Puerto Ricans who have fled their island are struggling to navigate FEMA, local housing and other social service processes, which would enable them to settle equitably in Philadelphia. Some evacuees came directly from the airport to the Free Library for support. Our community organizers work closely with the public at the Lillian Marrero branch and have been instrumental in establishing the Greater Philadelphia Long Term Recovery Committee, which is fundamental to ensuring aid for evacuees.

The organizers worked alongside government, nonprofit and housing agencies to assess needs and create streamlined intake processes for evacuees, even leveraging additional resources into Philadelphia. Lillian Marrero library serves as a gathering place for social service and FEMA clinics. Parents and children are participating in library programs, like English Language Learning, Fresh for All, a free food distribution program and youth activities. FLP staff orchestrate the effort and coordinate teams of volunteers to help.

Outreach and customer experience are paramount to the FLP’s mission. Tania-María Ríos, Kate Goodman and Iris Rivera-Selby embody these values by building relationships that promote well-being for neighborhoods composed primarily of people of color. They are tireless advocates for the Latino community. In April, with their oversight, 50 volunteers, including evacuees who previously received support, distributed food to 800 community members. The social services clinic at Lillian Marrero provides a model for housing intake, city-wide.