Flooding from Hurricane Harvey has left many residents in Spring and Klein with immediate need for items such as food and clothing, but long-term needs may include counseling to cope with losses and assistance finding a new home, said Debbie Peterson, director of Northwest Assistance Ministries’ assistance program. Peterson said her department has helped about 1,500 families—many of which are new to the nonprofit’s services—since the flooding subsided in late August. “That tells you that these people are usually self-sufficient; they are just needing that hand up,” Peterson said. Peterson said many families requesting help did not suffer home damage in the flood, but are looking for short-term assistance with paying rent because of a loss of income. Some individuals lost their jobs due to workplace damage, while others could not get to work because their cars were flooded. NAM employs a case manager to help families assess their financial needs and determine how NAM can help. Peterson said her department needs volunteers with social service experience to assist the case manager because of the number of people affected by the storm. NAM also provides relocation assistance to families whose homes were damaged beyond repair. During the April and May flooding in 2016, NAM helped relocate 350 families, NAM President Carole Little said. The number of families NAM is able to help depends on how much money it raises through donations. “Typically, you’re looking at paying a month’s rent [and] a deposit,” Little said. “It’s usually a family of four or greater, so you’re looking at about $3,000 to $6,000 a family just to get them rehoused, and to supply the basics, another $1,000 or so.” Little said after people settle their living situations—whether that is repairing their homes or relocating—they may need help coping with losses—especially if they have been through multiple floods in the past few years. “I’ve got an elderly couple, this is the third time [they have flooded], and they are in their 80s now,” Little said. “They are really suffering, and that is something that is mirrored throughout Harris County.” NAM does not offer trauma counseling services, but it refers victims to places where they can receive help, she said. One business that offers such services is Fresh Start Therapeutic Services on FM 1960. Ed Green, Fresh Start Therapeutic Services’ clinical director, said most victims are still focused on their immediate needs or damaged property, so the realization of the loss has not set in yet. Once it does, it could lead to anxiety and depression that could interfere with how they interact with friends and family. Green said trauma counseling is designed to help people begin to process their emotions so they can move on and recover. “Counseling can help them realize as devastating as the loss was, they still have their lives intact and they have the ability to start over,” Green said.