Opening Your Doors: A United Methodist Response to Hurricane Katrina Evacuees

Dear Friend of UMCOR:

United Methodist Committee on Relief is offering guidelines to communities thinking of hosting evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Adapted from the Mennonite Central Committee, the guidelines will assist you as you pray about, plan for, and invite evacuees to become part of your community.

UMCOR believes it takes an entire community to make an effective response.
Individual sponsorship may unintentionally overlook the needs of evacuees for community in a time of difficulty and uncertainty. We hope our guidelines will help you work through the details of a big decision with flexibility, openness, an attentive ear, and mindfulness.

Bishops will receive a three-page print copy of the guidelines, which may be reproduced and shared widely. Guidelines and other resources to help, like questionnaires for churches and evacuees, are also available by visiting us online at umcor.org. Look for the tagline "Opening Your Doors." Or click on this link: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/05/opendoors.cfm.

Thank you for your generous hearts in ministry on behalf of all the people of the United Methodist Church to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

In faith,

Paul Dirdak
Executive Director, UMCOR
Deputy General Secretary
General Board of Global Ministries
United Methodist Committee On Relief
Health & Welfare
Mission Volunteers
475 Riverside Drive Ste. 330
New York NY 10115
Tel: 212/870-3816
Fax: 212/870-3624

Opening Your Doors
Tips For Congregations That May Host Evacuees

Hospitality Guidelines from UMCOR
Remember, It Takes a Community
Network
Think, Pray, Plan
Find Adequate Housing
Listen, Listen, Listen
Educate Yourselves
Get It In Writing
Expect the Unexpected
To Assure Availability of Services, Help the Families You Host Register With FEMA

Remember, It Takes a Community

Form a Committee
Before any decisions are made regarding hosting evacuees, form a committee among interested persons to work together. Hosting evacuees should be a community effort. UMCOR does not recommend individuals sponsoring evacuees. Evacuees belonged to a community before Hurricane Katrina. Now, they will need a new community to support them.

Evaluate Resources
Have a meeting to determine community interests and assets. Make a schedule for future meetings – determine if people are willing to commit for 18-24 months or longer. Share available information, or ask persons to find out:
• What is available within the group? Furnishings, visiting, transportation, primary contact person, etc.
• What is available from the church? Benevolence fund for rental, initial welcome, counseling services, etc.
• What is available from your local community? Clothing bank, food bank, temp agencies, job listings, etc.
• What is available from local government agencies? Public assistance, medical coverage, application processes, etc.
• What is already happening in your community that you could support? Relatives hosting families, a Red Cross or other shelter, etc.

Network

Start contacting reputable “clearinghouse” agencies.

Check UMCOR website for updates.

Many agencies are working on evacuation questions – check other websites.

There may be an opportunity to register your interest in hosting with one of the annual conference disaster recovery offices supported by UMCOR in its goal of long-term recovery. When these offices are set up they may be able to refer evacuees to your congregation. Stay tuned for future developments!

Think, Pray, Plan

Be prepared for uncertainties and difficulties. Take time to think, pray and plan. Hurricane survivors may need extra time to make major decisions. Evacuating to a new place – new city , new state – is a major decision.

Hosting an evacuee is a major decision. Be flexible, be open, and listen to the wisdom of those who are experiencing this.

Find Adequate Housing

Strongly consider renting separate housing rather than “living in”. “Living in” can be extremely stressful for hosts and guests. Guests are traumatized, hosts are eager. Both need their space. Cultural practices may be different.
Ask the broader church or community for assistance to locate adequate rental housing. Be sure you have a rental agreement that is written, agreed to and signed by all parties.

Listen, Listen, Listen

After evacuees arrive, share responsibilities among at least 4 or 5 persons– see “It Takes a Community” above for ideas.

Find your best listeners and assign them to do just that—listen to evacuees and hosting constituents.

Assign persons to accompany evacuees, if needed, to social service agencies and government agencies.

Be particularly alert to service providers who might demean adult evacuees by treating them as children. Let them select what they need from you. Offer a menu.

Don’t push a job search until evacuees are feeling safe, secure, and able. Assist in due time and as appropriate.

Educate Yourselves

Remember that evacuees will be traumatized with differing levels of symptoms. Educate yourself on what to expect, educate your church, and educate the evacuee. Identify a good listener who seems to connect with the evacuee to be the one to help with finding a counselor when needed. If there is a family, each member needs a good listener. Think through rules of confidentiality for the listeners. For guidelines visit www.stephenministries.org.

Get It In Writing

The relationship between host and evacuee should be in writing. Church World Service has an application for both. Use that, or develop your own. Get the PDF files by clicking the website addresses listed below.
Questionnaire for Congregations Offering Hospitality
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/misc/Katrina%20Questionnaire%20for%20Congregations%20090605.pdf
Questionnaire for Displaced Person(s) Needing Hospitality
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/misc/Katrina%20Questionnaire%20for%20Displaced%20Persons%20090605.pdf


Expect the Unexpected

Do not expect the evacuees to be United Methodist. Find out if they would like to attend their faith services, invite them to your church, respect them if they do not want to attend church at all. Realize they may be having serious questions about their faith, and that church services can be emotional and they may not be ready for that.

Be flexible and open. This is a humanitarian response, the goal isn’t to find new members or best friends for your congregations. While it would be wonderful, it is not the goal.

To Assure Availability of Services, Help the Families You Host Register With FEMA
UMCOR is not processing referrals for evacuee resettlement at this time. When the long-term recovery offices of the affected annual conferences are established, this kind of referral may be an option.

If you are in an annual conference located in an area receiving large numbers of evacuees into shelters, collaborate with those shelters. Perhaps you could organize the referral process. Maybe they have one already.

If evacuees are being placed into your state, urge your State Office of Emergency Management to apply for a “federal declaration” if they haven’t already in order that the evacuees can be eligible for housing and other benefits from FEMA. Many other services are not available to them until they have registered with FEMA – be sure to help them do that before they come to you if your state is not yet “federally declared.” Find out about your state at www.fema.gov.

Adapted from Mennonite Central Committee


Hurricane Katrina evacuees stay in Sunday school classrooms at First United Methodist Church in Dumas, Ark. From left to right are Adlay Callahan, Farrah Boudreaux, Kimberly Boudreaux and Frederick Boudreaux III, all of New Orleans. Credit:Jane Dennis/UMNS




ADDITIONAL UMCOR INFORMATION

How You Can Help

Give:
Your generous gift to UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global, will help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. You can give online at www.methodistrelief.org, at your church, over the phone at 1-800-554-8583, or by mailing a check directly to: UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Checks should be written to UMCOR with the Advance number and name written on the memo line of your check. If you would prefer that your funds to go to recovery in a specific region, please note that on your donation.

Send:
There is an urgent need for both health kits and school kits. These collections of everyday items will help families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The health kits contain items such as a toothbrush, wash cloth, and soap. The school kits contain items like paper, pencils, and items to help children start school. For assembly and shipping instructions, call UMCOR Sager Brown at 1-800-814-8765 or visit the UMCOR website. You may also give a financial donation to to UMCOR's Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440 to purchase kit supplies that the Depot staff and volunteers will use to assemble health kits and school kits.

Go:
Volunteers will be needed to help in Hurricane Katrina recovery. To find out how you can help with hurricane cleanup, contact your United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Jurisdictional Coordinator. A list of these coordinators is available on the web at http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/vimcoords.htm or write Mission Volunteers at voluntrs@gbgm-umc.org for contact information. They will provide details on creating and training a team as well as scheduling details. For information on what disaster sites are currently scheduling volunteers, call the Volunteer Hotline at 800-918-3100.