18 months after Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana, the American Red Cross continues to help people affected by the powerful storm which caused billions of dollars in damage and changed lives forever.

Through the extraordinary support of its donors, the Red Cross raised $523 million, including the value of critical donated goods and services, to help Harvey survivors. Now, 18 months later, the Red Cross has already spent or made commitments to spend about 88 percent of these funds on emergency relief and recovery assistance that has provided assistance of $230 million in immediate assistance and approximately $99 million in long-term assistance to more than 620,000 households. The remaining funds will be used to continue to provide recovery assistance to people whose homes were destroyed or sustained major damage and to support community-based recovery services in the most heavily affected areas of the Gulf Coast.

HURRICANE HARVEY RECOVERY GRANTS

The Red Cross has awarded $62 million in strategic grants to nonprofit and faith-based partners so that they can address survivor’s humanitarian, disaster-caused needs. Grants have been awarded to 145 organizations providing services across the Texas Gulf Coast, including housing repair and rebuilding; behavioral health and spiritual counseling; legal advocacy, financial counseling, and assistance for people with access and functional needs; outreach to underserved households; dedicated support for Long-Term Recovery Committees; and funding to address people’s unmet needs.

“We are pleased to fund the rebuilding of our community through local nonprofit organizations in the most impacted counties so they can continue their work assisting those recovering from this devastating storm,” said Henry Van de Putte, Regional Chief Executive for the American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast.  “This recovery requires the involvement of many skilled recovery service providers to ensure survivors receive timely and coordinated services.”

The YMCA of Southeast Texas received a Hurricane Harvey Recovery Grant to provide 100 Harvey-impacted families in Port Arthur access to YMCA programs including sports, fitness, spiritual care and after school care.  Brittany Mercer, YMCA Childcare Director, shares that members stop her often to share their success stories. One member who received a sponsored membership recently shared that before receiving the assistance she couldn’t afford daycare for her newly adopted niece.  Since joining the Y, she sees friends who are members and takes Zumba classes. She is also happy to have after school care and shared that her niece never wants to leave her “new school.” A complete list of grantees working to help impacted Gulf Coast communities provide hope and help to thousands of families in the wake of Hurricane Harvey can be found at www.redcross.org/harveyrecoverygrants.