Welcome to Extra N.A. Online! Tuesday September 7, 2010 Homepage    |    News    |    Archives    |    Advertise    |    Contact Us    |    News Email to a Friend > Resource centre open in New York for Haitian families Wednesday, February 03, 2010 NEW YORK: NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson last Saturday joined Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to announce the creation of the New York Haitian Earthquake Family Resource Center. The center will provide support services for the Haitian community affected by the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on January 12. The Center’s first day of operation was on Monday, February 1, 2010, and it is located in the New York National Guard Armory at 1579 Bedford Avenue, between Union and President Streets in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is home to New York State’s largest Haitian community. In addition to the creation of the Center, Paterson announced that New York City Councilman Dr. Mathieu Eugene will Chair a newly created Haitian Earthquake Family Resource Center Communication and Outreach Committee to ensure the Haitian community is fully aware of the Center’s services. “Over the past few weeks I’ve spoken with a lot of New Yorkers with family in Haiti, and their stories are simply heartbreaking,” said Bloomberg. “For many of them, the tragedy is compounded by the anguish of still not knowing the fate of loved ones – and not knowing where to turn for answers. Here in New York City, we’re doing everything possible to support Haitian immigrants, and this new Resource Center is the latest step in those efforts.” The center will provide a number of services to the Haitian community, including: - Creole-speaking interpretation services; - Assistance with completing Temporary Protected Status applications and other immigration-related assistance; - Access to telephones to contact appropriate federal and Haitian officials; - Use of computers for consulting a broad range of websites, including New York State’s Registry of New York Citizens in Haiti; - Child guardianship and custody services; - Legal information; and Grief counseling. In addition to these services, the center will provide daily, official situation reports on the status of the relief effort. The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Send your comments about this Note. Include your name and location at the bottom of your comments. 1000 characters left. Change Image Write the Validation Code from the image above >>Read More News Stories © 2006-2010, Gleaner Extra NA, All Rights Reserved.