In one of the global ripples caused by Hurricane Katrina, about a dozen refugees from Africa have been diverted from Houston to an Uptown social-service agency.
Heartland Human Care Services has accepted three families — from Somalia, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo — because its Houston affiliate had its hands full with families who fled Louisiana.
Heartland, which resettles refugees, has helped the families find housing and job aid.
The newcomers have arrived during the busiest time of the year for resettlement, said Shana Wills, the agency’s director of refugee and immigrant community services. Instead of getting several weeks’ notice, the agency learned of the change days in advance.
“Because Houston has opened up their arms to assist the evacuees, we are opening our arms,” Wills said.
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