Help us Prepare for Hurricane Season

 

Your Donation will Make a Difference!

 Hurricane Irma ravaged all of Monroe County and a major portion of the State of Florida. New Hope has strict evacuation procedures governed by the State of Florida and the Federal Government. In accordance with these mandates, New Hope clients were not required to be evacuated. New Hope sustained relatively minor structural and wind damages. Flooding was minimal and quickly dealt with.

The aftermath of Hurricane Irma, however, took its toll on New Hope and the nearly 60 clients living in residential transitional housing. After Irma crashed through Homestead, electrical power was not restored for nearly a week. The kitchen had no electricity. Air conditioning and water heating were nonexistent. The situation rapidly deteriorated and became unsafe and unhealthy in just hours after the storm passed through. The clients had to be moved to temporary housing.

Clients were moved across town and in some cases even further away. This created logistical problems, transportation problems, medication management problems, family notification problems, psychological distress, substance abuse triggers and craving, PTSD triggers, adjustment issues and a host of stressors for clients and staff. Of course, transportation through areas with no power, no traffic lights and no highway lighting heightened distress and danger levels.

Purchasing and installing an emergency generator system moved to the top of the Board’s priority list. Requests for grants and funding for this project have already begun. An adequate emergency power source to maintain our client base in a safe and comfortable environment during hurricanes, other disasters or temporary losses of city electrical power is crucial.

The total cost to do this is approximately $75,000. Donations to help with this project are greatly appreciated.