HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL OF NEW YORK CITY, INC.
130 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 836-1230
Fax: (212) 836-1837
KATRINA UPDATE
(Wednesday, March 22, 2006)
VOTING RIGHTS FOR EVACUEES
The Civil Rights Committee of the Bar Association of the City of New York is participating in an
important campaign to assure that Katrina evacuees are able to access their right to vote. Please pass on
to anyone working with Katrina evacuees from New Orleans (Orleans Parish) information on how they
can vote in the upcoming election. Detailed information that can be distributed, including a “Bill of
Rights to assist displaced voters with absentee and early voting”, is available from The Lawyers’
Committee
for
Civil
Rights
Under
Law
website;
http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/2005website/home/home.html. For more details, evacuees and
others can call the Election Protection Coalition at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). Eligible
evacuees should request an absentee ballot as soon as possible. Official information from the Louisiana
Secretary of State is below:
SECRETARY OF STATE, STATE OF LOUISIANA
http://www.sec.state.la.us/elections/elections-displaced.htm
If you are a registered voter of Louisiana who has been displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita,
you are still eligible to vote in your home parish if you have not registered to vote in another parish or
state.
There are presently three ways to vote in Louisiana: (1) absentee by mail ballot, (2) early voting in person
in the Registrar of Voters office six to twelve days before an election, and (3) in person at the polling place
on Election Day. For more information on how to check your current registration status, register to vote,
or vote, please contact your home parish Registrar of Voters office or the Louisiana Secretary of State
Elections Division by email at elections@sos.louisiana.gov or at 1-800-883-2805. If you register to vote in
another parish or state, your voting rights will be affected in your home parish. For more information,
please contact your home parish Registrar of Voters or the Secretary of State.
Special notices for voters displaced by the hurricanes: (REVISED 3-2-06 AT 4:30 PM)
Voters who were displaced by the hurricanes should use the Displaced Voter Request for Absentee Ballot
by Mail PDF form rather than the standard form listed above. These voters may also be required to fill
out a Displaced Voter Affidavit PDF form in addition to the standard form listed above.
EARLY VOTING in satellite offices around the state:
 Applies to Orleans registered voters only and they must have been registered by 9/24/05
 Early satellite parish registrar of voters offices: Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson,
Lafayette, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Terrebonne
ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL with a Displaced Voter Affidavit:
 Applies to:
o Any registered voter in the State who is displaced and who has previously voted in person
in his parish of registration.
o Any registered voter in the State who is displaced and who registered by mail between
10/5/04 – 9/25/05, but who has not voted in person yet.
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In order to take advantage of the special rules in Act 4 of the 2006 1st extraordinary session, these
eligible voters will also be required to fill out a Displaced Voter Affidavit PDF form in addition to the
Displaced Voter Request for Absentee Ballot by Mail PDF form listed above.
Request for absentee ballot is valid for 1 year – until 2/23/07
Deadline to request absentee ballot: 4:30 pm day before election
Deadline to submit voted absentee ballot: election day
FREE LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006
Praxis Housing Initiatives and the National Bar Association (founded in 1925 is the nation’s oldest and
largest association of African-American attorneys, and today represents a network of more than 20,000
African-American lawyers, judges, and law professors) are co-sponsoring a free Legal Clinic and reception
next week for Katrina evacuees and the organizations and individuals who are assisting them.
What:
Hosted by:
Where:
When:
Who:
RSVP:
Hurricane Katrina Relief Seminar – featuring a free legal clinic for local evacuees, their
families and case workers and live national web-cast from Tulane Law School in New
Orleans, LA.
The National Football League**
NFL Corporate Headquarters - 280 Park Avenue, NYC
Friday, March 31, 2006 – 2:00 – 7:00 pm
Local attorneys and legal service agencies will discuss NYC specific concerns prior to the
web cast.
1-888-744-7900
The national web cast will feature three panels.
Panel I will address how lawyers and law students can assist the relief effort and will feature Associate
Justice Catherine Kimball of the Louisiana Supreme Court, National Bar Association President Reginald
M. Turner, Jr., Marta-Ann Schnabel, who is president-elect of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and
Morgan Williams, who is one of the leaders of the Student Hurricane Network that is encouraging law
students around the country to volunteer in the Gulf Coast.
Panel II will provide evacuees and volunteers with the latest disaster relief information. This panel will
feature New Orleans City Council President Oliver M. Thomas, Jr. and Eugene Cornelius, Jr., who is the
District Director of the United States Small Business Administration.
Panel III will address the common questions and concerns of evacuees. This panel will include Louisiana
State Representative Karen Carter, who will discuss insurance issues from her perspective as the
chairperson of the House Insurance Committee, Southern University Law Professor John Pierre, who will
discuss mortgage and landlord tenant issues, Louisiana State Representative Cheryl A. Gray, who will
discuss issues regarding the upcoming election, and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Executive Counsel Monique Edwards, who will address environmental concerns of volunteers and
evacuees.
Reception will follow
** Please note - Due to building security people must RSVP to be able to attend.
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PAGE 3
KATRINA HELPLINE:
CASE MANAGEMENT REFERRAL
Not-for-profit social services agencies helping Katrina and Rita evacuees in New York City offer a
consolidated system for referring evacuees to one of the participating agencies for an appropriate case
manager. Case managers can help evacuees find out what services and benefits may be available and how
to access them. Please keep in mind that this Helpline does not serve as a general Information and
Referral line for Katrina-related questions, but is the central point for assigning evacuees to case managers.
We are grateful to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York for operating this collaborative
Helpline.
New York City social service agencies have trained Case Managers who are available to work with
evacuees one-on-one to develop a practical plan and achieve recovery goals.
To request a Case Manager from any one of these agencies:
Call 1-888-744-7900,
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
KATRINA AND RITA APPLICATION REGISTRATION DEADLINE
EXTENDED TO APRIL 10
News Release
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=24159
Release Date: March 10, 2006
Release Number: 1603-394
KATRINA AND RITA APPLICATION REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 10
WASHINGTON, DC -- To ensure all victims are able to register for assistance, David Paulison, Acting
Director of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), today
announced that the deadline for registering for assistance as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in
Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas has been extended 30 days to April 10, 2006. Homeowners, renters and
business owners who sustained damage from the hurricanes can apply by calling the FEMA registration
number, 800-621-FEMA (3362); TTY 800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired, or online at
http://www.fema.gov/.
Applicants may qualify for help under a wide-range of federal and state programs such as temporary disaster
housing assistance; SBA low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses; and assistance for
disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
To date, FEMA has received more than 2.6 million applications for assistance from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
victims.
NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
HURRICANE KATRINA ASSISTANCE GUIDE
The “New York & New Jersey Hurricane Katrina Assistance Guide” is now available. It can be
downloaded from http://www.can.org/. The Guide offers information on local resources that may be
helpful to people who were impacted by the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes. Created in response to the
diverse needs of the evacuee community, the Guide is designed to provide those in need, and those who
serve them, with up-to-date information on services and referrals. Go to the CAN website, and click on
“Get Katrina Help Now” at the left of the screen.
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ASSISTANCE WITH TAX RETURNS FOR
LOW-INCOME HURRICANE VICTIMS
Special tax provisions have been passed that pertain to victims of Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the American Association of
Attorney-CPAs (AAA-CPA) have agreed to accept referrals from VITA/TCE sites of taxpayers needing
preparation of tax returns with casualty loss deductions. Because of the technical complexity of the issue
and the steep learning curve that would be involved in training all volunteers, casualty loss deductions are
out of scope for VITA/TCE return preparation. Taxpayers must visit a VITA/TCE site in order to
be referred. Only those taxpayers who meet the VITA income requirements (income less than
$38,000) will be eligible for referral.
For a list of IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAC) that have been assisting taxpayers with casualty
loss deductions go to http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=150899,00.html.
Foodchange, the largest civilian free tax preparer in the U.S., has trained staff at three of their sites
especially to help Katrina evacuees:
Harlem
Downtown Brooklyn
Bed-Stuy
Food & Finance Center
Independence
Community
Bed-Stuy Restoration
284 St. Nicholas Avenue
Bank
1368 Fulton Street ( inside
(between 124th and 125th
195 Montague Street , 4th
courtyard of Bed- Stuy
Streets, on Harlem USA
Floor
Restoration, across from
block) New York , NY 10027
Brooklyn , NY 11201
Duane Reade ) Brooklyn ,
Subway : 2, 3, A, B, C, D to
Subway : M, N, R, to Court
NY 11216
125th Street
Street; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough
Subway : A, C, to Nostrand
Hall
Avenue
NATIONAL LAW CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY
SEEKING INFORMATION ON CERTAIN CLIENT PROBLEMS
3/20/06
Request for Information about FEMA Appeals from Katrina Victims
In the course of our advocacy on behalf of Katrina evacuees, it has come to our attention that some
people may be facing difficulties appealing FEMA decisions. To assess whether there are problems, we
want to speak to people who have experienced any of these situations:
1. FEMA denied application for assistance. The evacuee appealed, but FEMA denied the appeal;
2. FEMA denied application for assistance. The evacuee appealed, but did not hear anything back from
FEMA within 90 days of the appeal;
3. FEMA denied the application but did not inform the applicant that he/she had 60 days to appeal, the
applicant appealed late, and FEMA rejected the appeal as untimely;
4. FEMA denied the application but did not inform the applicant that he/she had 60 days to appeal, and
the applicant missed the deadline for appealing;
5. FEMA denied the application but the applicant did not receive notice of the denial until much later,
and FEMA rejected the appeal as untimely.
If you or someone you know has encountered these difficulties with FEMA, please contact us as soon as
possible, but no later than March 31, 2006.
Our contact information:
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PAGE 5
Terri Keeley
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
tkeeley@nlchp.org
Request for Information about HUD Disaster Assistance to Individuals Who Were Homeless Before the
Hurricanes
In the course of our advocacy on behalf of Katrina evacuees, it has come to our attention that we have
little information about what happened to individuals who were homeless before the hurricanes, and
whether they are receiving the assistance to which they were entitled. To assess whether there are
problems, we want to speak to people who have experienced either of these situations, or service
providers who are aware of individuals in these situations:
1. A person who was homeless before Hurricane Katrina or Rita and sought assistance from a local
housing authority after the hurricane but was rejected.
or
2. A person who was homeless before Hurricane Katrina or Rita and sought assistance from the federal
government after the hurricane but was rejected.
If you or someone you know has encountered these difficulties trying to get disaster assistance, please
contact us as soon as possible, but no later than March 31, 2006.
Our contact information:
Terri Keeley
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
tkeeley@nlchp.org
HURRICANE KATRINA HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TEACH-IN
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WHEN:
WHERE:
Tuesday April 4th, 2006 9:30am-4:30 pm
Spellman Auditorium, Marymount College
100 Marymount Avenue, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Parking is limited so please carpool, organize a bus or take public transporation
The Honorable Judge Claudia Morcom presented the human rights concerns of the People's Institute
West and Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute in a United Nations Human Rights Committee meeting in
Geneva Switzerland on October 24, 2005. The United Nations has responded by sending Dr. Arun K
Sengupta, an expert on extreme poverty and human rights, to New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana
in October 2005. His report will be made public before the United Nations panel in March 2006. This
teach in will continue the process of supporting full public disclosure of the human rights investigation
initiated by the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Facilitators: Rev. David Billings, People's Institute for Survival and Beyond ; Rev. Daniel A. Buford,
Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute: students, educators and community organizers.
Sponsored by the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service
For information call Fordham University at 1.718.817.5607
FEMA DEADLINE
The deadline for applying for FEMA disaster assistance benefits and SBA loans is April 10, 2006 for both
Katrina and Rita declarations.
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EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
MET COUNCIL CAREER SERVICES
THE FUTURE’S PROGRAM
NO-COST EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
FREE TO ALL WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
INCLUDING THOSE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF HURRICANE KATRINA
OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF OFFERS NO-COST SERVICES IN

 CAREER ADVISEMENT
RESUME AND COVER LETTER HELP
 JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
 INTERVIEW PREPARATION
FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact
Nicky Paul at (212) 453 – 9655 or npaul@metcouncil.org
Bella Goldvug at (212) 453 – 9659 or bgoldvug@metcouncil.org
Stephen Sokal at (212) 453 –9513 or ssokal@metcouncil.org
JOB OFFERS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
Harman International is offering job opportunities for families with children in the following US cities:
Washington, MO; Northridge, CA; Elkhart, IN; Franklin, KY; Martinsville, IN; Farmington, MI.
Positions available include: Assembly workers, Accountants, Technicians, Engineers. All interested
families will be given a job application. Qualified applicants will have an opportunity to discuss their
qualifications. Details of available positions including benefits and relocation assistance will be addressed.
Please contact Isabel Lugo or Jan Flory of The Children’s Aid Society (212-949-4800) if you are
interested or if you have any questions.
FREE TRAINING
EARN A CERTIFICATE AND START A CAREER AS A HOME ATTENDANT



NY STATE DEPT OF HEALTH APPROVED COURSE
CONVENIENT EVENING CLASSES
NEW SESSIONS BEGIN EVERY 2 WEEKS IN ENGLISH,
SPANISH, AND RUSSIAN
 GAIN LOTS OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
 RECEIVE JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
 EARN UP TO $9.50/HOUR + HEALTH BENEFITS
TO SIGN UP TODAY, CALL IRENE, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AT (212) 453-9697
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MISCELLANEOUS JOB-RELATED WEBSITE RESOURCES

http://www.resumevideo.com/live/jobbanks/ReportJobsOpenBCC.asp

http://workministry.com/index.html

http://www.workforceusa.net/

http://www.job-hunt.org

http://portal.cuny.edu/cms/id/cuny/documents/jobposting/SupportStaffTOC.htm

http://www.unhny.org/jobbank/index.cfm?FolderID=59
VOLUNTEER THROUGH UNITED WAY OF NEW YORK CITY
United Way of New York City and The Mayor's Volunteer Center have partnered to create
www.volunteernyc.org, which provides an easy way for New Yorkers who want to help to search available
volunteer opportunities. Any organization can easily register its volunteer needs on this site. United Way
of America's website, www.unitedway.org, also offers information on volunteer opportunities in the Gulf
Coast Region.
To publicize services or information for Katrina/Rita evacuees in New York City, please contact Hayyim Obadyah at
Obadyahh@ujafedny.org. Events and activities mentioned in this Katrina Update are presented for informational purposes
only and do not imply an endorsement by the Human Services Council or its member agencies.