Homes for Katrina - Roles and Responsibilities

The Person Offering room in their home to those in need will be responsible for:

· agreeing to background check and waiver

· entering information about their offering into system

· agreeing to placement of survivor(s)

· participating in monitoring, if agreed to by both parties, by network of trust group

· helping the survivor placed get in contact with local relief organizations to get any financial, medical or emotional support they may need.

The Person in Need of a home (survivor) will be responsible for:

· registering with FEMA and/or Red Cross

· contacting relief organization or group working alongside a relief organization

· agreeing to background check and waiver

· providing information to volunteer

· agreeing to placement with person offering home

· participating in monitoring, if agreed to by both parties, by network of trust group

The Relief Organization Volunteer will be responsible for:

· verifying the survivor(s) is a victim of Katrina in need of a home (fema case #, zipcode in affected area)

· ensuring that the survivor(s) are registered with FEMA, if not go to http://www.fema.gov/register.shtm and assisting them in registering

· entering information for survivor into system and performing or requesting background check

· reviewing search results that meet needs with survivor(s) and assist in selection of offering

· getting contact information for offering selected and contacting person offering to collect information for background check

· confirming background checks on both parties are cleared

· contacting person offering home with survivor and facilitating discussion to ensure a good match is made for both parties (see guidelines)

· confirming agreement by both parties and have both parties sign release forms

· verifying releases signed and marking offering and need as filled in system

· assisting in arranging transportation (try airlines first (continental offering free flights), then Greyhound, then refugee railroad or katrinacaravan.org)

· providing a list of state and local resources in the area placed to the survivor (including job resources – workforce, manpower, etc.)

· contacting local Red Cross, United Way and/or Salvation Army in area placed to ensure they get the financial, medical and/or emotional support they may need.

· contacting network of trust group in area, if desired by survivor (see listing)

· ensure that placement is tracked in appropriate system and the privacy of the survivor is protected

The Background Check Organization will be responsible for:

· receiving information on those offering and survivors

· running background checks on those offering* and survivors**

· entering verification status on each person checked into system

*check on those offering is for references and for criminal/sexual offender

**check on those in need is for criminal/sexual offender records, fema case number, zipcode in affected areas

The Network of Trust Group in area of home offered will be responsible for:

· receiving information on placements in their area

· assisting with placement as able (transportation, move in, food, other necessities)

· monitoring placement if agreed to by both parties