Following the partial building collapse at 267 Mill Street and recent deadly fires in Worcester that displaced residents from their homes, the city council is considering creating an emergency trust fund for survivors of disasters and emergencies in the city.
District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj is requesting the acting city managers office work with the director of emergency communications to create a report on establishing a municipally operated trust fund that would provide a one-time payment to survivors of disasters and emergencies in the city to facilitate their recovery at Wednesday nights city council meeting, according to the city council agenda.Read More: Two tenants of collapsed Worcester apartment kicked out of hotel, sleep in church amid confusion over stay
Haxhiaj is asking that the report looks at how other communities have established similar funds.
The request was inspired by the roof collapse and recent fires in the city, Haxhiaj said Monday.
Immediately after a disaster people need easy $ to buy what *they* deem necessary, Haxhiaj said in a text message. Red Cross isnt always available to disburse funds.Read More: Case against tenants of collapsed Worcester apartment not dismissed, allowing time for counterclaims
Other communities use the funds to put fast money in the hands of survivors, which then allows those survivors to immediately get their needs met without having to wait for donations or other response efforts, according to the city councilor.
She said during the pandemic, politicians learned that often times the best way to support people is to allow them to make the decisions about what they need most.