Tuesday, October 25, 2005

ACORN Katrina Survivors Association Rallies at FEMA Headquarters

News Advisory:

 

WHAT: ACORN Rally at FEMA Headquarters

 

WHEN: Oct. 26, at 12:15 PM

 

WHERE: Courtyard of FEMA Headquarters, 500 C Street, S.W.

 

WHO: Survivors of Hurricane Katrina who are now living in Baton Rouge, Dallas and Houston and other ACORN Members

 

DETAILS:

ACORN Katrina Survivors Association Members will hand deliver a message to FEMA Acting Director R. David Paulison tomorrow afternoon asking him to meet with them and their sisters and brothers in key places where survivors are concentrated, including Baton Rouge, Houston and Dallas to talk about what must be done so that FEMA turns itself around and responds fairly to survivors' needs.

 

Katie Neason is one of the survivors visiting Washington, D.C., she evacuated to Dallas, Texas, the day before Hurricane Katrina hit. Katie contacted FEMA right after the Hurricane but has yet to receive assistance. "I called FEMA on September 9th to ask them what happened and they said that the check was sent to New Orleans and they'd have to wait until it was returned by the postal service," says Katie. "Six weeks later I still don't have my check."

 

The AKSA members' fundamental view is that New Orleans area residents, especially low and moderate-income people, must have a voice in decision making about relief and reconstruction. Survivors demand the right of return and the means to take care of their families and themselves as they work to put their lives back together. The city we rebuild must have enough for everyone, no one should be shut out of the New New Orleans.

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ACORN is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 175,000 member families organized into 800 neighborhood chapters in 80 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our members.

 

Its priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools. ACORN achieves these goals by building community organizations that have the power to win changes -- through direct action, negotiation, legislation, and voter participation. ACORN is an acronym, and each letter should be capitalized. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

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