FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release 05-022
Nov. 23, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO SERVE AS REFERRAL CENTER

As of November 28, 2005, at 5 p.m., the New York City Disaster Assistance Service Center (DASC) at 80 Centre St will no longer provide on-site services to Hurricane Katrina evacuees. The DASC will be remain open and staffed 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. through December 29, 2005, to provide referrals only. Katrina evacuees can continue to access City and other services through 311.

Since September 15, the City has served more than 2,100 families through the Katrina DASC. Staffed by representatives of several City, State, and federal agencies and disaster relief organizations, the center was set up to address the needs of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, such as housing, clothing, registering school age children for public schools, and financial recovery. In the last few weeks, the number of evacuees seeking assistance at the DASC has decreased significantly.

"As the number of new families visiting the DASC has dropped off, the City will transition to providing services to evacuees already in New York City through its regular channels," Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno said. "The City remains committed to helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. We encourage all evacuees who need help navigating the system to call 311 for City agency assistance or to sign up with a case manager through Catholic Charities at 888-744-7900."

In the wake of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) decision to stop paying for hotel accommodations for evacuees as of December 1, 2005, the City announced last week that it will fund an extension of hotel stays through December 31, 2005, for evacuees who are working with case management teams to secure permanent housing. Yesterday, FEMA announced it was extending its deadline for New York City to December 15, 2005. The NYC Department of Homeless Services has assigned a case management team to each hotel to help evacuees secure benefits and housing. All Katrina evacuees staying in FEMA-funded hotels should meet with their hotel's case management team as soon as possible to ensure their eligibility for the extension.

Evacuees who are not staying in FEMA-funded hotels and have not yet registered with a case manager should contact Catholic Charities at 888-744-7900 for assistance with housing, employment, and other referrals.

For more information about the City's efforts to support victims of Hurricane Katrina, call 311 or visit NYC.gov.

CONTACT: Jarrod Bernstein / Judith Graham (OEM) 718-422-4888; Angela Allen (DHS) 212-361-7973