the less involuntary hardships we collectively face.</p>
<p>One also can connect with people looking for housing through Moveon Pac: <a href=“http://www.hurricanehousing.org/index2.html?id=5952-5814932-KQ4eCGOwx_uk9syghv2inQ&t=2[/url]”>http://www.hurricanehousing.org/index2.html?id=5952-5814932-KQ4eCGOwx_uk9syghv2inQ&t=2</a></p>
<p>They particularly are interested in spaces in the southeast.</p>
<p>I just signed up at hurricanehousing.org glad to see others are thinking along the same lines, they can have my D’s room, she’s at NYU, she said its cool with her.</p>
<p>It’s nice to see some people doing something. I know my parents wouldn’t do this because of the reasons taxguy said and for safety. My parents do not want to let in total strangers into their house. America is not a safer place than it was before the storm, and we still have to be careful. So, I applaud those of you who are doing this.</p>
<p>I’ve signed up at CraigsList, katrinahousing.org (Salvation Army site) and bklynmom’s url above.</p>
<p>I’m financially strapped as it is. But, the lights work, the water gets hot, the heat works in winter, the neighborhood is safe, the schools are very close and public transportation is within a 5 minute walk- I’ve always had enough and have no doubt that I’ll have enough to share, if needed. Things work out like that.</p>
<p>There has to be a way to get assistance for food and clothing (Dept of public welfare and Salvation Army?). Dept of Public Welfare also provides medical assistance.</p>
<p>PrivateJoker-</p>
<p>America is a country of courage. That’s why it’s such a special place. People can and will be ripped off, no doubt.</p>
<p>But, the risk is well worth taking to save a life and help rebuild.</p>
<p>Well, you’re a courageous person, momsdream, if your willing to sacrifice your personal living space and resources for an indefinite amount of time for strangers. You have a good heart.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the people that are placed with families are well screened.</p>
<p>Momsdream-
Your statement-
“The more voluntary hardships we take on in our lives, the less involuntary hardships we collectively face.”
is a statement to live by.</p>
<p>momsdream, I am proud to be your cyberfriend!! </p>
<p>We are so far from the area of need but I could certainly help a student who is now without a place to go home to… </p>
<p>If you wind up with someone in your home, I would LOVE to know a wish list of needed things because I could send a care package.</p>
<p>We actually use our three bedroom home in a large city in Florida only for a few days a year now - we didn’t plan it that way, it just sort of happened. We do consider it “home” and I never plan to sell it, plan to live there again someday! D and I discussed it, and decided to offer it up. She pointed out it’s actually within walking distance of two public schools as well as public tranportation - I totally forgot about the schools as D went to catholic school. We wanted to work through accredited catholic relief agencies though, and I couldn’t find anywhere on catholiccharitiesusa.com to offer our home, so I ended up sending email to someone at their chapter in Baton Rouge, and I copied someone at the Florida Catholic Conference. I have no idea if anyone will even see my email, or forward it. </p>
<p>I’m not comfortable listing it on craigslist or other media because I do not have any idea whatsoever how to screen the people. I might send email to a priest, but not sure if I should put people in the position of duplicating efforts. (???)</p>
<p>Call the local Red Cross or go to the nearest shelter. In my Florida panahandle town, we have far more people signed up as evacuees than are staying in the shelter … because people have taken them into their homes. One resident was overheard to say that she’s on the waiting list for a family.</p>
<p><a href=“http://neworleans.craigslist.org/hhh/[/url]”>http://neworleans.craigslist.org/hhh/</a></p>
<p>My friends on the panhandle Gulf Coast–many of them past residents of New Orleans–all have new roommates for the next six months.</p>
<p>I have email response from Catholic Charities, so we’ll see where this goes. Our house can hold five - six people easily; daugher thinks it can hold up to eight or 10.</p>