Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLiberty City Community Revitalization TrustTO: LIBERTY CITY TRUST Todd B. Hannon City Clerk FROM: Elaine H. Black, President/CEO Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust DATE: January io, 2022 RE: Annual Board Report Pursuant to City Code Sec. 2-890 (Annual report of City boards and committees), the Liberty City Trust Board of Directors is comprised of five (5) members that includes one (1) youth member. The Board has actively engaged in ensuring that the Liberty City Trust keeps the mandate of the agency's mission for which it was formed. The Board engages in maintaining the fiscal integrity of the agency's operations and records, and the needs and desires of the community it serves. Its vision is to empower those who live, learn, work, and play in Liberty City. The Board's objective is to transform a distressed, high - poverty community into a viable, mixed income and sustainable neighborhood with access to well -functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation and improved access to jobs. The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall direction of the Liberty City Trust, including the approval of economic development opportunities in the Liberty City area. The Board plays a vital role in ensuring the implementation of such developments. The Board meets quarterly, as often as required to manage the business of the Liberty City Trust. The Board continues to be a fixture in the Liberty City/Model City community, providing various outreach programs that have enhanced life, safety, employment, professional development and small business opportunities among its residents. Despite COVID-19 the Liberty City Trust continues to expand its service to meet the needs of our residents while meeting goals and objectives for the community. Affordable Housing - Wynwood Housing Rehabilitation Program. Although the pandemic disrupted the rehabilitation program, we have qualified 7 Contractors to perform work on the properties and io of the 28 houses have been repaired with services arranging from roof repair, painting, fencing, and other repairs. Todd B. Hannon City Clerk January 10, 2022 Page 2 New construction on Infill Lots. A Request for Proposals (RFP) to construct single family or twin homes eight (8) lots was issued. There were five (5) developers that responded to the RFP. Two (2) developers where selected. The construction of the property will begin in 2022. There will be a series of Home Buyer Workshops to let the community know about the housing opportunities for First Time Home Buyers. Home Renovations. Rebuild Florida was unable to complete renovations on homes damaged by Hurrian Irma in 2020. They were able to complete several houses in 2021. We are continuing to follow-up on other properties to be rehabbed. There were continuing outreach services to provide homeowners information on the City of Miami Home Owners Rehab program. COVID-19—Rental and Mortgage. We participated in the Homes for All workshops to assist renters and home buyers with completion of applications for the programs. The information was shared at Charles Hadley Neighborhood Meetings and assistance was provide renters. Seniors Programs - Operation Outreach We provided going assistance to Seniors thru Operation Outreach —identifying individuals needing assisting and pairing them with providers of service. This included a telephone tree service to determine the needs of residents. Text blasts were transmitted to update the residents on available assistance for COVID- 19 shots, Food Drives, and other services. The Community Action and Human Resources Department provided us a special workshop in which over 5o Seniors attended to learn more about services offered to the entire family. Youth Employment Program The program for 2021 focused on providing jobs for youth working in the Parks, Summer School programs and local restaurants. The training included how to complete an employment application, providing basic understanding of the requirements to be an effective employee, the importance coming to work on time and learning the skills needed to perform the work. Our youth worked for the following: Optimist Club, Focal, Dream Center, I Krave, Belafonte Tacolcy Center, Florida Film and Shrimp Wings & Things. We were able to provide employment for 65 youth. Small Business The Liberty City Rotary Club was charted in the spring of 2021 with 23 members. The Club meets every other week and the main projects are Health and Wellness, Education, Neighborhood/Environment, Economic Stability and Social. We conducted a tour of the neighborhoods with the Police and Code Compliance identified sites for cleaning. The finding were presented at the Charles Hadley Neighborhood Association meeting and to concerned residents. Todd B. Hannon City Clerk January 10, 2022 Page 3 There were 3 Workshops held to introduce businesses to the COVID-19 Business Assistance programs in the community. In attendance at the workshops was about 45 businesses and io businesses were able to get loans. Many of the businesses could not qualify because they did not have all their permits required by the City of Miami. We are working with several of them to get their operating permits. We have been working with the Beacon Council Small Business Excelerator to refer businesses that are seeking mentorship for their company. The Liberty City Trust accomplishes our goal with twenty-five (25) Partners to ensure that the residents of Liberty City are receiving the best services possible. We attended Charles Hadley Neighborhood Association meetings and other organizations. In December we worked with the Virginia Key Park Beach Trust and held "Voices of Our Community: Race, Risk, and Resilience." This was an art exhibition, performing arts, and storytelling event featuring the stories of Liberty City residents. The outcome was a desire of the residents to learn more about how they can keep their homes in the Liberty City community by addressing taxes, insurance, wills and other items. There is no other Board, either public or private, which would better serve the function of the Liberty City Trust. This Board is unique in that its members are knowledgeable about the community and they each bring their unique skills, talents, and access of resources that can benefit the Liberty City Trust and the area in which its serves. The Board provides additional services and manages special projects that cater to specific community needs, including organizing committees and addressing any issues that affects part or all of the community from a traffic problem to deteriorating housing, and more. The cost, both direct and indirect, of maintaining the Board is basically born by the Board Members themselves. There was no direct cost in 2021.