When Sara (not her real name) saw the exit sign for Coraopolis, it was as if her whole world had changed. After nearly 50 years she was back home and it felt good.
That was Sara’s reaction as this 67-year old Hurricane Katrina evacuee left the apartment in Clairton she considered “a prison” and traveled to her new home in Coraopolis. Mark Schwartz, Volunteers of America’s Southwestern Pennsylvania’s case manager was helping Sara resettle after spending 11 months in that one-room apartment.
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Sara, and hundreds of others, came to Southwestern Pennsylvania a year ago as Hurricane Katrina evacuees and were placed in whatever housing was available. Some of those evacuees are returning to the Gulf Coast, some will stay in Pennsylvania and others will move elsewhere. |
Katrina Case Manager Mark Schwartz |
What many have in common, Mark explained, is that they need help working through myriad obstacles including healthcare and the social and legal problems resulting from the devastating storm that changed their lives forever.
Mark helps evacuees connect with the services they need to find jobs, housing, churches, schools and other community resources as they cope with their loss and re-settle into a new living situation.
Individuals who relocated to Southwestern Pennsylvania following Katrina are referred to Mark through a variety of sources, including media announcements. Mark coordinates his work with Rick Nelson, technical supervisor of Katrina Aid Today, a nationwide program helping evacuees put their lives back in order.
Mark helped Sara return to her hometown, after she found a modest four-room apartment. Now her goals are to get help for her mental health issues, acquire dentures and glasses, and attend the 50th reunion of her high school class.