Cougars Helping Cougars has started a Hurricane Ike relief fund to help UH students, faculty and staff set back financially by the storm.
The relief fund committee, comprised of SGA President Sam Dike, Faculty Senate President Wynn Chin, Staff Council President Sandy Coltharp, ?Director of Human Resources Joan Nelson? and Simon Bott, chemistry professor and director of undergraduate affairs and advising in the Chemistry Department, met Monday to decide who will be eligible to receive money and determine how it will be allocated.
"If you are asking for a deductible for $500 dollars because a tree fell on your car that’s what this is for," Bott said.
There is a $500 limit on the amount of money that can be allocated to a claimant, Dike said.
Students enrolled in the Fall 2008 semester and staff and faculty employed by the University of Houston as of Sept. 12 who sustained damage to property, incurred medical expenses or had other damages as a result of Hurricane Ike are eligible for the relief funds.
Students, faculty and staff who did not suffer substantial hardships from the storm are being asked to make donations to Cougars Helping Cougars to assist those who were hit harder.
The fund’s money will also be used to pay for gas used during the hurricane, for food that spoiled when power went out in Houston and for hotel rooms rented to those who escaped the storm.
Requests for assistance can be made via a form that can be found at the University’s two established Hurricane Ike relief donation centers, which are located at the University Center Underground, Room 53 and in the Fleming Building, Room 136.
The forms ask for the applicant to describe their damage or loss-- which can be in the form of hotel and gas receipts, – and their financial standing.
"The more information you provide, the more likely we will be able to help," Dike said.
Donation forms can be picked up at the centers and will be available online at http://www.uhsga.com, Dike said.
Cougars Helping Cougars will accept payments in the form of money orders, credit card, check or through payroll deductions for University employees.
"Any amount given is taxable, but donations are tax-deductible," Nelson said.
The committee will look at each individual case and determine how much to allocate for each applicant.
For each request the committee will decide the amount of money that can be spared.
The request forms will be looked at once a week and applicants can look forward to receiving funds soon afterward.
The deadline to apply for assistance is Dec. 31, but the committee will continue to meet weekly until every form has been looked at or until funds are exhausted.
