COMMUNITY CENTER

2009 Results
In order to effectively fulfill our mission of providing necessary recovery services to hurricane
survivors, the Community Center has taken a unique two-fold approach. In addition
to being a direct service provider (food pantry, clothing bank, hot meals, books,
public phones, internet access & computer training), the Community Center works to
form alliances with a variety of resource agencies from across the greater New Orleans
5-parish area rather than attempting to meet all needs ourselves. We provide these
partner agencies with client-meeting space at our centralized location in St Bernard
Parish, thereby avoiding duplication of services while facilitating the ability of local residents,
many of whom still have limited transportation options in the wake of the disaster,
to become aware of and access the many types of assistance that are available to
them.
Our networking-based method of providing services allows the Community Center
maximal flexibility so that we can readily adapt our available services to meet the
changing needs of our clients as the recovery progresses. This regional networking
strategy is being developed as a model for other intermediate- to long-term disaster
response agencies that need to assist clients after the initial shock of the catastrophe
has passed, but while crucial sections of social infrastructure (public transport, schools,
libraries, hospitals) are only minimally functional and in the process of being rebuilt.
5 www.ccstb.org