TMO Partners with Red Cross to Ensure Delivery of Aid to Harvey Survivors
One month after TMO leaders and clergy publicly questioned why Red Cross Immediate Assistance funds were denied to thousands of families that met the criteria, the CEO of Red Cross Texas Gulf Division resigned among criticisms about undelivered aid. Within days, top leadership from Red Cross met with TMO to ensure that aid will be delivered to families in need.
One month ago, Helen Mott, a parishioner at Our Mother of Mercy, was denied $400 in cash assistance from Red Cross even though she had had to evacuate her uninhabitable home. Because Red Cross offered one of the few cash assistance resources available at the time, TMO organized a press conference at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, calling on them to ensure that families who needed these funds most would receive them.
At that press conference, TMO leader Charles Turner asked Red Cross to "take an extra step and work with community groups like ours and open up lines of communication so we can help people during this recovery process."
Red Cross is now responding to that challenge and expressing willingness to coordinate efforts with TMO. Red Cross estimates that approximately 1.5 million families might have been wrongfully denied and is now working to ensure that families that qualify for assistance receive the aid they need.
TMO Asks Red Cross Why So Many are Denied Assistance
As TMO leaders and clergy worked with families working to rebuild their lives after Hurricane Harvey, one issue they kept hearing about was confusion about Red Cross Immediate Assistance funds. Helen Mott, a parishioner at Our Mother of Mercy, was denied $400 in cash assistance from the Red Cross even though she had to evacuate her uninhabitable home.
Because the Red Cross offers one of the few cash assistance resources available at this time, TMO organized a press conference, at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, calling on them to ensure that families who need these funds most will receive them.
"We are asking that the Red Cross would clarify their application and appeals process. We also ask that the Red Cross would take an extra step and work with community groups like ours and open up lines of communication so we can help people during this recovery process," explained TMO leader Dr. Charles Turner.
American Red Cross Representatives Respond to Why People Aren't Getting Approved for $400 Assistance Package, NewFix CW39
Even Faith leaders Are Criticizing the Red Cross for Denying Flood Victims $400, Houston Press
Red Cross under Fire From Flood Victims, Houston Public Media
Afectados Por Harvey se Declaran Frustrados Con la Cruz Roja, Univision