Our Stories
Gulfport, MS — August 29, 2007 — Below are several success stories made possible by case workers at the Gulf Coast Community Services Center (GCCSC) in Gulfport, MS. The GCCSC is a program of IRD-US, a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to reducing the suffering of the United States’ most vulnerable groups and providing the tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency. IRD-US is affiliated with IRD, an international organization headquartered in Arlington, VA.
Oliver West
Mr. Oliver West is a 102 year old man that lived in Gulfport with his wife, Hattie for 65 years. Mr. and Ms. West stayed in their home during the hurricane, which incurred substantial damage. Immediately after the storm, the West’s were taken to a long-term care facility as a temporary arrangement until their daughter could come back to care for them. Unfortunately, being separated from their family and absent from their neighborhood denied them the opportunity to sign up for assistance. They received no FEMA benefits.
Their home had flooded as a result of roof damage from a falling tree. After a GCCSC volunteer labor partner assessed the house, it was determined the home had to be demolished because it was uninhabitable and unsafe. Most of their contents had been destroyed as well. The home was demolished on January 5, 2007; Ms. West passed away the very same morning.
Since that time, IRD has worked with Mr. West to help him rebuild. Case manager Kimberly Picou was able to secure funding and volunteer labor to begin building a new home by October 2007, where he will live with his daughter, Dessie.
Annie James
Annie James is a 64 year-old woman who had moved back to her childhood home in Gulfport, MS four days before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Her mother had recently passed away and left her the home to Annie in her will. Her home suffered major damage during Katrina and was determined to be uninhabitable by the City of Gulfport; she has been living in a FEMA trailer on her property since shortly following. She is a single-income household and has no emergency money.
Ms. James' case was submitted to the GCCSC, and a volunteer labor partner helped demolish her now-uninhabitable home. IRD has successfully secured funding to rebuild her home and has provided $7,000 for new furniture once the home is completed.
Geraldine Payne
Geraldine Payne is a 68 year-old woman who bought her mobile home in 1969 after Hurricane Camille damaged her home in 1969. She also received some damaged to her mobile home through Hurricane Ivan, but it was easily repaired. Hurricane Katrina was not so friendly. Mrs. Payne's home was determined by FEMA to have substantial damage.
Ms. Payne began making repairs using her own limited income but suffered a major stroke in January 2006, and did not have the stamina, strength or financial resources available prior to the stroke. Ms. Payne’s case was presented to GCCSC and it was determined that she was eligible to receive a new one bedroom home. It was determined that building a home rather than trying to repair the mobile home would be safer and more cost effective. The mobile home was infested with cockroaches to the point where Ms. Payne slept in her car. IRD has been able to secure the funds to rebuild her home and return her to a safe, secure and sanitary environment.
Rosie Harper
Rosie Harper is a 50 year-old single woman living in Gulfport, MS. Ms. Harper’s home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and she lost her job. She has had to move in with her sister. Ms. Harper has undergone several surgeries since the hurricane including knee replacement and gynecological surgery. She is currently working through a temporary agency and does not have the means to rebuild her home. IRD has been able to secure funding and volunteer labor to rebuild a home for her.
The Kleins
Mr. and Mrs. Klein live in Bay St. Louis, Ms. He is 63 years old and she is 62. Mr. Klein has been disabled since 2002 and has been on a waiting list for a liver transplant. Insurance benefits were provided through Ms. Klein’s employer, Grand Casino, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The benefits ended as a result. Mr. and Ms. Klein evacuated for the storm. Because they could not travel far due to their health conditions, they took refuge in a hotel and returned home immediately after the storm. When they arrived, they realized their home had been destroyed including all of Mr. Klein’s medications, his dentures, and his car. The Klein’s did have homeowners insurance and used their insurance money and personal savings to rebuild their home which has taken the last two years. Currently, the Klein’s live off of Mr. Klein’s social security and a small amount of food stamps. Hurricane Katrina had a devastating affect on the financial security of the Klein family. They have used their savings to build their home, lost employment wages, and incurred large amounts of unexpected costs related to the hurricane recovery and now that they are uninsured – medical bills. Mr. Klein has been told that he cannot receive the liver he has anxiously waited for because his finances are not “under control” and he has unpaid medical bills. The reason for this is because the medication after a transplant is very expensive.
IRD has successfully presented an application for funding to pay the outstanding medical bills on the premise that if Hurricane Katrina had not taken Ms. Klein’s employment, they would have been insured and these bills would not have occurred. In addition, the extra money they did have has been used to rebuild their home.
(August 2007)