[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish - Assistance for Gustav victims

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish residents can apply 

for the state's Disaster Food Stamp Program

Three sites available in the metropolitan area

 

Governor Jindal announced the state's emergency food stamp program will be
active today, Tuesday, September 9, 2008. Individuals can call
1-888-524-3578 (1-888-LAHELPU) to get information about the program. 

The Department of Social Services has released an updated list of the
application sites where residents in 31 eligible parishes can go to apply
for the emergency help.

The parishes declared eligible for Disaster Food Stamps are: Acadia, Allen,
Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana,
Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston,
Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St.
James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany,
Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

The Bossier, Caddo and Ouachita Office of Family Support locations are able
to assist dislocated citizens from the above parishes.

The disaster benefit period for Hurricane Gustav is August 29, 2008 through
September 27, 2008.

The following Information Flyer provides general information regarding the
Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP), including information about impacted
parishes, disaster income limits, and maximum allotments.

What are the Basic Eligibility Requirements?

Click on the below link for complete eligibility information:


http://www.dss.state.la.us/Documents/DSS/Hurricane_Documents/GustavDisasterF
oodStampeligibility.pdf
<http://www.dss.state.la.us/Documents/DSS/Hurricane_Documents/GustavDisaster
FoodStampeligibility.pdf>  
 

*	You and your family must have been living in one of the parishes
included in the DFSP Disaster Area on August 29, 2008. 
*	Your household must meet the income limits to qualify to receive
benefits from the DFSP.   
*	Your household must have experienced one or more of the following as
a direct result of Hurricane Gustav:    

	*	Loss of Food; 
	*	Damage to, or destruction of, your home or self-employment
business; 
	*	Disaster-related expenses for which you do not expect to be
reimbursed during the disaster benefit period; or 

Loss or inaccessibility of income, including reduction or termination of
income, or a significant delay in receipt of income due to the disaster. 

      What to expect from the application process? 

*	There will probably be lines. Households are encouraged to send
their healthiest member. 
*	You will be interviewed by an agency representative who will
determine if you and your family qualify to receive Disaster Food Stamps. 
*	If found eligible, you will be provided an EBT card and benefits
will be loaded on the card within 72 hours. 

      At the application interview you will be expected to provide:

*	Verification of identify of the head of the household and that of an
authorized representative who is applying on behalf of the head of
household. You can provide a driver's license, picture ID, work or school
ID, voter registration card,  pay stubs, birth certificate, an ID for health
benefits or another assistance or social services program. 
*	Names and Social Security Numbers of all persons residing in your
household on 8/29/08. 
*	Verification of you and your household's residence on 8/29/08. 
*	Information regarding income and bank accounts for all members in
your houshold. It would be helpful if you could provide pay stubs, pay
statements, and/or bank statements. 

The following is the official DFSP Application Form and may be downloaded
and printed. You may be able to expedite the interview process if you
complete the application prior to coming to one of the application
processing locations.
DO NOT FAX THE DISASTER FOOD STAMP APPLICATION FORM TO DSS - A FACE TO FACE
INTERVIEW IS REQUIRED. YOU MAY BRING THE COMPLETED APPLICATION TO THE FACE
TO FACE INTERVIEW AT THE SITE LOCATION.

Click the below link for a copy of the Disaster Food Stamps Assistance
Application Form: 

http://www.dss.state.la.us/Documents/DSS/Hurricane_Documents/DIS01GFrmApplDi
sasterFSAssistance.pdf
<http://www.dss.state.la.us/Documents/DSS/Hurricane_Documents/DIS01GFrmApplD
isasterFSAssistance.pdf>  
 

The following locations will be available for accepting applications in the
New Orleans metropolitan area. All sites are open from 8 AM to 6PM, starting
Tuesday September 9th unless otherwise noted. Sites will be open for seven
consecutive days. 

There are NO locations open in St. Bernard Parish. Here is a list of ALL the
sites located in the New Orleans metropolitan area: 

*Johnny Jacobs Playground, 5851 5th Ave., Marrero, LA *St. Maria Goretti
Church, 7300 Crowder Blvd., New Orleans, LA *St. Patrick's Family Life
Center, 28698 Hwy. 23, Port Sulphur, LA



Click the below link for more information and a list of all of the sites in
all of the affected parishes:
 

http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/dss/Disaster_Food_Stamp_Program_.html
<http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/dss/Disaster_Food_Stamp_Program_.htm
l>  

 

For the latest information on the recovery from Hurricane Gustav, visit
emergency.louisiana.gov <http://emergency.louisiana.gov>  or call the
state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message
with the most up-to-date information.

 

###

 

 

 

Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are
encouraged to register for assistance

Expect access to those areas to be restricted on Saturday in St. Bernard
Parish

 

Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are
encouraged to register for assistance by calling the toll-free registration
line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585) which is open 24 hours a
day seven days a week. Applicants also may register on-line at www.fema.gov
<http://www.fema.gov/ <http://www.fema.gov/> > .

 

Currently there are no Disaster Recovery Centers scheduled for St. Bernard
Parish.  However, Disaster Recovery Center staff can answer questions about
registration for disaster assistance and hazard mitigation, help with
disaster loan applications and provide information and contacts for other
programs.  Residents are encouraged to register prior to visiting a Disaster
Recovery Center.

 

Officials remind affected residents who have already filled out damage
report forms with the state, parish emergency managers or voluntary agencies
that they must register with FEMA at the above numbers or Web site to be
considered for federal assistance.


 

U.S. Small Business Administration representatives at the Disaster Recovery
Centers will meet individually with each applicant to provide assistance in
completing his or her disaster loan application and to accept completed
disaster loan applications.  Returning the applications is an essential part
of the disaster recovery process even for individuals who do not want a
loan.

 

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of
all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for losses not fully covered
by insurance. The SBA may loan up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and
up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Up to $2 million is
available for uncompensated business disaster losses.

 

Residents and business owners can receive information about SBA disaster
loans and help with the application process by calling the SBA at
1-800-659-2955 or visiting the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov
<http://www.sba.gov/ <http://www.sba.gov/> > .

 

 

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