VP of Data & Resource Development Andrew Holbein reflects on VIA LINK meeting critical needs for the community, how natural disasters and other events shape our efforts, and navigating the changing landscape to continue to help meet those needs.

Filling a Critical Need
What I appreciate most about VIA LINK is that we are central to the human services landscape in our region. I love working for an organization that connects people to so many of the services they need and serves tens of thousands of people each year. I also value that our work is grounded in the realities of Louisiana, where poverty and other vulnerabilities leave many people especially at risk when a crisis occurs.

Shaped By Hurricane Ida
One experience that has stayed with me was Hurricane Ida. Ten people in New Orleans died from heat exhaustion after the storm, even though many lived within a mile of a cooling center. At the same time, we saw our human services partners concentrate recovery resources in some areas while other communities were not being reached as well. It made clear to me that we needed to do more than simply respond to disasters—we needed better information and tools to help residents find resources and help our partners make better decisions about where resources are needed.  That realization led us to develop VIA LINK’s suite of disaster tools, which are designed to support residents while also helping human services and disaster-response organizations understand needs, identify gaps, and make better decisions.

Supporting Our Region in a Changing Landscape
Looking ahead, my big-picture goal is for VIA LINK to play an even larger role in filling the gaps in disaster response across our region. As Louisiana faces increasingly frequent and severe storms, I want us to continue developing practical, replicable solutions that help communities prepare, respond, and recover—and ultimately make sure that people who need help are not overlooked