GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: Family Resource Center’s Housing Location Program
http://www.frcflorida.org     

Just three months ago, Joanne (not her real name) and her family were “wandering in the streets” of Homestead after her father died. “We lost everything and we were trying to find a place to sleep,” she explains. “I’m totally disabled and it was really hard to deal with everything that was happening. Then I discovered Family Resource Center and they found us a place to live.”

Since 1994, the Family Resource Center’s Housing Location Program, which is a Women’s Fund grantee partner, has provided housing and direct assistance services to more than 90 families per year.  Last year, the program provided housing location services and referrals to 114 families, many of whom faced multiple problems which often make it difficult to locate stable and affordable housing on their own.

Despite being born with spina bifida, Joanne cares for her son, 11, and daughter, 13. The family was placed at the Shepherd House, one of Family Resource Center’s permanent supported housing projects in Homestead. Shepherd House is comprised of three duplexes and each family has at least one family member who is disabled or diagnosed with a significant health impairment. Residents pay a small rent depending upon their income with the balance being subsidized by Family Resource Center. Case Managers connect clients in both Housing Locator and Shepherd House programs to a wide variety of agencies that provide counseling, childcare training, legal support and other social services. Case managers have a broad referral network.

These services offer residents an improved quality of life and sustainability that cannot be provided with simply having a roof over their heads. Joanne’s son was one of many Family Resource Center children who were able to attend summer camp through scholarships provided by the Children’s Trust at the Jewish Community Center in South Dade.

“I don’t have to worry about transportation because it’s all provided. His bus comes at 8:15 in the morning to pick him up and drops him off at 4:00. He’s learned how to swim, and he loves to go to camp. He can’t wait to get out the door each day,” she said.

Families like Joanne’s who are struggling to find housing are growing more common in South Dade as middle-income home buyers seeking to live in newer, cheaper homes look further south. The fact that as Miami sprawls toward Florida City and Homestead, housing prices increase, is a reality that keeps Family Resource Center of South Florida under pressure to meet the demand for affordable housing.

“Homestead has changed drastically in the last three years,” explains Susan Fox Rosellini, Development Officer for Family Resource Center of South Florida. “The agricultural fields which used to be a common sight in Homestead are turning into housing development projects. The affordable housing is no longer there and it’s causing a big crunch in this area.”

Certainly, Homestead’s landscape has been transformed from open acres of agricultural fields to highly concentrated clusters of housing developments. Agricultural businesses are increasingly being displaced for middle-income developments, and the availability of affordable housing is decreasing. Currently, Homestead and Florida City are the highest ranked cities in Miami-Dade County for homelessness.

Fox Rosellini estimates that, “there is much need for affordable housing in Homestead alone.” Include Florida City in the scenario and the number of units needed is staggering.

To address the housing crunch, Family Resource Center has created a second permanent supported housing project similar to Shepherd House. The difference with Sunshine Homes is that the 14 housing units are scattered throughout Miami-Dade County. Sunshine Homes residents are individuals who were chronically homeless and also have significant medical or mental health impairments.

“The process of being homeless, living under the fear of homelessness, or living in sub-adequate housing can be profoundly destructive for a family and its individual members,” explains Fox Rosellini.

The realization by Family Resource Center that when the housing circumstances are improved, there are fewer instances of child abuse, child neglect, in-home injuries and domestic violence is consistent with the fact that one of the most important factors in building stronger communities is better access to affordable housing.

Family Resource Center has found that the upgrading of housing has often made a significant and positive difference in the day-to-day functioning of its client families. 

For Joanne and her family, that finding could not ring truer. Since living at the Shepherd House, she says, “My children have improved in school and we have more peace at home now. I’m so proud of them.” She adds, “God is so beautiful. I found housing.”