Miles away from the disaster along the Gulf Coast, DeKalb is helping Katrina evacuees new to the area.

During Monday’s city council meeting, Community Services Planner Sue Guio asked members to approve a plan to use $22,000 from a federal community development block grant.

The DeKalb County Local Katrina Relief Committee, comprised of representatives from charity groups, churches and the City of DeKalb, will determine how the money will be used.

The committee is working with two families who need everything from housing and clothing to job training and jobs, Guio said.

The committee will meet Tuesday morning “to determine the specific ways we will be providing assistance,” she said.

Kishwuakee United Way is sponsoring a relief fund for evacuees called the DeKalb County Local Katrina Relief Fund.

There is about $5,600 in the fund, said Dawn Littlefield, executive director.

The DeKalb chapter of the American Red Cross, 2727 Sycamore Road, Suite 2A, is helping evacuees by providing hotel rooms for up to 30 days.

About 50 people are in hotels in DeKalb County, said Tifarah Jones, Red Cross services coordinator.

The 30-day period is renewable and evacuees can reapply as many times as needed, she said.

In addition to the hotel room, the Red Cross gives a one-time stipend. The amount of the stipend depends on a person’s family circumstances, but the amount for one person is about $360, Jones said.

Hope Haven’s Executive Director Lesly Wicks said Katrina evacuees were sent to the Red Cross for assistance. Hope Haven is focusing on case-managing 14 evacuees who came to DeKalb shortly after the hurricane.

The shelter is helping evacuees find permanent housing, apply for important documents such as birth certificates and social security cards, sign up with FEMA and find employment, she said.

About half of the evacuees want to return to their hometowns, so Hope Haven is working to help the other half find permanent housing, she said.

“Our goal is to help them reach some sort of stability,” Wicks said.

The evacuees received a great deal of help from the community, she said.

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 7892 Twombly Road, is providing food. McDonald’s and Lukulo’s Restaurant, 1101 W. Lincoln Highway, donated gift certificates.

“From the kindness of strangers we’ve been making sure basic needs are met,” Wicks said.