Commentary: Helping the Katrina Homeless

Hurricane Katrina showed the catastrophic force of the nature. It was formed on August 23, 2005 and resulted in fatalities of 1,836 confirmed and 705 people missing. On top of that, Hurricane Katrina destroyed all that was in her path. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States

I imagine a lot of helping hands from across the nation reached New Orleans after the disaster to help those who suffered great loss. However, according to an editorial published on June 9, 2008 in The New York Times entitled “Helping the Katrina Homeless”, it apparently was not enough. It says that “New Orleans is struggling with a growing number of sick and disabled people who have become homeless since the hurricane.” The editorial mentioned several matters that needed Congress’s attention: funding of $73 million to house many of the region’s ill and disabled residents, extending the disaster housing assistant program, and rewriting federal disaster law to permit the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide the long-term assistance that thousands of hurricane survivors need.

The people in New Orleans lost their belonging and properties not by their fault but because of a natural disaster. I feel that the government should lend every possible as well as all those out there who can support in anyway possible. It is in times of need like this that we, people on the same planet, have to help those in need. Especially, as the editorial stated that homeless people are more prone to illness both mentally and physically, a quick and effective solution is necessary. Furthermore, faster we “revive” the city and its people, the valuable asset of the country, more contribution they can make to the country, giving more benefit in the long run.