Give InKind’s Care Calendar helps answer the central question of how to give or receive support. In this case, we consider how to set up a support page for someone who has recently experienced the loss of their home to a house fire, a wildfire, or another natural disaster.
Our guide maps a path applicable to various types of home loss: flood, fire, tornado, or hurricane. While needs in each of these instances are very distinct from one another, they share the common element of simultaneous, or macro impact concentrated in one region. For all natural disasters, extensive physical damage is likely to be the common element to which communities must respond.
Getting Started
No two experiences will be the same; for instance, some house fires are isolated, and the result of faulty wiring. Other house fires lie in the path of a raging wildfire. Or, consider that flood planes are changing; flood insurance is notoriously complex. (See a Sample Give InKind Page for Loss of Home to Fire or Natural Disaster here.)
Needs will differ, and once immediate safety is secured, it is useful to try to help confirm that recipients understand their insurance policies. Begin by reviewing an insurance policy with the recipient, and seeking legal counsel if necessary. There are reputable no-to-low cost legal services with specific knowledge of natural disaster assistance.
To help facilitate meeting a displaced family’s immediate needs, begin by identifying a close friend in a position to speak with the recipient about what needs they have, and how their community can offer meaningful assistance.
Care Calendar
Recipients will likely have an immediate need for shelter. Requesting help with lodging through the Care Calendar will enable Supporters to send gift cards to help with reservations or even volunteer their own homes. The displaced may need seasonal items such as coats in the Winter or Summer clothes if it is warm. We invite you to add as many requests to the Care Calendar as you wish.
Request types:
- Food: Meals and groceries for the family are always among the most popular calendar requests. Providing food to people who are temporarily displaced is almost always most easily done with gift cards or take-out delivery to wherever they’re staying.
- Childcare: If there are children involved, ask the parents what is most helpful. Childcare is helpful as it can be upsetting for children to be present when parents are dealing with the immediate aftermath of disaster.
- Pet Care: Are there pets to care for? It is highly likely that temporary arrangements like boarding or dog sitting will need to be made. Peace of mind about your pets is a big deal in this situation.
- Transportation: Schedule and manage transportation of people and supplies by including pick up and drop addresses in the request.
- Home Services: This can apply to things like visits from the insurance company, or estimates from contractors. There is a lot to learn. Having the gentle and supportive presence of a friend is deeply valued; those on hand can even take notes.
- Custom: “Custom" is the ultimate catch-all category. In the case of a house fire or natural disaster, a “custom" request can be for things like helping to identify items and attempt to repair, clean, or restore them. This is especially important when the value of the item is primarily sentimental. Water and smoke damage, while often extensive, can sometimes be remedied. Survivors of natural disasters report that the thing they miss the most is the thing that insurance can never replace.
Fundraising
People will have different financial circumstances. Ask whether they need an advocate to be sure that their insurance policy has paid out all that is owed to them. If there is any need, simply enable the fundraising buttons on your InKind Page by connecting your PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, or GoFundMe account at any time in the Page Settings.
Wishlist
The Give InKind Wishlist is another opportunity to meaningfully support a family coping with the loss of a home. Browse Give InKind’s curated list for suggested items that could help in their unique situation. When you see an item that could be helpful, use the “+" icon to add to your Wishlist.
In addition to the Wishlist, you add an existing Amazon Wishlist to your InKind Page for supporters to use.
Communication Preferences
Use the Privacy area of your Page Settings to let others know about the recipient’s communication preferences. These preferences display at the top of every InKind Page for quick and easy reference.
- Phone Calls: How do the recipients like to communicate: a phone call or text? It can be difficult to know when they will be available to answer the phone. Asking about preferences lets them know they are being thought of even if they can’t always talk.
- Visitors: If they don’t mind visitors, use the Special Notes section to clarify when and where people should visit.
- Flowers: Although kind gestures are always incredibly considerate, we gently remind that flowers aren’t likely to be especially helpful here.
Updates
Add unlimited updates to keep friends and family informed. If the recipients do not wish to communicate directly, Updates are a great place to designate a third-party family spokesperson. When composing an Update, use the check box to automatically send via email to page followers when posted.
The loss or damage of a home is traumatic. A house, apartment, or mobile home represents a sense of place, and even an identity. The loss of this is jarring and logistically complicated. A support system helps to create a space for people to process and share their feelings. Build your support page here. If you have any further questions, visit Give InKind’s Help Center or view our helpful articles about the loss of a home.
Give InKind does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We have an affiliate relationship with many of the advertisers on our site, and may receive a commission from any products purchased from links in this article. See Terms & Conditions.