The City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, joined by Bob Young former Mayor of Augusta, Georgia, over 200 volunteers and over 30 service providers celebrated Miami Cares II, an ambitious initiative to eliminate chronic homelessness in our city.  The successful event was held at the intersection of NE 8 Street between North Miami Avenue and First Avenue where nearly 500 homeless participants received free assistance and services all in one location.

Miami Cares is modeled after the City of San Francisco’s highly effective Project Homeless Connect, which has reduced their street population by 30% in one year.  The event coincided with National Homeless Connect Day, a project that aims to assist homeless individuals in the hopes that they will accept the resources that will prepare them to be self-sufficient.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Bob Young, former Mayor of Augusta,. GA., shake hands on a successful initiative to help eliminate homelessness in the City of Miami. Photo: City of Miami/Jorge Perez

Miami Cares is different in that it allows the homeless individual to provide his or her own diagnosis of needs. By allowing people to make their own decisions, the City was able to reach homeless persons that may be resistant to accepting the long-term care. 

For one day, Miami Cares II brought a guiding light to nearly 500 homeless participants received assistance that provided them with tools needed to get off the streets which otherwise they would not be able to get on their own.

Volunteers graciously gave a hand in guiding homeless participants through the variety of services provided during Miami Cares II. Photos: City of Miami/Jorge Perez

Miami Cares II had over 200 volunteers working on this ambitious initiative to assist the homeless participants and was able to provide:

 

·         468 homeless participants

·         468 Care packages (new sweaters, hygiene kits, and other personal items

·         445 homeless participants received a sit down meal

·         159 showers and clothing

·         148 optical services

·         134 haircuts

·         113 shelter placements (Homeless Assistance Center Miami Rescue Mission, Camillus House, Salvation Army)

·         43 legal services consultations

·         39 Rapids HIV Testing

·         38 phone calls

·         36 medical consultations

·         29 social security consultations

·         29 South Florida workforce referrals

·         25 mental health assessments

·         1 mental health placement

·         24 permanent housing applications

·         2 permanent housing placements

·         15 families reunited (relocations)

·         12 DCF benefit applications

·         11 veteran administration consultations

·         7 prison reentry initiative referrals

Miami Cares is a groundbreaking outreach effort aimed at engaging the City of Miami’s homeless population into the continuum of care and breaking the cycle of chronic homelessness.

For more information on the City of Miami Homeless Assistance Program, please call 305-576-9900.