These nonprofits provide housing to Miami’s homeless. New pressures creating new demands

Homeless nonprofits face rising demand for housing from seniors and working professionals struggling to keep pace with the cost of living in Miami-Dade County. And with new legislation pressing down on the unhoused and their communities, these organizations need support to meet demand.

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, Camillus House, United Way Miami and Chapman Partnership need money, from $7 million to $35 million each, to maintain and expand their services.

According to the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, Miami-Dade has a homeless population of 1,004 people and one with a changing demographic. Due to the increased cost of housing and inflation, these nonprofit leaders see rising demand from the elderly and working professionals.

The challenge? Stretched resources.

And now, a new law is adding even more pressure.

As of October, the state bans people from sleeping in public. Starting in January, House Bill 1365 holds municipalities legally responsible for enforcing a ban on public camping. If counties fail to monitor and ban encampments, residents have the right to sue the municipality.

“The wealth gap and affordability crisis are exacerbated in a city like Miami. A lot of the areas where the abuelos, abuelas, tíos and tías were safe with fixed prices, trailer parks are no longer safe. They have no where to go,” said Eddie Gloria, CEO of Camillus House. “Homelessness is something that can happen to anyone. We are two to three brushes away from it.”

Camillus House’s Residential Services Manager Amel Peña looks through donations. Camillus House offers both men and women clothing and shoes upon their arrival.
Camillus House’s Residential Services Manager Amel Peña looks through donations. Camillus House offers both men and women clothing and shoes upon their arrival.

Veteran finds fresh start

For veteran Kendrick Moore, Camillus House gave him the resources to start a new life. His original plan was to spend a lifetime serving in the military. He was on his way, climbing to sergeant in the Marines and based in Japan.

Then one leg injury changed his path forever, ending his military career too soon.

“My plan was to stay in the military and retire. I wasn’t expecting anything to that process and I didn’t have a plan,” Moore said.

He came to Miami, where his mother was from to reconnect to his roots, but later ended up living in his car. He found work at an Amazon warehouse, but then struggled to stay awake during the day after a night of having to wake up every few hours to move his car or answer police officers knocking on his window.

He lost his job and, in 2022, found himself facing depression. He knew he needed help.

He turned to veteran services and United Way Miami, learning about services such as soup kitchens. But the turning point was Camillus House.

“What helped was getting housing with Camillus House,” Moore said.

Camillus House receives about 30 people on average at its location in 1603 NW Seventh Ave. location. They serve the community with a total of 11 facilities throughout Miami-Dade County. Above: Kendrick Moore returns to the arts and crafts room at Camillus House at 1603 NW Seventh Ave. Moore enjoyed to paint when he lived at Camillus House for a year.

Camillus House became a refuge, offering housing, a shower, food and educational services. A culinary course gave him the skills to re-enter the workforce as a cook.

Today, he works as a chef at the Miami Dade College’s downtown Miami campus and rents his own studio apartment in Little Haiti.

“It’s a good springboard to help people,” Moore said. “It’s a good place. It’s cleaning up Miami.”

Camillus House has kennels on site to house dogs for any of its clients who come with pets.
Camillus House has kennels on site to house dogs for any of its clients who come with pets.

Providing housing and services

Unhoused people able to get support often find these organizations offer more than a roof over their heads.

In addition to housing and access to a shower, the nonprofits offer food, job training and pathways to education. In other words, they provide a second chance to a new stable life.

Any contribution goes a long way, from $1 and up.

And if you can’t afford to give money, Ron Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, said volunteering can be a big help.

“Those that can’t give monetarily, there are so many opportunities to give back,” Book said. “Help us help you as a community. Think of us as your next-door neighbor trying to help someone less fortunate than you today.”

Homeless Liaison Bo Hall, left, greets a Lincoln Road Mall local as Homeless Trust Chairman Ron Book, center, participates in the count of the unsheltered population on Lincoln Road Mall on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. Homeless Trust, along with Miami Beach officials, canvassed Lincoln Road Mall on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida, to attempt to count the unsheltered population as part of a broader Miami-Dade count.

How to help

Camillus House

Website: https://www.camillus.org/.

To donate: Go to https://www.camillus.org/donate-online/.

Chapman Partnership

Website: https://chapmanpartnership.org/.

To donate: Go to https://chapmanpartnership.org/donate/.

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust

Website: https://www.homelesstrust.org/homeless-trust/home.page.

To donate: Go to https://miami.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list.

United Way Miami

Website: https://unitedwaymiami.org/.

To donate: Contact Karla Hernandez hernandezk@unitedwaymiami.org or go to https://bitly.cx/vR5P.