Is the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps part of local, state or national
government?
No. The Recovery Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that operates separately
from local, state and federal government.
Who created the Recovery Corps?
The Recovery Corps was created in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
by a group of officials from various Louisiana government agencies, including
the Office of the Governor and the Departments of Social Services and Health
and Hospitals, who were concerned that the only way intermediate and long-term
needs of Louisiana citizens could be properly met was through a central, coordinating
body. Their solution was to create an independent organization that would coordinate
and collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations and that
could be flexible and responsive to human services needs in the event of a disaster,
manmade or natural.
Does the Recovery Corps give away money to hurricane-affected residents?
No. All financial assistance that hurricane-affected residents receive is in
the form of a voucher or actual services provided. If an individual or family is deemed eligible for a Recovery
Corps program, the Recovery Corps either provides the associated services (such as home repairs) or acquires products and makes payments on behalf of the impacted families (such as with the Household Establishment Funds program). For instance, if a family needs a stove for its home and is approved
for assistance, the Recovery Corps works with a vendor, such as Home Depot or
Lowes, to make the stove available to the family.
Do individuals or families need jobs to be eligible for HEF voucher
assistance?
Yes. Most Recovery Corps voucher programs are available
to hurricane-affected individuals and families who are working. In addition,
income levels of families must be at or less than 300 percent of the federal
poverty guidelines. The employment requirement is waived for the elderly and
people with disabilities.
How can I get involved in the recovery effort?
There are many ways to support the ongoing disaster recovery effort. We welcome
community and financial support. If you are interested in donating, please visit
our homepage and click Donate under the Get Involved tab on the menu above to learn more about the giving process.
If you are interested in joining the Recovery Corps team, please contact jobs@recoverycorps.org regarding any employment opportunities.
Why is the recovery still going on?
While there have been billions of dollars allocated to the recovery of Louisiana, the fact is that there still remains much to do. Some of those funds are tied up in federal bureaucracy and have not yet been spent. In other situations, many populations have been overlooked altogether, forcing families to try to manage the recovery process on their own. More than one million Louisiana households were impacted
by Katrina and Rita, and more than 200,000 homes were destroyed. Gustav and Ike then followed up to affect some of those same households and wreak havoc on others who were not impacted by Katrina and Rita. For some, the
recovery is ongoing. For others it has yet to begin.
What happened to the hurricane-affected residents displaced out-of-state?
Are they coming back?
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected millions and destroyed more than 200,000
homes. The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps sponsored a survey that found more
than half of the displaced residents would like to return home, but are unable
to do so due to lack of information and funding for the move You can read the
full report here: Where did they go and are they coming back?
I am a member of the press and would like to do a story on people in
recovery. Who should I contact and what resources are available to me online?
Media kits are available under the News and Media menu tab. All press inquiries
should be directed to Stephen Evans via e-mail at sevans@recoverycorps.org or phone at 225.346.3117.
I am interested in making a large donation to the recovery effort,
but I would like to learn more about the Recovery Corps. Who should I speak
to?
The Recovery Corps would be happy to meet with you and introduce our organization.
Please contact Germaine Mitchell at gmitchell@recoverycorps.org or 225.346.3105.
Are my donations to the Recovery Corps tax deductible?
Yes, donations to the Recovery Corps are tax deductible as the Recovery Corps
is a 501(c)(3) corporation.
What is Louisiana Act 313?
In 2007, the State of Louisiana recognized the Recovery Corps as the state’s
official agent to coordinate humanitarian services in disaster, natural and
manmade. Act 313 (HB 479) allows the Recovery Corps to work with state agencies
and nonprofit organizations in preparation for future inevitable disasters.
Coordinating efforts with local faith- and community-based organizations, the
Recovery Corps can assist the state in simplifying and strengthening its existing
infrastructure, eliminating the duplication of efforts and fill in gaps to meet
the needs of people affected by disaster.
How is the Recovery Corps accountable and to whom?
As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Recovery Corps is accountable to its Board
of Directors. You can read more about the Recovery Corps Board here. Additionally,
any federal, state or private resources provided to the Recovery Corps are subject
to the guidelines and accountability mechanisms of such funding, just as any
other recipient of public or private dollars.
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