Press Release

September 13, 2005

Northfield Hurricane Support Network launches work

The Northfield Hurricane Support Network, a public-private
partnership, is organizing the community’s capacity to assist families
and individuals who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Representatives from city and county government, from faith communities
and community human services are actively identifying Northfield basic
needs resources and logistics to settle households on a short to a
long-term basis.

The Northfield community is very generous in its offers of help from
volunteering homes, to monetary assistance, supplies, vehicles and labor.
The Northfield Hurricane Support Network (NHSN) provides the response
structure integrating the community’s generosity with state efforts to
coordinate resettlement and local relief.

The Northfield Hurricane Support Network advises that the best
assistance at this time is monetary assistance to the relief organization
of your choice serving the disaster needs in the Gulf Region.

At this time, NHSN doesn’t know what will be asked of the community
by state authorities. NHSN will continue to alert providers and monitor
the situation, keeping the community informed of needs as they arise and
shape the eventual response. Individual efforts are requested to inform
the committee for promotion and coordination.

Locally, a semi-trailer is parked at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church,
open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day through Sunday, September 18.
Collections of infant diapers and pre-mixed formula, personal care items
and comfort items for children are welcome. Please do not bring clothing.

The American Red Cross Rice County Chapter is offering a class to
qualify volunteers on Saturday from 8am -4pm at their office 421 Central
Ave in Faribault, although there’s no guarantee that volunteers will be
deployed. Call 507-334 -8471 for information.

If there are displaced families here or planning to come to Northfield
who need help, they are welcome to the CAC for assistance. People seeking
information are invited to call the Community Action Center at
507-664-3550.

Volunteer
and Donation Opportunities

http://pathprogram.samhsa.gov/
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is seeking experienced
homeless outreach workers and medical staff who would be willing to
volunteer for up to two weeks of their time in one of the major relocation
sites. Transportation to Texas, as well as food and lodging expenses, will
be covered

Community Voice Mail (CVM) provides free, 24-hour voice mail to people in
crisis and transition. CVM is now offering 96,000 free voice mail numbers to
Hurricane Katrina survivors, relief workers who do not have phone service,
and on-site social service agencies. CVM is seeking partner organizations,
such as shelter and service providers, to help distribute the numbers in
locations where the need is greatest, including Louisiana and Mississippi.
According to CVM, training and enrolling users is a quick and easy process.
The organization anticipates that individuals will use their CVM numbers for
at least six months to reconnect to jobs, housing, stability, and
opportunity. To get involved, visit http://www.cvm.org
for local office contacts. Call Community Voice Mail at 206.441.7872 x135,
or e-mail info@cvm.org

Federal Resources

http://www.ich.gov/
The Interagency Council on Homelessness lists many federal resources for
Hurricane Katrina recovery, including information from the US
Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and
Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and FEMA.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/hurricane-recovery.htm
Information from the US Department of Labor about jobs and income support
for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

Housing
Resources

http://www.hurricanekatrinahousing.org/
A set of links listing free transitional/temporary shelter available to
victims of Hurricane Katrina. The search function is available only to
agencies?including HUD, United Way 211, HFAs, the American Red Cross,
CARE-Line, Traveler’s Aid, and multiple state, county and city
governments?that are intaking victims.

Housing
Development Resources

http://www.nefinc.org/
LISC/NEF and Enterprise/ESIC launch Community Recovery Fund. In the wake of
the massive devastation wrought by Katrina, this joint initiative will
provide grants, loans and equity to the affected region. It includes a
low-income housing tax credit investment program to be jointly managed by
NEF and ESIC.

Policy
Resources

http://www.nlihc.org
The National Low Income Housing Coalition is posting periodic updates about
short- and long-term housing policy issues for those displaced by Hurricane
Katrina.

For further information, call Jim Blaha, 507-664-3552