Getting Help After Harvey

If you were impacted by Hurricane Harvey, please see below for important information on applying for assistance.


How to get help through Catholic Charities:

Call the Disaster Recovery offices at 713.874.6664 to inquire about assistance or make an appointment to meet with a case manager. Learn more about Catholic Charities Disaster Recovery Services.

Applying for FEMA Individual Assistance

Forty counties in Southeast Texas have received Major Disaster Declaration on August 25, 2017 as a result of Hurricane Harvey. If you live within the designated counties, you may be eligible for individual assistance through FEMA. Go to FEMA.gov for more information. To apply for assistance, you need the following:

  1. Social Security number (either the primary applicant or a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident or “Qualified Alien”
  2. Address of the location where the damage occurred (pre-disaster address)
  3. Current mailing address
  4. Current telephone number
  5. Insurance information
  6. Total household annual income
  7. Routing and account number for your checking or savings account (this allows FEMA to directly transfer disaster assistance funds into your bank account).
  8. A description of your disaster-caused damage and losses

After you complete the application, which can be done online, you will get a registration ID number. Be sure to write down this number so that you can check the status of your application.

APPLY ONLINE HERE

Call the FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362 (Mon to Friday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. EST)

You have 60 days from the date a declaration for individual assistance to apply for assistance. The 60-day period is ending on October 24, 2017. APPLY NOW!

Other helpful websites:
HoustonRecovers.org (in multiple languages)
Texas Hurricane Center
Harris County Recovery Network
Better Business Bureau Disaster Relief Support

Download our flyer for additional resources (English and Spanish) [PDF]

Immigration Legal Assistance

Catholic Charities St. Francis Cabrini Center provides high-quality services to individuals otherwise unable to obtain legal representation. Our clients encompass victims of human trafficking, those separated from their families and eager to be reunited, and those who fear persecution in their country of origin.

Attend a charla
We provide on-site information sessions called Charlas, free of charge, three times per month. Charla attendees learn about immigration laws, and afterwards have the opportunity for a free consultation with an Immigration Attorney or Accredited Representative. Free Citizenship Workshops are also offered each month and staff provides citizen application assistance.

View our calendar for the charla schedule, or call 713-874-6570 for more information.

Additional resources
The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative has compiled a list of helpful numbers and resources to food pantries, shelters, legal assistance and much more. Access the guide here.

Food Assistance

Spend $10 in SNAP Benefits and Get an Extra $10 Free Now Through November at City of Houston Farmers Markets!

The Healthy Houston Bucks will double SNAP and D-SNAP benefits at the Get Moving Houston Farmers’ Markets in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The Healthy Houston Bucks Program will be implemented at Houston Health Department Multi-Service Centers located in neighborhoods impacted by the storm.

Customers who use their SNAP and D-SNAP benefits to purchase SNAP-eligible items from the market will receive the equivalent of that amount in Healthy Houston Bucks to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. A customer that spends $10 in SNAP benefits for example, will receive an extra $10 for a total of $20 to spend at the market. SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of the USDA.

Visit gohealthyhouston.org/farmers market for dates and times.

Additional Assistance

Call the Texas Emergency Helpline at 2-1-1 or visit www.unitedwayhouston.org/our-211-helpline to be connected with an agency that may be able to provide assistance.