Dear SHN Membership,

A number of you have expressed interest in learning more about the current needs of our friends in the Gulf. Below are two great opportunities to provide immediate assistance:

1. Help the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center compile information for the newly established site: Gustavinfo.org - GNOFHAC is planning to conduct an outreach effort to identify services available for those affected by Hurricane Gustav and to assess current organizational needs among advocacy groups in the region. Please email us ASAP if you are interested in assisting with this effort. With adequate research and outreach efforts this website promises to be a great tool for advocates in the region and for residents in need of help. GNOFHAC Executive Director James Perry comments, "One of the most frustrating aspects of our experience during Katrina was the difficulty we had in getting information. Gustavinfo.org will provide anyone concerned with the impact that Hurricane Gustav is having on the Gulf Coast with the centralized information and resources to deal with the storm this time around."

Please learn more about the on-going crisis at GustavInfo.org:

www.gustavinfo.org

There are many ways to get involved: a) Forward the gustavinfo.org link to affected residents and those interested in assisting; b) Join our email list for regular updates on news and resources related to Hurricane Gustav at the "Get Updates" link; c) Submit content for posting at gnofairhousing@gmail.com; d) Give a financial contribution to organizations listed on the "Advocate Page" link (which will be live by Monday); and e) Provide research and outreach assistance by emailing studenthurricanenetwork.org

2. Volunteer with Common Ground Relief - In the coming days Common Ground Relief will be assessing the need for volunteers on the ground to assist with clean up and rebuilding in New Orleans, Houma and other communities to the west of NO. Interested volunteers with the following experience/skills are particularly encouraged to send in an application. (Applications can be found online at www.commongroundrelief.org/volunteer)

trained medics
disaster and emergency response
independent media
tree-cutters
those who volunteered in the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina

If you have other skills that you believe may be useful to the relief effort, please email commongroundvolunteers[at]gmail.com If your skills are less applicable to immediate on the ground assistance, but you wish to assist in the ongoing recovery of the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, we still need your help.

Please consider holding a fundraising and awareness event in your community in order to raise funds to support Common Ground Relief's efforts in the Gulf Coast as well as your local groups supporting survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

To make an online donation please visit www.commongroundrelief.org

Or take a look at the list of www.commongroundrelief.org/gustav