Resource Center To Close, Services Remain Available for Affected Individuals
The Resource Center at the Main Library will close today at 6:00 p.m. and will not be open over the weekend. However, mental health services and information for evacuees, employees and businesses in the affected area will continue to be offered.
Mental Health Services
Odyssey House Louisiana, Inc. will be offering free behavioral health services to affected families, workers and community members. These resources, including but not limited to assessment, crisis intervention, psychiatric counseling, and long-term referrals, will be offered openly to individuals impacted by the disaster and its aftermath.
While Citadel Builders continues to work with the New Orleans Unified Command on the next steps regarding the Hard Rock site, it understands that there are immediate human services needs that need to be met for employees, their families, first responders, and the families who have been evacuated from the collapse zone. The City of New Orleans, under the leadership of Mayor Cantrell, has been addressing these needs from the beginning, and, in partnership with Citadel Builders, OHL is prepared to take the baton on many of these services going forward to ensure that the requisite support is provided for those who have been affected.
Individuals in need of behavioral health services may call a dedicated 24-hour line at (504) 821-9211, extension 1 to speak with a counselor or service provider. Services that require face-to-face interaction will be offered at OHL’s new facility located at 2700 S. Broad Ave; walk-ins will be accepted Monday-Friday, 8 am- 5 pm.
Resources for Evacuees
The New Orleans Health Department continues to work with residents in the evacuated area to provide information and resources. If you need assistance and are evacuated, please call 3-1-1.
Information for Employees and Businesses
Business Impact Survey
Businesses in the evacuation zone or road closure zone or otherwise impacted businesses should complete the following survey as soon as possible:
https://www.nola.gov/economic-development/hard-rock-hotel-collapse-business-response-survey/. This information will help aid the response and communication efforts.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Response
Individuals whose work situation has been adversely affected by the Hard Rock Hotel collapse may reach out to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) for unemployment insurance consideration.
- The first step would be to file an unemployment claim, either via the LWC website, where this a button on the homepage for impacted employees: http://www.laworks.net/ (available 24 hours a day), or by calling the LWC Unemployment Call Center, 866-783-5567, during normal business hours. The call is toll free.
- Individuals can go to the Job 1 Career Center, 3400 Tulane Ave., 2nd Floor, New Orleans, for computer access; however, individual unemployment assistance from staff is not available.
To be eligible to file for unemployment benefits in connection with this event, an individual must have been employed by one of the businesses directly affected by the Hard Rock hotel incident at the time of the collapse.
Unemployment claims associated with the hotel collapse would be considered “job attached,” with plans to return work for the same company. In this situation, normal work search requirements will be waived/deferred for six weeks.
A number of factors determine unemployment eligibility, such as the total amount of wages earned by the individual during the eligibility period, whether or not the individual is considered self-employed, and if the employing company is exempt from paying unemployment taxes.
- A review of an individual’s employment history and wages over the last 18 months is done to determine eligibility and the amount of benefits to be awarded.
- If any recent employment was in another state or with the military or federal government, it may take a little longer to process the unemployment claim.
As long as an individual is unemployed, he or she should file for benefits every week, even while the claim is under review for eligibility. All claims have what is called a “week of waiting.” No benefits are paid for the first week that you file for unemployment. Affected workers may also contact JOB1, 3400 Tulane Avenue, (504) 658-4500.
Staff from the City's Community and Economic Development Office area assisting businesses and employees affected by the collapse. Call 3-1-1 for details.