$500,000 in Hurricane Grants Awarded to Texas Nonprofits

Stamford, Conn. — Feb. 12, 2018 — Americares has awarded over $500,000 to five nonprofit organizations in southeast Texas providing health services to Hurricane Harvey survivors. Grants ranging from $15,000 to $250,000 were awarded to repair storm damage, support mental health services and provide medical care for Texans left homeless by the storm.

The health-focused relief and development organization sought funding proposals that would restore health services and improve access to care in storm-damaged communities. Priority was given to projects benefitting low-income residents, the uninsured, the disabled, the elderly and children.

“Our Hurricane Harvey Relief Program focuses on restoring access to care for the most vulnerable storm survivors,” said Americares Vice President of Emergency Programs Kate Dischino. “We are working with nonprofit organizations with strong ties to their local communities to ensure families in need can receive critical medical and mental health services to support their recovery.”

The grant awards include:

• $250,000 to Refugio County Memorial Hospital in Refugio, Texas, to offset the cost of repairing storm damage to the 20-bed hospital—the only medical center that provides emergency and primary care services in the county, serving a population of 7,000, including many low-income residents without health insurance;
• $100,000 to Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Inc. to hire a licensed mental health professional to provide counseling services for children and adults with disabilities and their caregivers affected by the hurricane;
• $92,985 to Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston to provide medical, dental, mental health and behavioral health services for low-income residents left homeless by the storm;
• $87,632 to Spindletop Center in Beaumont, Texas, to repair or replace 11 vehicles damaged in the hurricane that transport staff working in storm-damaged communities and allow area residents with mental health needs and physical or intellectual disabilities to participate in programs;
• And $15,000 to Smithville Community Clinic in Smithville, Texas, to hire a part-time case manager to link survivors in storm-damaged communities with medical care and mental health services, as well as assistance finding housing, employment and other services.

Americares Hurricane Harvey Relief Program is meeting survivors’ health needs in storm-damaged communities from Corpus Christi to Port Arthur. An Americares emergency response team arrived in Texas in late August as the storm was approaching and has since established a base of operations in Houston to oversee its relief and recovery programs. To date, Americares has provided $12 million in aid for Harvey survivors, including medicine and supplies, health programs and programmatic support, in partnership with 55 nonprofit organizations.

Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, increase access to medicine and medical supplies, improve and expand clinical services, prevent disease and promote good health. Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, Americares has provided more than $15 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.