Actually, that's me. I haven't had a response, even though I listed on Move On as well. I doubt that people who are displaced and can't afford hotels, etc., have access to the internet. It would be great if the Red Cross or some other agency, would organize transportation to this area, because there are a lot of volunteers to house Katrina victims.

Posted by: Jessica | Sep 6, 2005 2:02:05 PM

That's generous and kind, Jessica.
I'm sure Cathar would be willing to take a family or two in for a while. If they could stand her rantings on every subject imaginable. She may finally find a captive audience.

Posted by: grme | Sep 6, 2005 2:08:54 PM

grme, you presuppose that I live in luxury. You also presume a gender kinship to, of all people, butch. Neither is at all correct.

Nonetheless, I didn't appreciate your paltry attempt at snideness, at thus demeaning via indirection (to say the least) another family's bonafide, touching offer to help.

Shall we, however, exchange checkbook stubs on this one? Volunteer hours put in at a charity? You really are a silly, bitter, emotionally etiolated sort of poster. Whatever your gender.

Posted by: cathar | Sep 6, 2005 2:32:33 PM

The Catholic Charities diocese in Patterson, NJ, is currently working on matching homeless people and families with those in this area who are willing to donate room and board. Their number is 973-279-7100, for anyone else who wants to do this.

Posted by: Jessica | Sep 6, 2005 2:36:07 PM

Check out

http://www.katrinahousing.org/

to volunteer housing and find housing.

62,000 beds available, 2600 survivors placed.

Posted by: Rich | Sep 6, 2005 3:21:18 PM

Jessica..that's beautiful...with all that I've been seeing, to hear such positive, heartfelt, and simply, just some great reaching out to others, that finally there are some reasons for me to feel better about humanity.

Do you feel ok with me sharing your story, and the contact info you posted too, as part of an editorial I'm planning on doing for my cable show, Inside Montclair. There might be others that also want to open their doors to help..

I've been reading, on a few sites, all the wonderful activities being planned to raise funds, from within our community and other towns too.

If anyone who is doing such, and thinks it would help at all to have me mention any news about it on the show, please let me know..and I'll try to do as much as I can.

I just have such a strong need to try and do Something..maybe with so many feeling this way, we might really be able to help our neighbors, no matter where they live.

Posted by: wayne robbins | Sep 6, 2005 3:25:48 PM

First of all, kudos to Jessica and those others brave enough to make such offers to total strangers. It truly is the sort of generosity and sacrifice we should be willing to make for others in such times of need.

But to be honest, I don't think I could do it. I'd be so afraid that I'd wind up with permanent houseguests, or worse, someone pretending to be a member of the great displaced but in actuality just someone looking for free room and board.

It would be nice if charities could sort of pre-screen and recommend people before you let them into your home. Does such a thing exist?

Posted by: Captain Vegetable | Sep 6, 2005 4:03:24 PM

Catholic Charities is pre-screening. I feel much more comfortable going through them than just posting on Craig's List or Move On. And Wayne, that's fine.

Posted by: Jessica | Sep 6, 2005 4:06:56 PM

Re: www/katrinahousing.org

The problem with this site, as with Craig's List or Move On, is that someone who is displaced needs to log on and match themselves with someone offering housing. Many of the people who need help most are not internet savvy, even if they had access. The organizations working in Katrina's wake are best positioned to get help to those in need.

Posted by: Jessica | Sep 6, 2005 4:15:06 PM

When I called Catholic Charities they said they weren't sure how they were going to contact the folks in NO that need help.

Who are they pre-screening people who are offering their homes- or people who are in need- or both?

Posted by: exit_151 | Sep 6, 2005 7:28:58 PM

http://www.CrisisSearch.com is a crisis search engine (links to disaster relief/planning, find lost people, aid programmes, etc) that I created as my Homeless Search Portal on http://www.SpareSomeChange.com was getting so much traffic (50,000 hits a day) for Katrina related sites and temp housing/shelter links... Hopefully this new portal for emergency type crisis's will help with current, past and future devastations. Please add crisis type links to our database (already over 1,000 links), it may just help a victim directly :)

Posted by: Search Guy | Sep 17, 2005 11:30:47 PM