HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-02-0901CiTV '0F Nlia`.I _ORID;.
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Carlos Gimenez = -= July 24, 2002
City Manager
Pocket Item — Action to be
taken;
Joe Sanchez -=-= = ==Community Development
Commissioner
I respectfully request that the Department of Community Development work with the St.
Juan Bosco Homeownership Center, in the utilization of the funds I have in "set aside"
monies from Economic Development. I would like the results of their meetings to be
ready for presentation at the first scheduled City Commission meeting in October.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
02- 901
The San Juan Bosco IIomeowuership Center
The San Juan Bosco Homeownership Center (SJBHC) was created in 1999 to provide
homeownership training and assist families in their path to homeownership focusing in
d1c Hispanic Community. One of its major goals is to empower the underserved low-
income families and new arrivals in the community with the information necessary oil
financial guidance and homeownership counseling.
During the last two years, SJBHC hits provided education and counseling to nearly
15,000 families, coordinated 16 seminars, assisted 25 families to become homeowners,
education in English, Spanish and Creole. SJRIIC tins worked diligently in the
community, establishing relationships with other partners to continue the awareness.
SJ1311C has also established partnerships with the following key players in the
community: Greater Miami Neighborhoods, Abricndo Puertas (a non-profit community-
based organization serving the Little Havana area), Catholic Charities prog,Tams for
Hispanic and I Iaitians, Greater Mianli legal Srvices, Consumer Credit Counseling;
Services, Little Haiti Housing Association, Miami -Dade Housing; Agency, Miami -Dade
Housing Finance Authority.
It has also worked closely with the State of Florida Office of the Comptroller to provide
infonnlation on Predatory Lending to the Hispanic community and has participated in
r various Housing Fairs, such as Miami -Dade Community College Housing Fair, the
Colombian American Services Association, Inc. Housing; Fair, Little I laiti l Iollsirlg Fair,
Countrywide home loans Housing Fair, and others.
S.18HC is located in the heart of the City of Miami. It is also located within the
boundaries of the recently approved Riverside Front Porch Neighborhood, an Initiative of
Governor Jeb Bush to promote revitalization and development of low-income
neighborhoods.
Based oil the 2000 Census, the City of Mianli is the poorest city in the nation.
Approximately, 60% of its total population is Hispanic. In Little Havana, the Hispanic
presence climhs to almost 981%4. The San Juan Bosco Homeownership Ccntcr is the only
institution or agency providing financial guidance and counseling to the hispanic
community, new intil1igrants and this very poor scgtnerlt of our population. Predatory
lenders have a fertile ground in the neighborhood. The S I13HC is working; very closely
with the State of Florida Office of the Comptroller to provide the inforivatioil required
eliminating; these abusive practices within the Hispanic Community.
In sumniary, the SJBHC; is ideally suited (and needed) for our target population of low-
income families and new arrivals in the community
02- 901
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