United Way of Southeast Louisiana and the American Red Cross of Louisiana are partnering together to provide financial assistance to help Hurricane Laura evacuees return to their home communities. Countless evacuees sought refuge in Jefferson and Orleans parishes following the hurricane. The American Red Cross and its partners are still supporting nearly 8,000 evacuees in hotel shelters, over five weeks since the massive storm made landfall.
Qualified households could receive up to $450 in immediate financial assistance to support them on their road to recovery. The Red Cross is using damage information that has been collected and verified through its government partners to identify qualified households. Households with major damage classifications will receive an invitation to complete an application through an email, text message or phone call directly from the Red Cross over the next several weeks. UWSELA’s $95,000 grant to Red Cross to fund the partnership was made possible through support from Entergy Corporation, the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, LOOP, Greater New Orleans Foundation and generous individuals throughout Southeast Louisiana and around the country.
Michael Williamson, UWSELA President and CEO says this modest gesture won’t make these households whole again, but they know the families will take comfort in the ability to get back to their loved ones in their communities and begin the rebuilding process.
