Hurricane Survivors' Task Force Steering Committee Report
The steering committee of the task force met on Friday, October 20 at 10 am.
Basic Needs Report:
Need Updated Resource Guides. Jennifer McNulty from United Way will work to update information on 2-1-1.
Housing: Checking to find out how many affordable and transitional beds are available.
FEMA is setting up in Tavares for a two-day event.
Checking into a Rotary program called the Box Project.
Finance/Volunteer Committee:
United Way has raised $70,795 for Hurricane Recovery needs. The Finance Committee will appoint a Grants Committee to identify need and decide what to fund.
Discussed needing a Hub for Jobs like a 2-1-1 center to help evacuees find jobs.
Education Committee:
Marc Dodd reported that 55 students from Puerto Rico are in Lake County Schools, spread throughout the district.
Bus drivers are needed.
School nurse needed.
Funding assistance for students’ school needs.
Dealing with comfort level of students transitioning to Lake County.
Communications and Marketing Committee:
Discussed setting up a call center, website and Facebook page (already operational).
Need information from all resources and committees in order to communicate and market the resources effectively. This is why it is paramount that all committee submit a well-written report, like the one the Employment Committee submitted.
Employment Committee:
On October 19th at 9:45a.m. - 10:45a.m. we met to review the challenges and solutions for the Employment Committee.
Members Present: Paula Whetro, Juan Martinez, Linda Cowels, Maureen Osborne and Nilda Blanco from Career Source.
We allowed Ms. Blanco to inform us about the funding that Career Source received through the Department of Economic Development and Career Source to provide intern positions of 12 weeks for residents that are unemployed and bilingual. She informed us that the funds Project Restore is used for 5 counties: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Sumter and Seminole. She mentioned that they had 200 employment slots and approximately 153 were already taken. Career Source is already working with agencies in Orange and Osceola counties.
Linda asked about the possibility of hiring some of the hurricane refugees. Ms. Blanco informed her that they are seeking additional funds for those refugees but that it may be possible. She mentioned that if a nonprofit wanted to hire a bilingual person to assist with humanitarian efforts that the nonprofit must have an agreement executed and comply with the requirements such as providing a Job Description for the positions needed. There are 3-month assignments at $15 per hour. However, it could take a 1-2 week process to get all criteria and background requirements finalized. They have already hired 7 evacuees into the program.
Our committee members divided work between us - Ms. Paul from Building Blocks will get with the South Lake Chamber to inquire about having a Job Fair with the assistance of Career Source and other organizations. Mr. Martinez will conduct research among colleagues and those in the police field. Ms. Blanco informed us that if clients do not have transportation, that Career Source could travel to our organizations to conduct any required processes to enroll the client. They will be contacting the Department of Labor for additional funds to assist with the refugees from Puerto Rico. Career Source is working to recruit in the S.E. Orlando airport. The purpose of the Project Restore is to provide assistance to newly arrived refugees by helping them find employment to maintain self-sufficiency. They are able to match the refugee with the appropriate skills to local employers.
We discussed that more churches are needed during this time to work with nonprofit organizations and businesses to help provide resources, shelter, etc.
We will gather a list of agencies that offer free ESOL classes and a list of those that offer classes for a fee.
Anointed Community Services is currently recruiting bi-lingual volunteers and those who have experienced providing ESOL training.
We will identify the intake centers that offer job preparation education and training, esol, transportation and clothing to present to United Way.
The president of Granny Nannies informed us that they are offering a (one-week) Home Health Aide Certificate program for those who are bilingual and wish to go into Home Health Aide field.
Mr. Martinez informed us of a woman who wants to come to Florida but has no family here. Ms. Linda agreed to send a list of shelters to Mr. Martinez. It was mentioned that we need update listings of all the services in which refugees will need.
Ms. Linda asked Ms. Blanco to attend the UW meeting tomorrow at 10am to explain the employment services that they are offering.
Next Steering Committee Meeting
is scheduled for November 3 at 10 am at the Community Foundation of South Lake.
