"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." {Carl Jung}

BPSOS' Hurricane Ike Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) Team and Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang

It has been over a year since Hurricane Ike devastated the Texas Gulf Coast, and left thousands of families and individuals homeless, unemployed, traumatized and dispirited. Just as the organization had done after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans three years prior, BPSOS-Houston took on the role as First Responder, assisting those affected to navigate the government disaster aid process, replace immigration documents, address gaps in provided services and strengthen weakened communal support systems. In just a few weeks after the storm, 1,300 families came to us for assistance.

As the weeks became months, families continued coming to our office in large numbers, with needs that evolved from immediate assistance to long-term recovery. In the spirit of the organization's mission, BPSOS-Houston looked for ways to assist these families, but in methods that would empower and motivate them to rebuild their lives successfully. Partnering with the Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (LSSDR) and Neighborhood Centers Inc. (NCI), BPSOS became a part of a statewide initiative to help rebuild the Texas Gulf Coast: one client, one family and one home at a time. The Hurricane Ike Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) was fully established in 2009 and led to the creation of over 60 jobs at BPSOS and four office locations throughout Southeast Texas.

"BPSOS has always championed for the rights of those in need," said Danielle Bolks, BPSOS DCMP Program Director. "Partnering with LSSDR and NCI provided our organization with a greater opportunity to reach out to immigrant communities throughout the Gulf Coast, who because of their limited English, may not have been able to access the services and assistance available to them."

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Updates:

• BPSOS Recognizes Trinh Nguyen and Tony Ha as DCMP Stars for October

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