Governor Patrick has put up a web page called Help for Haiti to assist our Haitian community here in Massachusetts and the people of Haiti following the aftermath of the earthquake on Jan. 10, 2010. The page includes information on both how to help and how to get help.
Additionally, Haitian nationals who cannot return to Haiti due to the earthquake may be eligible to apply for Temporary Protective Status (TPS), due to a special 18-month designation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Janet Napolitano. For more information, see Temporary Protected Status – Haiti, and the Application for Temporary Protected Status available from the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Finally, late last month, Gov. Deval Patrick signed Executive Order 520 which establishes a "catastrophic leave donation program to support Commonwealth employees impacted by the tragedy in Haiti." Under this program, "Commonwealth employees may donate earned vacation and personal leave to co-workers, who have relatives in Haiti, for the purpose of travel to the country of Haiti, or to care for family members impacted by the recent tragedy in Haiti."
