While local agencies continue to raise money and plan for disaster relief, more than 200 Hurricane Katrina evacuees are stuck in hotel rooms.

The Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross has extended the hotel stay for 85 evacuated families from two weeks to 30 days while temporary housing options are untangled by various charitable organizations and government agencies.

"If these people did have somewhere else to stay, we would not have felt the need to extend the stays," said Chris Duncan, spokes-man for the local Red Cross. "But that does not mean there was a failure by any of these other organizations."

COMPLETE KATRINA COVERAGE

Considering the scope of the disaster and the varied needs, the process takes time, he said.

More than 400 families, or an estimated 1,040 individuals, went for help to the Red Cross here, which has committed $300,000 in direct assistance for those victims for emergency needs such as food, medicine and clothing, said Duncan Hutchinson, director of response services for the organization. The assistance does not include money for the hotel bills, which is processed at the national level, he said.

The local Red Cross has raised $560,300 for disaster relief, Duncan said. Still more donations have been contributed but not yet processed. The additional money will go toward the national disaster relief fund. More money will be funneled back to the Lowcountry if more evacuees arrive.

Early estimates said 4,000 evacuees were expected to come to the Charleston area, but many officials think the number is much less because of the area's potential for hurricanes. Still, they say, more could be on the way.

Many of those who have arrived here are staying with family and friends, and others could have come sponsored by any number of churches or charitable organizations.

Nearly three weeks after the hurricane hit, Trident United Way is continuing to facilitate coordination efforts as agencies scramble to assess needs and offer evacuees housing options. Faith-based organizations, nonprofits and government agencies throughout the Lowcountry continuously are meeting and discussing plans for housing.

"We are working very clearly and quickly," said Charlotte Anderson, vice president for Trident United Way's 211 Services. She is serving as a spokeswoman for the housing group. "We are very relieved that the Red Cross was able to extend their stay."

That time means a little more breathing room for the agencies and organizations, Anderson said, explaining that they still must work to meet the everyday needs of their regular clients. Considering the scope of the mission and the existing responsibilities, Anderson said, the time it has taken to respond to housing needs is acceptable.

"We are moving people into homes and getting everything they might need to live," she said. "We are starting from scratch in many ways, and given that it's such a new situation, I think we have done a good job."

The group, which met until late Friday, expects to have a flier that lists options for housing available for evacuees by Monday, Anderson said. The flier will detail income, age and other requirements for available housing and phone numbers for evacuees to get in touch with agencies.

The fliers will be distributed at hotels where evacuees are staying and at the Red Cross shelter and service center at Armory Park, 5000 Lackawanna Blvd., North Charleston. Fliers will also be sent to evacuees who have signed up for Red Cross services, she said.

The number of housing units identified through the so-called housing group was not available late Friday. So far, though, about 30 families have been qualified for low-income housing and are expected to be placed soon.

"People are putting their arms around them (the evacuees) and saying 'I promise you, we are working with the goal of not having anyone fall through the cracks,' " Anderson said.

The group is also working to coordinate an Internet-based database that Trident United Way will be assembling, Anderson said. The database will help agencies match evacuees with donations such as sofas, furniture and other items, she said. It should be up and running by the end of next week.

So far, $25,000 has been donated to Trident United Way. None of that money has been spent, Anderson said. The agency must first finish assessing the needs, she said. The funds will go toward expenses such as security deposits, rental payments and medical bills for hurricane victims.

In the meantime, the Red Cross continues to provide hotel arrangements, referrals and case management for evacuees, Duncan said. The Lowcountry is not the only Red Cross chapter that asked the national headquarters for permission to extend the hotel stays, he said. The requests have been happening across the country.

The State Housing Finance and Development Authority has placed about 275 individuals and families in housing throughout the state, said Barbara Pearson, Housing Authority spokeswoman. It is able to provide evacuees with three months' free rent and paid utilities through a special disaster relief fund it set up nine months ago.

The need for more housing options is great, Pearson said. The agency has received between 400 and 500 calls from evacuees. Statewide, 450 housing units were registered through a new Web site, www.schousingsearch.com.

The state Housing Authority launched the site early to meet the demand for evacuee housing. The agency is asking any housing provider in the state to register available properties on the Web site as soon as possible, she said.

The Humanities Foundation has placed two individuals in local housing so far, said Tracy Doran, president and founder of the Daniel Island-based nonprofit. It is making contacts with other organizations in Charleston, Columbia and the Gulf Coast to find more evacuees who need a place to go. It has set aside 37 one-bedroom apartments for hurricane victims who are 55 and older and is arranging more housing with fewer restrictions.

The foundation, along with development business James Doran Co., dedicated $100,000 for seed money along with $50,000 in in-hand and pledged donations. That money will be kept in a separate fund and will be used to build housing, pay for security deposits and other housing costs, here and potentially in the Gulf Coast, as the needs are identified.

"The Charleston community is working hard to get their arms around these evacuees," Doran said. "It has taken some time to understand what those needs are, but everything is falling into place."

TO GET HELP CALL:

-- State Housing Authority at (803) 896-9001. Call (877) 428-8844 to register properties.

-- Humanities Foundation at (843) 284-5152.

-- Trident United Way at (843) 744-HELP. Additional information through Trident will be available early next week.

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Contact Yvonne M. Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or (843) 745-5891.