Resources for Employees Who Have Lost
Their Homes and Those Who Want to Help Them

Oct. 29, 2007

Have you been impacted by the San Diego area fires. UCSD is making available special resources for faculty, staff and students, who lost their homes in the San Diego fires including:

• HOTLINE ESTABLISHED: A special hotline has been established for UCSD students, faculty, and staff who lost their homes in the fires. Please call (858) 534-5523 or send an email message to gethelp@ucsd.edu.
  

• COUNSELING: The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program offers counseling and other services. Campus employees should call (858) 534-5523, and Medical Center employees should call 888-426-0023. Psychological and Counseling Services offers equivalent services for students: Call (858) 534-3755 for appointments.
  

• EMERGENCY LOANS: The UCSD Employee Emergency Loan Program will be expanded during the month of November to provide assistance to those who have been directly impacted by the San Diego County wildfires.
  

• "LEAVE" DONATION: Beginning immediately, we have temporarily changed the rules for the Catastrophic Leave Donation program, so that employees who have lost their homes may receive leave donations from other UCSD employees.
  

• STUDENT BILLINGS: The due date for current student billings is being delayed until October 31, 2007. We encourage students to use E-check to ensure timely payment.

• DO YOU HAVE ROOM TO HELP A COLLEAGUE? NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
  If you are a UCSD employee with space in your home, and would like to volunteer to take someone in temporarily who lost their home, please call (858) 534-5523 or send e-mail to volunteerspace@ucsd.edu. If you were displaced by the fire and need a temporary place to stay, please call (858) 534-5523 or e-mail gethelp@ucsd.edu.
  

• 403(B) LOANS: Participants in UC's 403(b) Plan may borrow their own funds for emergency needs or, if ineligible for a loan, they may be able to take a hardship withdrawal.
  

• SUPPORT GROUPS FOR FIRE VICTIMS AND SUPERVISORS:
  Support groups and crisis counseling has been scheduled for UCSD students, faculty, and staff. Separate groups have been scheduled for supervisors of those impacted by the fires. For dates and times, click here.

• DONATIONS OF NEEDED ITEMS: If you have new or "like-new" clothing and other articles that can be useful to families of UCSD employees and students who lost their homes, they may be brought to any UCSD Dining Facility.
  

• DONATIONS OF CASH: If you would like to donate cash to impacted families in San Diego, please contact the San Diego/Imperial County Red Cross or the Salvation Army.
• The Burn Unit at the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, the only such unit in San Diego and Imperial Counties, is treating all of the region's seriously burned patients as a result of the wildfires. Individuals who would like to donate to the UCSD Burn Unit to help support current and ongoing efforts are encouraged to visit UC San Diego's secure, online giving website at www.givetoucsd.ucsd.edu . Donors can select from a choice of four funds to assist the UCSD Burn Unit by simply using "burn" in the keyword search area on the site's gift designation page. For questions, call 619-471-0485.

• BENEFITS INFORMATION: You may not be aware of benefits available to you, such as alternatives for filling prescriptions.