FAIRFAX COUPLE OPENING HOME TO EVACUEES

BFA-Fairfax has room for students from Gulf
By LEE J. KAHRS
Messenger Staff Writer
FAIRFAX — Sending thousands of pounds of donations to Hurricane Katrina victims wasn't enough. Sending ambulances and emergency medical crews wasn't enough.

Now, one couple in Fairfax is opening their home to Gulf Coast residents displaced by the devastating storm, and they are encouraging their neighbors to do the same.

Robin and Tom Grace held a meeting Thursday night at Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax (BFA) for people interested in providing housing or other means of support to hurricane survivors. While only one other couple attended, a goal was established to get the word out.

"I'm just an average citizen who got tired of sitting around doing nothing," Robin said, "so we thought we would see if there was interest in town."

The Graces have two children in college, and two empty bedrooms. Robin said she's hoping to attract other families with the same situation.

"I was thinking it would be great if we could contact all the people who had kids go off to college over the last few years," Robin said.

"It's all about the right demographics," Tom Grace added.

Robin said she called Gov. Jim Douglas's office and the offices of U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Jim Jeffords, I-Vt.. and Congressman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to find out more about resettlement plans in Vermont for hurricane survivors.

"Nobody was really doing anything," Robin Grace said.

Sanders's office did provide Grace with several Web addresses, including one for Operation Share Your Home, out of Baton Rouge, La.

Grace said the non-profit organization seemed the most legitimate, offering an extensive review process including screening and background checks on the people being placed.

"They said they were looking mostly in the South," Grace said, "but said if we could get a group of homes to offer space, it would be good."

The Graces have already signed up for a placement through Operation Share Your Home.

Grace said she would like to organize enough space to house about six families.

"If we could bring several families here, it would be great because they would have a community," she said. "The culture shock would bad enough as it is."

Robin also talked to BFA Principal Scott Lang, who is enthusiastic about the project. The school has already taken in three new students displaced by the hurricane. Fairfax resident Chuck Cross went down to Mississippi after the storm and brought some of his relatives back with him.

Lang said space is not an issue at BFA, and that many more students from the Gulf could be placed there if necessary.

"The capacity is about 1,200," he said this morning, "and we have 950. so space really isn't an issue."

Lang said the three new students have transitioned well.

"One of the blessings of a small school is that we certainly paid attention to these kids and made sure they were connected," Lang said.

Grace also said that if residents don't have space to donate, other things are needed, such as transportation, frequent-flier miles to relocate families, furniture, and time.

"Even people who could donate an afternoon, to take them around shopping, to look for work, to get to know the area," Grace said.

Fairfax residents Joan and Michel Denizot attended Thursday's meeting. Joan said she owns a rental property in Fairfax and has a two-bedroom apartment opening up. She said she might be able to offer a reduced rent to a displaced family for a few months.

"We're not convinced we should do this," Denizot said, "but we want to give back."
Robin Grace said she expects the average stay for a displaced family would be two to three months, maybe six on the long end.

"Enough time to find a job, an apartment," Grace said. "I think that's a realistic time frame."

The Graces said they would look into financial assistance for the relocation project and scheduled another meeting for Oct. 5 at 7 p,m. in Room 255 at BFA.

"I don't know for sure that this can happen," Robin said, "but Operation Share Your Home said, 'Yes, there is a need.'"

For more information or to offer space in your home, contact Robin Grace at 849-2364, or via e-mail, harts@pshift.com

For more information about Operation Share Your Home, visit the Web site at http://www.sharey-ourhome.org