September 14, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
Government agencies and charities need to do more to reach out to victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom remain desperate for aid but are not aware of what assistance is available to them, says a new report.
In most cases, people who suffered harm from Hurricane Katrina know only about services from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross, the report says.
“The irony is that many organizations are struggling to find participants to available programs, while evacuees perceive that relief agencies aren’t reaching out to them — that they’re expected to find those service providers themselves,” the publication says.
The report looks at the needs of hurricane survivors in eight cities that were either hit by Katrina or received an influx of people fleeing the Gulf Coast.
Leadership 18, a coalition of 18 large charities, including the Boy Scouts of America, National Urban League, and United Way of America, released the report.
The groups commissioned the Kelton Research Firm, in Los Angeles, to hold meetings in June of 90 to 100 people in each city to identify the problems they continue to face.
When asked to name their three greatest recovery needs, most people said lack of adequate housing continues to be their primary difficulty.
“Simply offering services, or employing traditional methods of outreach, may not suffice,” given the widespread damage of the hurricane and displacement of evacuees, the report says.
The report, “Voices from the Gulf Coast,” is available free online at the United Way of America’s Web site.
