Project Recovery for Mississippi

PHASE DOWN-
Project Recovery workers will be leaving all counties except Pearl River, Hancock, Harrison, Stone, George and Jackson soon.

Project Recovery’s Helpline will still be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For assistance, please call 1-866-856-3227.

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Project Recovery was created in 2005 to provide free crisis counseling services to individuals and groups affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. This web site is designed to help you cope with the after effects of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Project Recovery Closing Down In April 2007

Project Recovery is closing down in April. Why? Because the person the Governor brought out of retirement to run the program wants to "retire" again and the Governor of Mississippi has chosen not to replace that person. Rather - he has opted to close the program.

This program has been instramental in doing the field work, going door to door on foot, assisting residents to deal with the emotional and traumatic ramifications of Katrina. And those affects have been overwhelming. I see it expressed in their tears and anger in my office daily. Many of these people are barely coping with life in the aftermath and in some cases - not coping at all.

If it were not for Project Recovery going door to door - many of these residents still would not have received help. They are reaching out to the poorest parts of the community, to the elderly, the illiterate, the mentally ill, and to those that have fallen out of the normal chanels for assistance. They have spent thousands of hours listening to those in distress - thus allowing me to continue to work towards housing solutions. I, personally, just do not have time, with the enormous client load that I have, to handle these cases. Nor do I have the counseling training. I can, and do, build homes. That is what I have training for and came to this county to accomplish.

I can not imagine trying to accomplish this task without having Project Reovery out there doing the footwork in the field, taking my calls for emergency crisis cases, or following up on clients who still, even today, choose not to come in for assistance.

We desperately need Project Recovery in Hancock County.

What is your organization going to do without Project Recovery out there in the field? If you feel that Project Recovery is an essential tool in the road to recovery - then write and call at the State level to have this ill conceived decision to close down Project Recovery reversed.

And to all those who are working at Project Recovery - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do every day. You are the best of what Katrina has produced! I thoroughly enjoy working with each and every one of you !

Kathleen Johnson
Director Katrina Relief
700 Tabor St., Waveland.
Office (228) 466-4630 / Cell (228) 209-8822
http://wavelandcitizensfund.org

Project Recovery has been developed to assist people in finding ways to cope with stress caused by Hurricane Katrina. As a result of the disaster, many people are facing hard times. This Web site has been created to serve as a means of support during the difficult times.
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Project Recovery provides free crisis counseling services through community outreach, public education and information and referral. The services are available to people affected directly or indirectly by Hurricane Katrina, such as the local community and family members. The project provides these services throughout affected communities, in remaining shelters, Disaster Recovery Centers and to anyone who requests the services. There are no medical or financial screening methods to qualify to receive services.

Project Recovery staff are available to individuals, families, community groups, businesses and service organizations at no charge for the purpose of realizing wholeness and coping with the devastation of the hurricane.
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Project Recovery is here to listen and help you cope with the effects of Hurricane Katrina on your life.
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For County Contacts:
http://www.projectrecovery.ms.gov/mdmh/ProjRecovery.nsf/webpages/Main-Contact-Info_Main-Contact-Info?OpenDocument