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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
WendyHealy, 203-744-6367,
wendy@LDRNY.org
John Scibilia, 1-866-864-1600
john@LDRNY.org

LDRNY working with others in support of "unmet needs"

Lutheran Disaster Response of New York is leading the charge in bringing together faith and community organizations in New York City to help the tens of thousands of people affected by Sept. 11 for whom no assistance is available. The spontaneous effort is being called the "unmet needs roundtable," and members include the Urban Justice Center, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Presbyterian Disaster Relief, among others. Ken Curtain, FEMA's voluntary agency liaison, is working with the group to finds ways of providing funding and support to those affected by Sept. 11 but who are falling through the cracks of the public assistance system.

FAITH AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BAND TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR VICTIMS OF SEPT. 11 WHO CAN'T GET HELP

NEW YORK – May 1 – Faith and community organizations in New York City are banding together in a spontaneous "unmet needs roundtable" to help the tens of thousands of people affected by Sept. 11 for whom no assistance is available.

Spearheaded by the Lutheran Disaster Response of New York (LDRNY), the roundtable is comprised of the Urban Justice Center, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Presbyterian Disaster Relief, among others. Ken Curtain, FEMA's voluntary agency liaison, is working with the group to help finds ways of providing funding and support to those affected by Sept. 11 but who are falling through the cracks of the public assistance system.

The roundtable is looking for ways to combine resources and maximize on assistance for those who need help, whether it is mortgage aid, food coupons, job-search support or counseling. For example, some agencies have funds for Sept. 11 but no systems in place to disburse them, while others have case management programs, but not specific money set aside for victims.

In addition to providing resources to help victims, the roundtable is challenging New York City and other disaster response organizations to redefine the guidelines for victims of Sept. 11. "Unfortunately, victims have been so narrowly defined that many people are suffering and can't qualify for help," said John Scibilia, coordinator of LDRNY. He cites many business-owners and residents of Chinatown, where one-quarter of the jobs have been lost since Sept. 11, but who don't qualify for assistance because they're above the geographic boundaries of Canal Street.

"We implore the city and other agencies to rethink who is considered a victim of Sept. 11," said Scibilia. "We're hearing hundreds of cases a day of people falling outside the boundaries for assistance, but who are struggling both economically and emotionally."

LDRNY has responded to the crisis with its Lutheran Initiative For Empowerment, Project LIFE. Project LIFE is a care management program designed to help those affected by Sept. 11. Since it was established in early January, it has received thousands of phone calls from people who lost jobs, loved ones and hope. A large percentage of clients are immigrants who were working in the hotel and food industries in New York City, and have lost their jobs.