The Homeless Trust is part of Cutler Bay’s future. Please accept us, Commissioner Cohen-Higgins | Opinion

To the editor:

As Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen-Higgins rightly points out in her May 4 opinion piece in the Miami Herald, the residents of Cutler Bay, together with the county, did chart a course for progress in South Dade that included economic growth, innovative development, and most importantly, housing for residents in the area.

The Homeless Trust shares that vision and our proposal is designed to further it by adding 107 units of permanent housing not far from where another 4,500 units are planned as part of the Southland Mall redevelopment.

Our transit-oriented development will allow people, many of whom could work in the newly developed shops and restaurants across Caribbean Boulevard, to live in the community in which they work.

Senior citizens who are among those most impacted by Miami-Dade County’s rental housing crisis can enjoy a walkable community and the many amenities that are planned. Let’s not leave some out of this transformative project that should be welcoming to all.

Somehow affordable housing is now something to be feared and fought, and we can only conclude that is because the purchaser of the La Quinta hotel has the word “homeless” in its organization name. The negative stigmas must not be allowed to perpetuate.

The NIMBYism (not in my backyard) in Cutler Bay must end. The Homeless Trust has been doing the work of ending homelessness for 30 years, helping people less fortunate than ourselves.

We have 5,000 people in our care living successfully in permanent housing across the county without incident. We are grateful for Commissioner Cohen-Higgins’s deep respect and support for our organization. We respectfully ask that she allow us to help those in our care succeed.

Homelessness impacts all areas of Miami-Dade County – all municipalities and all commission districts. The solutions need to be comprehensive and countywide. The Homeless Trust wants to ensure any acquisition improves the area, is compatible with the surrounding redevelopment, and enhances the quality of life for all.

The economic boom that is expected to result from the Southland Mall redevelopment project will make an investment in the La Quinta a good one for the Homeless Trust, those it serves, and taxpayers.

Ron Book,

Chair, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust