Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Houstonians

To All Houstonians and Community Partners,

In the aftermath of a natural disaster of unprecedented proportions, the people of Houston have inspired the nation with their determination, selflessness, and camaraderie. Hurricane Harvey has affected us all deeply, and the road to recovery will surely be a long one. We can find hope, however, in the ways in which Houstonians of all ethnic, racial, national, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds have come together to help one another. This unity in diversity is one of the things that makes Houston such a special city. Our office is here to offer special support to the thriving immigrant community that forms such an integral part of this city and to help immigrants to address the unique challenges they face in the wake of this natural disaster.

For our community partners, we recognize the critical role you play in the process of helping Houstonians recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey. Non-profit and community-based organizations are on the front lines of service delivery across Houston, and we want to ensure that you have the information and resources you need to help your communities recover.

This guide—which will soon be available as an app—provides detailed information about the types of federal, state, and local disaster-assistance services available and where you can go to access those services. Although some of the resources are restricted to individuals or households with lawful immigration status, there are many services available to all Houstonians impacted by the storm.

The goal of this guide is to help you better understand the disaster assistance services for which you or those around you may be eligible, as well as the steps you can take to connect to these services. Please share this guide with those in your community who you feel will benefit from the information.

Together, we are all on the long road to recovery. As we continually update and improve this guide, we ask that you share any additional resources, comments, or questions with us. You can contact our office at [email protected] or give us a call at (832) 393-1010. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to helping Houstonians in need. Sincerely, City of Houston Mayor’s Office of New Americans

Published at http://www.houstontx.gov/na/Harvey-Resource-Guide.pdf