Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) awarded a long-term disaster recovery grant to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (CCGH) in the amount of $367,884. Thanks to the generosity of individuals and families from local parishes across the country who contributed to the second collection offered by The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), CCUSA was able to provide support as CCGH continues to meet the needs of survivors from the 2016 spring and early summer flooding.
CCUSA is the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, committed to providing financial support to local Catholic Charities agencies in their effort to provide response and recovery assistance in the wake of natural disasters in the United States and its territories, through compassionate care and financial stewardship. The funds awarded are utilized to assist vulnerable populations impacted by a disaster, regardless of faith tradition, to have their immediate needs met, preserve their human dignity, and recover from the impact of the disaster.
Historic flooding impacted Southeast Texas in both spring and summer of 2016. Due to the accumulation of water, by June 2016 an estimated 8,500 homes were impacted by the flooding. Those most impacted lived in mobile home communities.
The primary activity of this grant will be to serve disaster survivors over three counties in providing comprehensive disaster case management services, including consumer workshops (on future mitigation grants, insurance regulations, and disaster preparedness), sheltering, legal services, and job placement assistance. CCGH plans to predominantly serve the impoverished, elderly, and those living with a disability.
CCUSA provides national reach through local presence, helping to ensure that the United States Catholic community is at the forefront of contributing to meet the disaster-related needs of survivors.