Community Partnership for Homeless

Community Partnership for Homeless is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The organization operates as a public-private partnership with Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust to help homeless families and individuals to regain their self-sufficiency.

Community Partnership for Homeless was founded in 1993 and operates two Homeless Assistance Centers in Miami-Dade County. Since its inception, the number of homeless people in Miami-Dade County has declined by 83 percent. In addition, Community Partnership for Homeless has outplaced nearly 67,000 persons who have received services from the two Homeless Assistance Centers.

Because of Community Partnership for Homeless’ tremendous success in Miami-Dade County, a national program has been developed to assist other communities throughout the United States. The Community Partnership for Homeless National Program was introduced during the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in June 2008.^[1]

Mission

Community Partnership for Homeless’ mission is to offer dignity and hope to all so that no persons sleep on the streets of Miami-Dade County.

History

Community Partnership for Homeless was founded by Alvah H. Chapman Jr., civic leader and former chairman of Knight Ridder.^[2] In 1992, Chapman was appointed chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Homeless in Miami-Dade County by then-Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles. In 1993, the commission convinced the Florida Legislature to authorize a one-cent tax on meals in restaurants grossing over $400,000.00 with a liquor license. Excluded from this tax are fast food restaurants and "mom and pop restaurants".

Then the commission created a task force to determine how the public money would be spent. The task force created the Miami-Dade County Homeless Plan and later the Homeless Trust.^[3]

In 1993, Chapman became chairman of Community Partnership for Homeless, a private partner of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust that would create and operate Homeless Assistance Centers and raise private funds to assist in reducing the number of homeless in Miami-Dade County. To date, Community Partnership for Homeless has built two Homeless Assistance Centers and served more than 70,500 admissions in Miami-Dade County.

Services

Community Partnership for Homeless focuses on a holistic approach to help residents get back on their feet and off the streets of Miami. This includes the basics such as three meals each day, clothing and temporary housing. It also includes more in-depth services such as job-training programs, case management, on-site childcare and permanent housing assistance.

Health Foundation of South Florida and the Public Health Trust provide health care services. Community Partnership for Homeless also partners with different social service agencies to provide legal services, Veterans Affairs, job development, mental health assistance, drug treatment assistance and more. Each resident of the Centers has an individual “case plan” designed to lead him or her to self-sufficiency.

References

1. ^ http://www.ich.gov/readmore/confofmayors_jun20-24_2008.html
2. ^ 2004 Alvah Chapman, Jr., Florida Press Association Hall Of Fame. Accessed December 29, 2008.
3. ^ http://www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

External links

• Community Partnership for Homeless Web site
• Community Partnership for Homeless National Program Web site