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Home for the Brave

By November 11, 2011, or Veteran’s Day, Broward Housing Solutions needs $91,368.00 to subsidize the rent of courageous men and women who, due to their service, have allowed millions of American families to keep their homes in a free and safe land.  Now it is our time to return the favor with our “Home for the Brave” project. 

Currently, Broward County has one of the highest homeless veteran populations in Florida with a PIT count at approximately 1,200-1,500, of which 45% suffer from a mental illness.  Broward Housing Solutions® plans to address this problem by providing permanent, affordable and safe housing for 16-32 men and women who are brave and patriotic figures of this country. 

When researching the need to house homeless veterans, Broward Housing Solutions® discovered alarming and unnerving results:

  • According to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, 250,000, or one-third, of the homeless population are veterans
  • Homelessness in the veteran population can be mostly attributed to addiction and mental illness, which is experienced by approximately 76% of homeless veterans
  • Foreclosure rates are four times higher than that of a non-veteran
  • Veterans face the highest unemployment rate at 9.2%
  • 19% of veterans from the Iraq War screen positive for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A 16 1-bedroom apartment complex known as Casa Montalto has been acquired with the plans of renovation in order to house 16-32 homeless low income veterans.  Casa Montalto is ideally situated on a major bus route which gives low income disabled veterans with severe and persistent mental illness access to transportation throughout Broward County. 

In addition to housing, each tenant will receive supportive and wrap around services from local community mental health providers.   Such services will include, but are not limited to, case management, counseling, and job skills. 

Broward Housing Solutions® has been awarded a grant for $602,000.00 for the acquisition of this property.  Although we have the funding to acquire the building, the challenge we face is the lack of subsidy dollars to make up the difference between what the tenant pays for rent (30% of their income at an average of $202 per month) and the actual market rent.  Any donations to help us reach our goal of $91,368.00 would be appreciated. 

Thank You!   

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