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Walk In Center and Services: As of March 28, 2022, the homeless services walk-in center moved all its operations to 771 17th St.
Homeless clients through the walk-in center or through outreach engagements can be processed for the following services in-house:
- Shelter placement
- Family reunification
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) benefits
- Records expungement, child support enforcement, and wage theft enforcement
- Referral for employment services
- Down payment and first-month rent assistance and utility deposits once income-stabilized
- Transportation to Day Center Services
Specialized Outreach: The Homeless Outreach Services Program continues to collaborate with New Hope for substance abuse specialized outreach services. Through the FY 2022, $125,000 allocated to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust additional dollars will be earmarked for a pilot hostel program and supportive housing to assist clients transitioning from the Police Marchman Program.
Barry University Surveys: The collaboration with Barry University has begun, and they are actively engaging our homeless in the City to conduct surveys to understand service resistance better and explore possible solutions. Once the surveys are completed, Barry University will provide a full evaluation of their findings and recommendations.
Sundari Foundation, Inc., “Lotus House”: The Homeless Outreach Services Program has expanded its shelter partnerships to include the Sundari Foundation, Inc., also known as the Lotus House, a shelter that serves women, youth, and children. This provider specializes in evidence-based trauma counseling and resolution, health and wellness programming, and education advancement. This new partnership will offer additional wrap-around services and supports to vulnerable women and children facing homelessness.
Temporary Employment: Employment opportunities can be a vital component of ending one’s homelessness. The City is currently looking to recruit an agency that will provide employment services to individuals that accept shelter services. Under the supervision of the recruited agency, the employed individuals will conduct street outreach to homeless peers to convey the message that ending their homelessness is possible. This program aims to promote the positive image of accepting homeless services, build employment readiness skills, and provide a stepping-stone towards self-sufficiency. We are also exploring with community agencies the possibility of other temporary employment opportunities.
Thriving Minds Collaboration: The Homeless Services Program and Police Homeless Resource Unit are currently working on collaborating with the Miami-Dade County and Monroe mental health and substance abuse managing entity to explore services for homeless clients within the judicial system.
The following are updated services numbers for HOT encompassing October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022:
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Placements
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197
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Family Reunifications
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38
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Contacts
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2,361
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