The road to recovery for the North Minneapolis communities will be a long one following the tornado that swept through the neighborhoods on Sunday, May 22, 2011. The tornado impacted more than 3,700 properties and caused millions of dollars in damages. In addition to support for the immediate needs of residents, resources are needed to support the community's rebuilding efforts over the long run to help North Minneapolis come back as an even stronger, more vibrant community.
Contributions to the Northside Home Fund - Tornado Relief will be used to support the housing recovery efforts in North Minneapolis as the community rebuilds after the storm. The contributions will be managed by the Northside Home Fund, a strong network of non-profit, community-based and governmental organizations that came together in 2006 to provide a maximally effective response to the foreclosure crisis in North Minneapolis. Donations will be redistributed to provide financial support where it is urgently needed.
At the request of the Northside Community Response Team (a partnership of more than 30 community based organizations that has formed in response to the devastating effects of the May 22nd tornado), the Northside Home Fund Tornado Relief fund is also accepting donations to support emergency home repair needs.
Through their door-to-door engagement efforts, the Northside Community Response Team is encountering a significant percentage of uninsured homeowners who have been unable to stabilize and secure their property. Immediate dollars are needed to provide relief for uninsured homeowners to secure their buildings, weatherproof them from the elements, and restore electricity. This is a short-term, damage-control effort. These homes must be secured quickly in order to avoid displacing more families if the weather turns.
The Northside Community Response Team has developed a coordinated strategy that will:
1. Provide immediate support for uninsured homeowners
2. Avoid further displacement of residents in North Minneapolis
3. Engage and mobilize local and minority contractors