Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund Update

Transcription

1 Marsha Pitts Phillips, Greater Twin Cities United Way pitts (612) Christelle Langer, The Minneapolis Foundation (612) Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund Update (Minneapolis, MN, July 29, 2008) The Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund has, to date, collected contributions totaling $1.255 million to aid survivors of the I 35W bridge collapse and has distributed more than $1.1 million to provide financial aid and services to the survivors and families of those who perished in the collapse. The Fund was created August 3, 2007, to provide an efficient way to pool thousands of contributions from the public, and to distribute the money effectively to help those most in need. Distributions from Minnesota Helps are made as grants to agencies that provide services to the survivors or that pay bills on their behalf. Nearly $244,000 has been granted to agencies that are providing a variety of services, such as group counseling and activities for the children on the school bus, conducting trauma and grief support groups, and helping families with translation services. An additional $1.01 million has been distributed to pay for medical bills, living expenses, transportation costs, medical equipment, physical therapy, and other expenses for 110 individuals or families. Currently, $154,000 remains in the Fund. One hundred percent of the money contributed will be distributed to aid survivors. Soon after the collapse, as part of the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County disaster response efforts, a Long Term Recovery Committee* (LTRC) was formed to coordinate case by case assistance to individuals and families. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Hennepin County, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Pillsbury United Waite House and Catholic Charities are represented on the LTRC. Survivors seeking assistance are assigned a resource coordinator from one of the LTRC agencies through United Way The resource coordinator helps assess their needs, connects them to resources, and applies for financial assistance as needed. The LTRC meets each week to review assessments and financial requests, and then recommends that a grant be given to the agency, which pays bills on behalf of the individual or family. Some survivors have not applied for assistance. About the Fund: The Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund was established with $225,000 contributed by The Minneapolis Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, McKnight Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. The Fund pooled contributions from the public and grew rapidly to $1.255 million. Contributions ranged from less than $5 to $100,000, and came from foundations, corporations and their employees, faith groups, community organizations, fundraisers, and thousands of individuals from Minnesota and around the nation. The Minneapolis Foundation, a community foundation established in 1915, oversees and administers the Fund. The Minnesota Helps website, provides updates about contributions and distributions as well as information to survivors about how to apply for grants. (more)

2 Minnesota Helps Fund Update (page 2 of 2) *A Long Term Recovery Committee is created in the aftermath of an incident or disaster to coordinate community resources to help survivors reach a point of stability. It provides a means to distribute private contributions to cover immediate expenses not covered by insurance or other resources, and does not provide for long term disability or lost wages. ### Attachments: Minnesota Helps Contribution/Distribution Timeline Contributions by Source Distributions to Aid Survivors and Families Frequently Asked Questions

3 Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund Contributions and Distributions Total Contributions: $1,255,234 Total remaining in Fund: $154,125 as of 7/25/ Contributions Grants approved: $1,101,109 as of 7/25/ Fund Created on 8/3/07 with $225,000 provided by seven initial funders* Distributions *Initial Funders: Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minnesota Community Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation, Thrivent

4 Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund TM Distribution of Grants Total Distributions: $1.101 million July 28,2008 Remaining Funds 12% Support for Services 20% Daily Living Expenses 36% Transportation 17% Financial Support through LTRC Agencies for individuals and Families* $1,011,764 Daily Living Expenses Mortgage/rent, food, utilities, basic needs, etc. Transportation Car repair/replacement, bus fare, rental, etc. Medical Expenses not covered by insurance Miscellaneous Childcare, phone, tutoring, loan payments, etc. *Approximate distribution by category Miscellaneous 5% Medical 10% Contributions by Source Total Contributions: $1.255 million July 28, 2008 Community Groups, $21,882 Fundraisers, $43,891 Churches/Religious Groups, $62,134 Individuals, $452,233 Businesses/Business Associations, $275,341 Foundations, $174,752 Initial Funders, $225,000

5 Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund Frequently Asked Questions July 29, 2008 What is the Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund? In response to the collapse of the I 35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August 1, and the resulting outpouring of public concern for the survivors, local foundations and organizations joined together to create the Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund (Minnesota Helps) to facilitate contributions to disaster relief efforts. This is a collaborative effort of some of the Greater Metro s major philanthropic institutions, including The Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Northwest Area Foundation, McKnight Foundation and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. What is the status of The Bridge Disaster Fund and how much money remains? Since August 2, 2007, more than $1.255 million has been contributed to the Bridge Disaster Fund, representing more than 1700 contributions (Monies were pooled from church and community fundraisers, cash, check and credit card, online, businesses, grants from charitable foundations and funds) Every contribution has been acknowledged whether individual or organization United Way contacted more than 100 families and individuals whose information was provided by authorities $1.12M has been granted to assist survivors either through agencies that provided services to groups of survivors or through the Long Term Recovery Committee, which worked with individuals and families to pay bills on their behalf. An estimated $154,000 remains in the fund. Once the monies are depleted, the Fund will be closed. 100% of the monies collected will be distributed to aid those affected by the collapse. Is money awarded directly to the survivors? No. The public entrusted Minnesota Helps with their donations, with the understanding that their contributions would be directed where needed most. Guidelines and a procedure to vet applications for funding to organizations providing group services were established. In addition, a process through which assistance to individuals could be provided was created. Both processes were thoroughly reviewed by legal counsel to comply with best standards and practices. Once the guidelines for grants to organizations were established, Minnesota Helps issued a Request for Proposals (RFP). Organizations that provide services to groups of survivors, like Pillsbury Waite House, applied for grants. Their applications were reviewed by a committee of representatives from the Twin Cities grantmaking institutions, all of whom are experienced grant makers. To provide assistance to individuals, a Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC)* was created. Resource Coordinators (caseworkers) from the agencies represented on the committee were responsible for working with individuals and families, and were assigned cases by United Way The resource coordinators guided families and individuals through the entire application process and submitted the individual applications, along with receipts and unpaid bills to the LTRC. Applications were reviewed by the LTRC, which then granted requests to Minnesota Helps. Grant monies were used by the agency receiving the grant to pay bills on behalf of the survivors.

6 Minnesota Helps Fund FAQ (page 2 of 3) What have the funds been used for? The monies have been used to cover a wide range of needs, for example, mental health counseling, aid with transportation, medical expenses, and other related services. (See accompanying charts) Does Minnesota Helps or The Minneapolis Foundation give the monies directly to survivors? No. The Minnesota Helps Bridge Disaster Fund makes grants to agencies which pay bills on behalf of the survivors. The Minneapolis Foundation administers the Fund, pools contributions and distributes grants to the agencies. The Foundation does not work directly with the survivors and their families. How have survivors accessed the Fund? Survivors do not have direct access to the Minnesota Helps, however, each survivor and/or family was contacted by United Way which then assigned them a Resource Coordinator. The Resource Coordinator assisted them with the application process. Were there challenges for survivors in accessing the monies? The region has never experienced a tragedy of this kind, and it took a coordinated effort involving state Homeland Security, local law enforcement officials and nonprofits coming together in a delicate balance to protect the privacy of survivors and their families along with extending a helping hand. United Way is a 24 hour statewide referral service. Because of this fact, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak called upon it to take the lead in contacting individuals and families who were impacted by the August 1 bridge collapse. United Way 2 1 1, law enforcement and Minneapolis officials had to first verify identities and addresses of individuals impacted by the collapse. The extensive process required verifying names and contact information which included dealing with privacy law issues and challenges Partnership Liaison Bonnie Frazer led her team in reaching out to individuals from a comprehensive list created as a result of this effort. Once that process was completed, Mayor Rybak and Bonnie Frazer/United Way Partnership Liaison, drafted letters to individuals outlining services that were available. Continued outreach included letters and phone calls, and other outreach efforts Is this a Victim s Compensation Fund? No. The purpose of the Fund is to help survivors with their immediate needs, to pay bills, connect them to services and help them reach a point of stability. It is not, nor was it intended to be, compensation for lifelong loss of income. How is this fund different from the Survivors Compensation Fund set up by the State of Minnesota? Minnesota Helps provides short to mid term assistance and is funded entirely through private contributions. Survivors Compensation Fund. Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law a $38 million bill that will allow bridge survivors to receive up to $400,000 each. There is an additional pool of money of $12.6 million that survivors could access, depending upon the severity of their injuries and losses. The money comes from the State of Minnesota.

7 Minnesota Helps Fund FAQ (page 3 of 3) What organizations have been involved? This has been a historic collaborative effort of many philanthropic, nonprofit entities, and county, state and local government agencies. The initial funders created the process to distribute monies from the Fund. The agencies represented on the LTRC work with individuals and families to help them receive financial aid and connect to resources. Many nonprofit agencies, as well as government agencies are providing services to survivors. How was the Long Term Recovery Committee established? Long Term Recovery is a term used to describe the aid and services provided to victims of a disaster after the emergency response phase, with the goal of helping survivors recover. It helps with the transition from emergency to stability, and is not intended to provide lifelong support or compensation for lost wages. The LTRC was established as part of the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County s response to the collapse, and was charged with contacting survivors and connecting them to services and financial assistance. The Bridge collapse emergency response effort and the role of the LTRC is a model that is being used by other communities to respond to natural disasters. The disaster recovery currently underway in Hugo, Minnesota is an example.