SUBJECT:  Was Your Home Lost in the Fire?

If you have lost your home, know of a UCSD faculty or staff member who has lost their home, or you want to help those in need, please review the rest of this message.

The campus has made available special resources for those UCSD faculty, staff, and students that lost their homes in the San Diego fires. A brief summary of some of these resources follows:

* HOTLINE ESTABLISHED: A special hotline has been established for UCSD
   students, faculty, and staff who lost their homes in the fires. Please
   call (858) 534-4214 or send an email message to gethelp@ucsd.edu.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firesupport

* COUNSELING: The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program offers
   counseling and other services. Contact the program at (858) 534-5523.
   Psychological and Counseling Services offers equivalent services for
   students: Call (858) 534-3755 for appointments.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/fsap

* EMERGENCY LOANS: From today until November 30, 2003, faculty and
   staff who have lost their homes in the fires may obtain up to a $2,500
   emergency loan, which will have no interest charged over the 12-month
   period beginning January 2004.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/emergencyloan

* 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.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firehelp

* 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) 534-4214 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) 534-4214 or e-mail gethelp@ucsd.edu.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firehelp

* 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.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/403loan

* 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,
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firesupport

* CHILD CARE PROBLEMS: Since many K-12 schools are closed for the rest
   of this week, supervisors are asked to provide flexibility in granting
   leave for parents with child care problems.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firesupport

* 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.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firehelp

* BENEFITS INFORMATION: You may not be aware of benefits available to
   you, such as replacement of optical glasses lost in the fire.
   --> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/benefits

We want to extend our deepest sympathies to members of our campus community who have experienced losses in this tragedy. We will do all that we can to provide help and support to our colleagues during this very difficult time in their lives.

I want to thank the countless number of students, faculty, and staff who have stepped forward to help.

                                                Steven W. Relyea
                                                Vice Chancellor -
                                                Business Affairs