Reason to give
In Greater Miami, we are immersed in an environment of abundance and unimaginable wealth, which shines brightly in marketing materials for the Magic City. Putting aside such neighborhoods as Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Brickell, Edgewater, Shenandoah, Silver Bluff, the Design District and the Upper Eastside’s historic districts, a different city emerges. Diverse urban neighborhoods have been underserved for decades. New residential development in these areas is putting extreme financial pressure on working-class residents. It’s no secret that housing affordability is at a crisis level in Miami.
As our community’s largest historic preservation organization, Dade Heritage Trust is using our mission to help solve this problem. Our initiative — the preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) — is the most prevalent affordable housing across the country.
NOAH is not government subsidized. It’s affordable because the living conditions are so bad and the landlords don’t charge high rents. Tenants don’t complain about the deteriorating conditions for fear of being evicted or rents being increased. Landlords don’t repair anything because they don’t need to. So, living conditions remain affordable yet unhealthy.
Dade Heritage Trust has purchased three historic multifamily apartment buildings in Little Havana. When we buy the buildings, they invariably have leaky roofs and windows, non-functioning appliances, roaches and even termites. Through our program, we historically designate the buildings and restore and rehabilitate them, providing healthy, lovely living conditions with impact windows, new roofs, new kitchens and baths, all while maintaining the affordability for some of Miami’s most needy residents.
We’re also kicking off a new artist housing project in a once abandoned historic residence in the Lummus Park Historic District. Equally important as preserving affordability, the program preserves green space, trees and neighborhood character — no new zero lot line, out-of-neighborhood character projects.
We want to do more — and we can, with your help on Give Miami Day. We encourage you to support Dade Heritage Trust and our affordable housing initiative which, building by building, project by project, helps ensure a better Miami for all.
Christine Rupp,
Executive Director – Dade Heritage Trust,
Miami