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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4782 ExhibitRebuilding Together. Miami -Dade OMNI CRA Funding Proposal For the OMNI CRA Board Summary About Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade, Inc. No homeowner should have to forgo basic home maintenance in order to afford food or medications. Unfortunately, many factors such as job loss, disability, or expensive medical bills often force homeowners to make difficult choices about how to prioritize a limited source of income to meet life's many demands. For 25 years, Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade (RTMD) has preserved affordable homeownership and revitalized communities by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services for low income veterans, senior citizens, and disabled homeowners in need, free of charge. One hundred percent of homeowners served are between 80°%o and 30°%o of the HUD Area Median Income which is $44,100 for a family of one in Miami -Dade County. The average RTMD homeowner is 69 years old and lives on a small, fixed annual household income of $21,231. The majority of families served have resided in their homes for over 25 years. With the help of volunteers and skilled trades people, along with support from donors, corporate partners, and government officials, RTMD has made critical home repairs to over 800 homes and donated more than 9 million dollars of market value labor to the community. Annually RTMD rehabs 50-60 homes, valued at $1,400,000+ in market worth. Most common modifications include roof replacement or repair, ADA bathroom repairs, kitchen updates, wheelchair ramps, plumbing/electrical repairs, new flooring and exterior beautification. Proposal Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade requests funding in the amount of $500,000 to encourage community revitalization and repair homes in the OMNI CRA, in partnership with the CRA and City of Miami. The goal of this partnership is to not only provide safe and healthy housing for low-income residents, but also to preserve affordable housing in an area that is quickly gentrifying. Repairs Made Will: • Provide critical home repairs such as roof replacements, handicap modifications, kitchen renovations, flooring replacement, painting, landscaping and many other repairs to increase the safety and health of each home • Reduce the number of slip and fall incidents at home • Make homes more energy efficient • Revitalize the OMNI CRA area • Keep long term residents in their homes • Fight gentrification • Preserve affordable housing for future generations Why Work with Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade: Our services prevent long-term residents from losing their homes due to significant damage and unlivable conditions; protecting their investment and maintaining an affordable property for future generations. Preserving existing housing stock as opposed to building new units is not only more cost effective than new construction, it is a significantly more environmentally friendly practice. Less waste is generated; reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. RTMD utilizes hundreds of volunteers to repair and restore homes, public spaces, and nonprofit facilities; revitalizing entire communities and making a lasting impression on the families and communities served. RTMD utilizes volunteers and in -kind donations to leverage dollars, making our services more cost effective than other entities. Our community service days are embraced by community leaders and corporate and community partners as a way of bringing immediate, large-scale impact to our local community in a single day. Methods Phase One: Apply for Services All homeowners applying for Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade's programs and services must complete a homeowner application (attached). In order to be eligible, homeowners must: • Own their home • Be considered low-income according to HUD guidelines for Miami -Dade County • Be considered one of the following: ■ Senior citizen ■ Disabled ■ Veteran ■ Active military ■ Family with minors • Submit proof of citizenship (photo ID and social security) • Report ALL sources of income (including wages, retirement, disability, social security, and etc.) • Submit DD-214or military ID, if veteran or active military • Submit proof of disability, if disabled (if not visible) • Submit energy bills (water, electric, and gas) Phase Two: Home Assessments Home Assessments are comprehensive and consistent in order to identify all significant hazards. Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade focuses on 25 priorities proven to increase the safety and health of homes. A detailed checklist is utilized by our project manager to ensure each priority is addressed adequately. The findings from this checklist are used as a project impact summary report. Once a scope of work has been identified, homeowners sign a contract agreeing upon the scope of work. Phase Three: Construction Home improvements and modifications will be made based on needs identified in the initial assessment. Skilled labor will be completed by contractors, handymen, and volunteers vetted by Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade. Phase Four: Wrap Up Once all repairs have been completed a post work audit will take place, once again utilizing the 25 Priorities for Safe and Healthy Homes Checklist, to be sure each priority has been addressed adequately. Our project manager reviews the initial scope of work with the homeowner and a satisfaction report is completed. In addition, our program manager will reach out to homeowners six months, and one year later to compare energy bills. This helps us gage the impact of repairs made and whether we need to reevaluate our methods and practices. Conclusion Many households, especiallythose headed by seniors, have trouble maintaining their home due to lack of disposable income. Entrusting Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade with funds to make repairs and modifications to homes and affordable housing in the OMNI CRA will not only increase the safety and health of each structure in an effort to prevent life threatening accidents and conditions, but also alleviate the stress associated with a deteriorating house, leading to safer, healthier, and happier lives. A partnership between the OMNI CRA and Rebuilding Together Miami -Dade paves the way for a more equitable and sustainable future for low-income residents and their families while also increasing community morale. Additionally, our connections to skilled contractors, corporate sponsors, and volunteers will leverage funds, increasing the value of your investment.