Miami-Dade's Community Development Corporations
& Nonprofit Housing Developers
Achievement and Progress in our Neighborhoods
A description of most of Miami-Dade's most active Community Development Corporations and their nonprofit partners. Provided are brief histories and biographies of Coalition members along with contact information. Enjoy.
Allapattah Business Development Authority (ABDA). Developes affordable condomium units in the ethnically diverse neighborhoods wedged between Little Havana and Liberty City. It commercial revitalization efforts have been very successful and have been a key ingedient to the rejunventation of the 20th street corridor. Phone: 305 635 3561
BAME Development Corporation of South Florida (BAME) is a community development corporation; providing quality resources in real estate development to facilitate the creation of unique, vibrant and sustainable housing and commercial real estate development primarily in the lower-income communities of south Florida. Established in 1992, BAME is a proud affiliate of the historic Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church, the oldest Black Church in Miami, celebrating 110-years March of 2006. BAME has been at the forefront in providing housing and economic opportunities primarily in Miami's historic Overtown community. Having completed 545 affordable housing units over the last few years, with another 160 units underway via Lafayette Square in Little Haiti, BAME has become an anchor community development institution in neighborhoods that "in the past" has often been forgotten. . . "the past does not equal the future.” We are BAME! Phone 305-373-7233
Carrfour Corp.: Carrfour Corporation is the non-profit, community based, supportive housing development organization established by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce to combat homelessness. Carrfour serves the formerly homeless and those at risk of homelessness, including Miami-Dade's special needs and very low income populations. Carrfour projects have not only proven to be real assets to assisting their residents in becoming self sufficient and productive; but have become assets to the vitality of the neighborhoods in which they are located as well. Phone: 305-371-8300.
Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation: The Coconut Grove LDC, celebrating their 20th year of activism in the West Coconut Grove target area, has much to look back on with pride. In the last 20 years, the LDC has rehabilitated over 80 single family housing units, constructed 32 award winning single family homes, completed over 60 commercial facades on Grand Ave., provided technical assistance for the establishment and retention of over 60 local businesses, and has actively provided a host of social services that have assisted thousands of the West Grove's residents. With so much already accomplished, the next 10 years of Coconut Grove LDC will undoubtedly be bright. Phone: 305-446-3095
Centro Campesino Farmworkers Center: Centro Campesino, one of the few CBOs that specifically targets their efforts in improving the lives and promoting self-sufficiency of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural south Miami-Dade County, has over the years successfully developed over 400 affordable new homes, an education and job training center, a modern child care center, a youth development project, a leadership training and community building program, and a community center. Centro Campesino is an institution that is actively promoting and representing Miami-Dade's migrant community while offering a strong network of social services and housing opportunities. It has recently begun construction on a second phase of its homeownership subdivision south of Florida City. Phone: 305245-7738
CODEC: Formed as a sister organization of the Cuban American National Council, CODEC has been a leader in creating integrated, mixed income housing opportunities in the central city neighborhoods as well as wealthier neighborhoods away from the County's urban core. Having leveraged millions of dollars in private investments and Federal grants, CODEC has produced close to 1,500 units of housing for the County's low income elderly population, and the production of what will be a senior citizen service center. Phone: 305-642-1381
DEEDCO: Having just completed the Brownsville Renaissance Center that will provide 29,600 sq. ft. in retail space in central Miami, DEEDCO has been revitalized and renewed. With the Brownsville Renaissance Center and 7 other projects underway, including a telecommunications center that will create 80 permanent jobs in Little Haiti, 315 units of housing, and funding to start planning DEEDCO Gardens II (77-100 units of elderly housing); DEEDCO is once again poised to assume a central position in community development efforts throughout the County. Phone: 305-577-8080
East Little Havana CDC: The City of Miami's East Little Havana community has been ground zero for much of the immigration to South Florida over the past 30 years. The people of East Little Havana are primarily recent immigrants from Central and South America, and the neighborhood has, in turn, experienced many problems commonly associated with poverty. East Little Havana CDC, however, has been actively working to change that. The organization has made great strides in creating jobs, rehabilitating commercial facilities, providing services, and building over 350 of affordable housing units. ELHCDC helps residents and business owners participate in and benefit from the revitalization of the East Little Havana area, thereby stabilizing the community and offering the real chance at sustained development. Phone: 305-856-2547.
Goulds CDC: While being a relative newcomer in the field of community development, Goulds CDC has proven itself in little time. With their Historic Goulds Storeporch District project, Goulds CDC will promote economic redevelopment while preserving a bit of Goulds' history for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. Along with providing 80 infill housing units for homeownership and homeownership education nearby, Goulds CDC is as much creating a future community while preserving past one. Phone: 305-278-6950
Greater Miami Neighborhoods, Inc.: Greater Miami Neighborhoods (GMN), an outgrowth from a public-private initiative of The Enterprise Foundation in the mid-1980s, has been one of the strongest and most holistic of all nonprofit housing developers in the County. GMN has taken the philosophic approach that the creation of "community" comes not from the mere provision of housing, social services, or economic development; but rather from activities that address all the needs within the community, on a multi-facited level, with the residents involved in each step of a project's implementation. GMN has been directly or indirectly involved with the provision and preservation of over 5,000 units of housing. Currently, GMN has teamed with U.S. HUD and Miami-Dade County, in a homeownership project that will involve offering close to 100 residents homeownership opportunities while revitalizing a distressed neighborhood. Phone: 305-324-5505
Haven Economic Development, Inc. - Primarily serves Miami-Dade and Broward Counties put is involved in a number of projects across Florida. Develops new housing units and provides financial and credit counseling, assistance in credit repair, and homebuyers education in cooperation with other non-profit and for-profit organizations. In Miami-Dade call (305)
635-3398. In Broward call (954) 423-1637
Jubilee CDC: Jubilee CDC; a faith-based CDC sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese, Lutheran Services, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches; has developed affordable housing and economic development projects that have positively contributed to the vitality of the vast number of neighborhoods it targets. With close to 550 units of single and multi-family housing having been developed, Jubilee has successfully enhanced the social and economic condition of thousands of low-income individuals and families throughout Miami-Dade. Phone: 305-649-1553
Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc.: Without a doubt, one of Miami-Dade's most enduring CBOs is Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc. (LHHA), which has become the principal driving force in the redevelopment of Miami's Little Haiti community. Founded in 1987 by community and church leaders, to date LHHA has assisted more than 120 families to become home owners, rehabilitated 76 units of rental housing and graduated more than 350 families from its home ownership training program. Currently, LHHA is beginning development of 2O new construction scattered site homes, a 15 unit new construction townhouses, and 16 units of new construction rental housing. In March of 2002 LHHA will be opening the first Intel Computer Clubhouse in Florida, a youth-oriented state-of-the-art computer facility. In late-February 2002 families will begin gardening at the one acre Reclamation Community Garden. In terms of economic development, LHHA was instrumental in securing a charter for the Little Haiti-Edison Federal Credit Union, the first community development credit union in the City of Miami. Phone: 305759-2542
Miami Beach CDC: The explosion of redevelopment activity and the breadth of the changes that have taken place on Miami Beach simply would not have occurred in the manner it did without the works of the Miami-Beach CDC. Through the CDC's multifamily housing program, the homebuyer assistance program, its facade improvement program, the rehabilitation of over 250 housing units, its housing counseling program, and the development of unique special needs housing for the elderly and people afflicted with HIV; Miami-Beach CDC can take pride in the fact that the incredible growth and development on the beach is a direct result of its long history and activism in the once-blighted community. Phone: 305-538-0090.
Miami Dade Neighborhood Housing Services: Organized in 1978, Miami-Dade Neighborhood Housing Services' homeownership resources are available countywide, including homebuyer education and counseling, and access to funds for first mortgages, second mortgages, and owner-occupied rehab loans. MDNHS works with its secondary market partner Neighborhood Housing Services of America in Oakland, California, to sell loans that MDNHS originates thereby replenishing the funds for more lending locally. MDNHS is revamping its single family new construction program to restart in the Spring of 2002. MDNHS is one of three partners in the 79th Street Corridor Initiative to revitalize the 79th Street commercial corridor. MDNHS roots are in the West Little River Neighborhood where it has been the leader in arresting deterioration through its extensive community lending program for housing rehabilitation efforts, the new construction of affordable homeownership units, homeownership education, and the direct rehabilitation of over 100 units. Phone: 305-751-5511
Miami-Dade Urban League: Targeting Model City, the Urban League's unified and comprehensive approach to revitalization efforts are apparent on a number of levels. From their "Child Development Zone" which aims at improving the lives all residents in their target area through education, mentoring, and crime prevention initiatives to their housing and economic development efforts that include the production and management of over 500 high quality affordable housing units and small business development efforts; the Urban League is at the forefront in the redevelopment of Model City. A partner in the 79th Street Corridor Initiative, the Urban League will serve as a critical component to the revitalization of N.W. 79th Street and its adjacent neighborhoods. Phone: 305-696-4450
Nehemiah Project of Homestead, Inc.: The Nehemiah Project, a nonprofit affordable housing provider affiliated with the Mennonite Church, had its starting in 1992 as a response to the widespread destruction of Hurricane Andrew. Since then, Nehemiah has rehabilitated 50 single family homes that were either damaged or neglected as a consequence of Andrew and provides on-going homeownership counseling. Nehemiah, in partnership with Greater Miami Neighborhoods, is currently constructing 7 new homeownership units in Florida City. Nehemiah has successfully provided homeownership opportunities to very low income residents of Homestead and South Dade whose annual incomes are often well below 20% of the Median Income of Miami-Dade. Phone: 305-245-5885
Opa-locka CDC: Since 1980 the Opa-locka CDC has diligently served the Opa-locka and North Dade communities with a comprehensive approach to revitalization. OLCDC has an impressive track record developing affordable housing with over 1,400 units built, which include single- and multi-family units. Its homeownership counseling and mortgage pre-qualification program has assisted over 500 people. Further, the CDC is creating a loan fund to provide home rehab loans. OLCDC*s economic development initiatives have been equally successful. It restored a historic office building and is now restoring the historic Opa-locka train station. In addition, OLCDC is developing a 120-acre industrial park, which will leverage $100 million in investment and create 1,000 jobs for local residents. Phone: 305-687-3545
St. John's CDC: Growing out of the Overtown neighborhood anchor institution of St. John's Baptist Church, St. John's CDC is poised to begin the rebirth of Overtown through housing initiatives, commercial facade improvements, and homeownership counseling. With over 40 homes and multifamily units already in place and 14 townhomes for homeownership are under construction. St. John's is developing other parcels that it owns in Overtown for multi- and single family homeownership in one of the most challenging and impoverished environments in Miami-Dade County. Phone: 305-372-0682
Tacolcy CDC: Tacolcy is one of the few nonprofit developers of affordable housing and community development based in and for Miami's Liberty City neighborhood. Tacolcy has over the years assisted the troubled Liberty City recover from the riots of the late 1980s, and provided a vital impetus to the recovery and revitalization of the community. Having completed over 2000 units of multi and scattered site housing and with more on the way, Tacolcy has become a beacon of hope in Liberty City and beyond. Phone: 305-757-3737.
Universal Truth CDC: Active in the holistic redevelopment of the Vista Verde and Carol City neighborhoods since 1994; Universal Truth, a faith-based organization, has been leading the way with projects for the rehabilitation of housing, street improvements and infrastructure upgrades, neighborhood beautification, and homeownership education. Universal Truth, affiliated with Universal Truth Center/Ministries, is the sole and principal agency reshaping the Vista Verde and Carol City neighborhoods with an emphasis on the sustainability of its projects. Phone: 305-624-4991
West Perrine CDC: Since its inception in 1985, there are few CDCs that are as active and comprehensive in their approach to community economic development as is the West Perrine CDC. Having assisted with the development of a strategic plan for the holistic revitalization of the community, West Perrine has successfully produced close to 350 units of single family housing and an additional 162 units of multifamily units for low income residents. Additionally, the CDC has developed a business Enterprise Center; the Lee Lawrence Commercial Center; the West Perrine Housing Opportunity Center (for homeownership counseling), neighborhood beautification projects, infrastructure upgrade initiatives, as well as a host of public safety, social service, and youth activities. Phone: 305-234-0803
Word of Life CDC: As one of the newer CDCs in Miami-Dade, Word of Life CDC has quickly become a key player in its target area of Carol City. Affiliated with Word of Life Missionary Baptist Church, the CDC has responded to the housing needs of the community by obtaining 6 infill lots and has partnered with developer Armando Cazo for the development of homownership units for area residents. In addition, Word of Life has partnerd with Pro Player Stadium to provide employment opportunities for neighborhood youth. Phone: 305 637-1111
Wind & Rain, Inc.: As the largest for-profit developer of affordable single family homeownership infill units in the any predominately African American neighborhood in the City of Miami, Wind & Rain has been an intricate component in revitalization of the "Black (Western) Grove" section of Coconut Grove. The concept behind Wind & Rain, Inc. is comprised of a central yet simple idea: anybody who is working and trying to better themselves deserves a chance at the American Dream of owning their own home. With Wind & Rain; that chance is increasingly becoming a reality. Phone: 305-588-5209.
While the individual actions and efforts of any one of Miami-Dade's CDC and CBO described might seem peripheral to the casual observer; taken collectively they are changing the face of our urban communities, offering hope where there was once was little to none. It's true that many of our neighborhoods are still poor and may remain so. However, community and economic development efforts by community based organizations assist the residents to live in more stable and secure environments in a manner that public bureaucratic agencies cannot. What is needed more than anything else is a greater degree of public-private partnerships to jump start venture development activity in Miami-Dade's most distressed neighborhoods where regular market forces have ceased to exist. With neither government nor the "market" offering solutions to intransigent poverty and social disorganization; the CDCs/CBOs described are learning the rough and tough terrain of our poorest communities. Each of their successes is a small miracle in its own right and each is a building brick to a greater, more just society.