Welcoming the survivors of Hurricane Katrina to our City and commending the City, the Philadelphia Housing Authority, and the School District of Philadelphia for their efforts to help individuals and families affected by this tragedy.

WHEREAS, the Mayor, the Managing Director, and Robert V. Hess, Deputy Managing Director of Special Housing and Director of the Office of Emergency Shelter and Services, Carl R. Greene, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, and Paul Vallas, Chief Executive Officer of the School District of Philadelphia, have led the effort to aid Hurricane Katrina survivors; and

WHEREAS, Carl R. Greene and the Philadelphia Housing Authority, recognized nationally for award winning initiatives, are planning to visit Texas to aid in their housing efforts for the hurricane victims; and

Whereas, Hurricane Katrina is

the most devastating natural disaster our country has faced in modern times; and

Whereas, Hurricane Katrina has displaced more than 500,000 Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama residents; and

Whereas, many people are missing, while hundreds of people have died; and

Whereas, tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed, leaving thousand of people homeless; and

Whereas, people are without food and medicine; and

Whereas, Philadelphia has developed a nationally-recognized model in recent years for treating and preventing homelessness; and

Whereas,

The Mayor, with the help of many City Departments, has launched a major relief effort, named “

Project: Brotherly Love

,” to help alleviate the horrendous human suffering and to avert some of the tragedies occurring daily in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coasts of Mississippi and Alabama; and

Whereas, upon knowledge of our fellow American citizens in dire straits, the City of Philadelphia immediately placed our law enforcement, medical and emergency management officials in touch with federal and state authorities offering assistance and resources; and

Whereas,

“Project: Brotherly Love”

has placed Philadelphia among the forefront of American cities responding to this deepening disaster; and

WHEREAS,

“Project: Brotherly Love”

is an emergency federally funded program, separate and apart from current homeless and housing programs; and

WHEREAS, all residents on current lists throughout the City will not be negatively affected or lose their places on said lists; and now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA THAT:

We welcome the survivors of Hurricane Katrina to our City and commend the City, the Philadelphia Housing Authority, and the School District of Philadelphia for their efforts to help individuals and families affected by this tragedy.

End