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Latin Times
Latin Times
M.B. Mack

Organization to Use AI Tool to Decide Which Families Get Hurricane Relief Money

A person walks past downed power lines as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Greenwood, South Carolina, on Oct. 5, 2024. (Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A new disaster aid initiative using AI technology will provide nearly 1,000 households in North Carolina and Florida with thousands in cash payments to assist in recovery efforts after recent hurricanes.

The nonprofit GiveDirectly is pioneering a direct cash relief model, which is a new move that steers from traditional in-kind donations, ABC 11 reported. The model will incorporate AI technology to streamline the application process for recipients addressing unique needs following the disasters.

"There is an elegance to cash that allows individuals in these types of circumstances to resolve their unique needs, which are sure to be very different from the needs of their neighbors," Laura Keen, senior program manager at GiveDirectly, told the outlet.

The program is actively enrolling families in storm-impacted areas using a new app. The nonprofit is set to send $1,000 payments Friday to some households deemed eligible for assistance.

GiveDirectly has raised $1.2 million for the initiative and claims to focus on developing a hybrid approach that takes into account remote and in-person enrollment to reach as many underserved populations as possible.

"They don't have to find a bunch of documentation that proves their eligibility," Keen said. "We already know they're eligible."

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