UCSD has sent this around

The campus has made available special resources for those UCSD faculty, staff, and students that lost their homes in the San Diego fires (see http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/fireinfo). 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) 534-5523 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. 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.

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

* EMERGENCY LOANS: From today until November 30, 2007, faculty and staff who have lost their homes in the fires may obtain up to a $3,000 emergency loan, which will have no interest charged over the 12-month period beginning January 2008.

--> 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

* 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.

--> 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.

* 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

* 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 at http://www.sdarc.org or the Salvation Army at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org

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

--> SEE http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/firebenefits