Alexandria, Egypt, Sep 30, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Catholic Charities USA has sent a $392,000 grant to Catholic Charities of Venice in Florida to support the agency's long-term hurricane recovery efforts, which will include temporary and permanent housing, mental health counseling, financial counseling, job placement and outreach to migrant farm workers.
Hurricane Charley devastated the 10-county area served by Catholic Charities of Venice in August. Many homes and business were destroyed and about 50,000 families were displaced. About 60 percent of the residents lost their homes in Desoto and Hardee Counties alone.
Catholic Charities USA sent the agency $20,000 in emergency grants several weeks ago to help meet immediate and basic needs. Recovery efforts have been hampered by hits from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. The new sum is earmarked for reconstruction and long-term needs.
"This is going to be a long sustained recovery process. It could take possibly two years or more because so many buildings, homes, and crops were devastated," said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, president of Catholic Charities of Venice. "We need to get people back into their homes, back to work, and feeling secure and safe again."