Crisis Relief and Disaster Relief Assistance

What we help with:
• Home repair due to disaster related crisis
• Clean-up/muck out assistance
• Targeted case management
• Referrals for other resources
•Clothing and household items

Some of the recipients are elderly, disabled, families with several children, individuals coming out of a domestic violence situation and people who have had an unexpected financial burden.

We also provide clothes, furniture, household items and school supplies when needed.  Our staff is able to link clients with other resources such as public housing and snap benefits  and connect them with other non-profits who are also able to help in time of need.   

What our participants do in return:
Unless the family has experienced a natural disaster or house fire, we ask that  a member of the family come volunteer at the mission in exchange for items needed. Many of the people we serve come with different skills that they are able to use to help us.

Why we do it this way:
Often times someone will come to do their service hours and they will posses a skill that we could really use such as painting, lawn mower repair, lawn care, artistic abilities, computer work, organizational skills, etc. This allows us, as the staff to work with those we serve, so that we are partners, not just an organization giving a hand out. When we build relationships with those that we work with, we create an atmosphere that is a partnership with our community where all parties work together for the good of each other.

We work to build a relationship with our clients. We get the opportunity to share the love of Christ while also helping them to meet their own physical needs. We are able to talk with them and see that while they came for assistance with a specific need, their real need might be a job. Then we are able to offer them the assistance of our Workforce Development Program. We want to help them find ways to come out of poverty. This is a more holistic approach to poverty alleviation than merely meeting a momentary need.

Who We Partner With:

  • We are an active member in the Floyd County Disaster Recovery Coalition, an agency that provides resources to non-profits who do disaster recovery work and aid to those who have been affected by a disaster.
  • AppalRed: An organization that offers free civil legal aid to low-income families and aid people in receiving FEMA assistance.
  • Various generous grantors who support local efforts for recovery and mitigation for disaster prone areas.
  • Kentucky VOAD: Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster Relief

 

Program History and Growth:

Since the historic flood which took place in Eastern Kentucky in July of 2022 St Vincent Mission has expanded its Disaster Relief Program, serving in partnership with the Floyd County Disaster Recovery Coalition to help address the disaster related unmet needs of the survivors in our Eastern Kentucky community.

In the past 3 years St. Vincent Mission has worked to diligently set in place processes that will allow us to respond to disasters immediately.  We have processes in place for starting a case management program that will allow us to asses survivors needs and respond to those needs immediately.  We also have tools and supplies on had that will allow us to aid families in recovery of personal effects and household items and to mitigate further damage to their homes by removing damaged/wet debris.