Homeless trust has millions in aid for Miami apartments, needs landlords

MIAMI – Howard Perry said he fell on hard times after his pregnant wife and children died in a car crash. He owns a car, but he is homeless in Miami.

Camillus House gave him a hand, and he has a job, but the dream of having access to a one-bedroom apartment feels far away. He qualified for a voucher program, and he is on a waiting list.

ā€œThe housing market down here, I have heard that it’s expensive to stay in Miami but now I am actually getting to see what people are talking about,ā€ Perry said.

The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust’s $11 million voucher program receives federal funding. The program’s RentConnect team aims to connect landlords with pre-screened tenants like Perry.

Amid a shortage of affordable housing, the program is having a lot of trouble finding landlords to participate. The program has 300 unused vouchers to be paid directly to the landlords.

ā€œI really encourage other owners to try it and they will see what it is,ā€ said Ana Vazquez, one of the participating landlords. ā€œThey are human beings. They are great people.ā€

The program has a mitigation fund to cover a tenant’s damages and provides the first and last month.

ā€œWe have never had anybody — not one time in a decade — need to access our mitigation fund for damages,ā€ said Ron Book, the chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. ā€œOur formerly homeless individuals take care of the property that they are provided.ā€

Median rents in the Miami metro area shot up 50%. It was the highest increase in the country. Miami’s homeless population was estimated to be about 1,000. There was a 7% increase.

ā€œWe need properties,ā€ Book said.

If you are a landlord and want to learn about the program, call 305-349-7368 or e-mail Paul.RentConnect@miamidade.gov.


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