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Needy Get Help In Facing Ernesto The Miami Herald 08-29-2006 Andrea Robinson, arobinson@MiamiHerald.com Kirby Morrow, clinical director at Lutheran Services Florida Housing Program, started getting calls to her South Dade office early Monday. On the line were distraught residents begging for emergency food and water to get them through the next few days of bad weather. "They're asking, `Can I come by and get food? What time do you distribute?'" Morrow said. "I'm telling them yes, come on in, this is what I'm offering." Morrow's program and other social service agencies jumped into high gear to help scores of low-income South Floridians get ready for storm Ernesto. Workers at the Cooperative Feeding Program in Fort Lauderdale spent most of the day handing out prepackaged emergency food boxes. "We probably have about 50 people right now waiting in line. It's been that way all morning," said Marti Forman, chief executive officer. More than 28 percent of Miami city residents live below the poverty level, defined as just above $19,000 a year for a family of four - making Miami the third-poorest large city in the country. About 17 percent of Miami-Dade residents and 10 percent of Broward residents live in poverty. This year, social service and government agencies had urged working and low-income families to prepare so they wouldn't be caught off guard. SUPPLY KITS Some agencies and elected officials passed out emergency food and supply kits beforehand. On Monday, Lutheran Services workers delivered boxes with soups, canned corn, boxed milk, energy bars, water, flashlights and tissues to families in its housing program. But aid from most disaster organizations, like the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, won't come until after Ernesto passes. Red Cross spokeswoman Erika Mayor said relief crews would be ready to set up in "the hardest hit areas" once they get an all-clear. OUTREACH TEAMS The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust sent outreach workers throughout the county at dawn to urge the homeless to get shelter. David Raymond, executive director, said shelters could take up to 200 additional people. Some street denizens, especially those suffering from mental illness, would refuse help - at least initially. "Tomorrow, they'll want to come in," Raymond said. "We don't want them to wait 'til the weather is so bad the outreach teams won't go out." The approaching storm heightened anxieties of low-income residents whose homes were battered in last year's hurricanes. Michael Salem, director of Steps in the Right Direction senior service agency, fielded calls from people whose roofs are covered with blue tarps. They're fretting whether or not to remain in their homes. His advice: Get to a shelter. Don't ride out the storm in a leaky house. WATER DAMAGE Yumika Golden, a fulltime student and mother of five children, didn't need a warning. Her North Dade rental is nearly "falling apart" from water damage suffered in Wilma. The duplex that Lutheran Services is helping her get to move into isn't ready. Her plan: The children will stay with Golden's grandmother while she stays with a friend. Morrow, clinical director with Lutheran, said Golden's duplex is supposed to be ready Sept. 1. She will push to get her and the children moved by today. "She is our main priority," Morrow said. "I can't have her dangling out there. No matter what she'll be safe. I'm not leaving anybody out there." HURRICANE HELP Here are some South Florida organizations and agencies that provide assistance and/or information to low-income residents:
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