“I never imagined living in such a place,” a teary-eyed elderly man remarked as he moved his few possessions into the brand-new Pollywog Creek Senior Housing this past month. He was joined by 28 other very-low income seniors as Rural Neighborhood’s HUD 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly project opened its doors in rural LaBelle. Executive Director Steven Kirk…
Rural Neighborhoods recently received funding under Rural LISC’s Healthy Housing Initiative in which it awarded $560,000 to 37 agencies. Rural Neighborhoods’ My Community, My Health Initiative is the health component of Rural Neighborhoods’ Eden Park-Esperanza Place (EP2) Mi Casa – Kominote M Revitalization Plan. Rural Neighborhoods will implement smoke-free housing for 219 households at the Eden Gardens, Esperanza Place and Main…
Rural Neighborhoods partnered with EnFamilia from Homestead to offer its first Summer Arts Camp in Immokalee. Collier County Parks and Recreation and Conservation Collier co-sponsored the camp which was held at beautiful Pepper Ranch in Immokalee. The camp served 15 students with the participants learning about visual arts and Mexican folklore/dance. Both organizations have partnered…
Last month, Rural LISC announced that Rural Neighborhoods was one of 18 community-based organizations serving rural communities in 16 states to receive funding under its arts and culture initiative. Generated from the Rural LISC Cohesive Economic Development Initiative, the grants support outstanding projects and programs that strive to improve residents’ engagement and pride in their…
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla) has been named a Rural LISC Policy Champion by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) for his efforts to support vital housing programs that help families in South Florida thrive. The eight-term congressman chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), where he has supported critical programs…
Twisted aluminum siding, broken two-by-fours, and soaked insulation is all that remained of the four hundred trailers local fruit and vegetable pickers called home for two decades. That morning after Hurricane Andrew, Everglades Labor Camp was strewn in pieces across a farm field. Months later, Bob Jensen stepped in as the Chairperson of Everglades Community…
The Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS), in partnership with Rural Neighborhoods and the Immokalee Unmet Needs Coalition, recently completed critical repairs to a home that suffered roof and interior damage from Hurricane Irma. The house was inhabitable due to holes in the roof and ceiling where water came through, damaging furniture underneath. Thanks to MDS, however,…
Natural disasters bring out the best in our communities. Bank partners boosted relief efforts with timely goods and capital after Hurricane Irma. CenterState Bank provided 8,000 bags of ice to residents in Eden Park-Esperanza Place in Immokalee and Everglades Village in Florida City as low-income residents awaited power restoration. Fifth Third, Bank United and TIAA/Everbank…
Hurricane Irma made nearly 100 structures in rural Immokalee uninhabitable in a matter of hours — mobile homes lost walls and roofs, traditional homes suffered flood damage from rising storm water. Hardest hit streets were marked by piles of clothes, drywall, flooring and furniture. Finding a new permanent residence takes longer than most imagine. Those…
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