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Why the Trust was created
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust was created in 1993 by the Board of County Commissioners with several primary functions:
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to administer proceeds of the one-percent food and beverage tax;
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to implement the local continuum of care plan, a three-phased plan, called the Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan (the "Plan"); and
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to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners on issues involving homelessness.
The Trust is not a direct service provider. Instead, it is responsible for the implementation of policy initiatives developed by the 27-member Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Board, and the monitoring of contract compliance by agencies contracted with the County, through the Trust, for the provision of housing and services for homeless persons.
Through its policies and procedures, the Trust also oversees the utilization of the food and beverage tax proceeds dedicated for homeless purposes, as well as other funding sources, to ensure the implementation of the goals of the three-phased pan.
Additionally, the Trust has served as lead applicant on behalf of the County for federal and state funding opportunities, and developing and implementing the annual process to identify gaps and needs of the homeless continuum.
The Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan is well into implementation as a result of directives of the Board, with policies and funding recommendations made to the Board of County Commissioners in support of the Plan.
Homeless Trust Leadership
The Trust is chaired by Ronald L. Book, Esq., Rabbi Solomon Schiff is our Vice Chair, and Judge Steve Leifman is our Finance Chair. David Raymond serves as the Trust's Executive Director.
Homeless Trust Staff
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust has 13 employees, including the Executive Director and the Assistant Executive Director. Trust staff are all County employees governed by the County-established rules of conduct and other relative policies and administrative orders.
Trust staff provides support to the Trust Board, ensures that the Trust Board meets on a regular basis, maintains full Board occupancy, presents policy issues and concerns, and implements their mandates on a timely basis.
Staff is also responsible for policy research and document preparation. In addition, staff oversees the daily administration of more than 100 contracts with 30 local providers for the provision of housing and services for the homeless.
Where Funding Comes From
The Trust's annual budget is approximately $37 million, comprised of local food and beverage proceeds, as well as federal (U.S. HUD) and state funding. Approximately $20 million per year comes through a competitive process via U.S. HUD, $11 million via the Food and Beverage tax, and the remainder through State funding and private sector (CPHI) contributions. The Trust is a proprietary department and receives no general fund dollars from the County.
Our Partners
The Community Partnership for Homeless (CPH) is the local private sector partner to the County, through the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. CPH, under the leadership of their founding chair, Alvah Chapman, Jr., Chair, Robert Chisholm, and Daniel Vincent, Executive Director, is a not-for-profit organization that was charged early on with siting, construction and operating up to three Homeless Assistance Centers, commonly referred to as HACs.
To date, two HACs have been built, based on the community's determination of its emergency housing need. These HACs are campus-style facilities that are "one stop centers" in that they take a holistic approach to addressing the needs of the client. HAC 1 is located at 1550 North Miami Avenue (close to Downtown Miami), and HAC 2 is located at 28500 SW 125 Avenue (at the former Homestead Air Reserve Base).
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