Residents of Gulf Coast states who were displaced by Hurricane Ida can receive free hotel vouchers from the City of Little Rock.
The city began giving out vouchers on Tuesday, just days after the storm made landfall along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Kevin Howard, housing director for the City of Little Rock, says the response has been larger than anticipated.
“We didn’t know it was this many people in Arkansas coming up from Louisiana, Mississippi that were affected by the hurricane, but nevertheless we’ve been able to field those calls and try to assist these people,” Howard said.
He says the city has received roughly 1,500 calls for assistance, and will likely be able to place more than 100 families in hotels by Friday. The city has partnered with about 10 hotels in the area, Howard said, and the vouchers can only go to people who are within the city limits.
Individuals must call (501) 391-8570 and show a photo ID and current proof of residence in order to qualify for the vouchers. Howard says the city will cover an initial stay of three days, though each case is considered individually.
“We’re encouraging those victims to contact the [American] Red Cross. They’re providing fuel cards to assist them to get back to Louisiana where the State of Louisiana and the governor and the president have declared a disaster area, so they can get additional assistance there,” Howard said. “They can get with FEMA to discuss issues as far as assistance with their homes.”
Howard also urged members of the public to help provide food, water and other necessities, like personal protective equipment for the pandemic.
“We do have PPE and masks, so the city is providing that to them as well. But anything they can provide, clothing… they would need those type of items, anything that they feel would be necessary for a person that would be traveling that’s lost their home.”
The vouchers come out of about $47,000 initially allocated for the city’s homeless services, and additional funds can be allocated if needed. Those seeking to donate goods can contact Little Rock's Emergency Management Division by calling Matt Burks at (501) 569-4130 or Nathan Spicer (501) 569-4131.
