Over the past year I have had the opportunity to work for a congressional office. Here I have been able to learn about the needs that our community is currently facing. The access to affordable housing has always been a problem in the Miami area, although the covid-19 pandemic has seriously aggravated the problem. Although an eviction me-moratorium was set in place, it ended on August 26th, leaving thousands of people in the community vulnerable to being evicted. Section 8 housing applications should be used as a way to measure the seriousness of this crisis. More than 90,000 people in Miami Dade County applied for the chance to win just over 5,000 slots in the affordable housing plan. I strongly believe that it is only a matter of time before the U.S has a huge homeless crisis that will make national headlines. I believe that with the help of the Miami community, we can help alleviate and mitigate some of the problems that our community is facing.

3) “Fair Housing Act - Standing and Proximate Cause - Bank of America Corp. V. City of Miami.” Harvard Law Review, vol. 131, no. 1, Harvard Law Review Association, 2017, p. 373–.

- I plan on using this article to expose the fair housing act passage and its effects on Miami area residents. In addition, the Bank of America Corp. V City of Miami case will also serve as a way to expose the serious problems associated with the housing crisis and how banks engage in predatory loaning practices around the Miami area. This article will be used as a way to provide possible solutions to the current housing crisis while mentioning how the area has been affected by the banks and all time high prices. 

- I plan on using this article as a way to expose the problem with REO real-estate, also known as bank owned property. This article focused on certain areas of Miami-Dade County and exposes and identifies some of the hardest hit communities in the county. In addition, the article also focuses on the quality of life that the residents of the areas affected are able to reach once a considerable number of the area's property is owned by banks and mortgage companies. 

- I plan on using this journal to expose the common problems related to homeownership, with a special emphasis on the homeownership gap between high and low income residents of Miami-Dade County. This is a great resource because it focuses specifically in the home ownership data and information of Miami-Dade County. In addition, it also focuses on the home foreclosure issue of Miami-Dade County, information that I will use to provide further information on the magnitude of the problem. 

It is true that the government has invested vast amounts of resources to tackle this problem in the past. According to a housing study, “The federal government has already spent or allocated almost $7 billion on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which provides money to local governments and non-profits to address REO and other vacant properties.” (Ingrid, 2015).  Since this study was published, the local and federal governments have invested millions of dollars into the housing crisis, finding little success in eradicating the high amount of homelessness around the nation. It is clear that the current plan used to tackle this problem is not effective. Although providing NGO’s and local governments with funds can result effective at times, the problem arises on the long run. It is crucial that homeless residents receive the proper tools that allow them to reincorporate into society and acquire the sufficient funds and opportunities to restart their lives.

One can also look at the fair housing act that followed the Bank of America Corp. v. City of Miami suit to find further evidence on why it is so hard for Miami or any other major city in the nation to tackle the problem of homelessness. As provided by this case, “At the peak of the recession in 2010, when foreclosures numbered 2.9 million nationwide, nearly 500,000 of the foreclosed homes were located in Florida.” (Harvard, 2017). The increase in population and the mass migrations of Latin American citizens have aggravated the homeless crisis in Miami.

It is also important to take into account that the housing market and low ability for urban development in the past has only aggravated the problem. As this journal mentioned, “along with many other fast‐growing markets across the country, has been disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis that began in the late‐2000s.” (Meagan and Rachel, 2012). Both writers provided data on the significance and role that immigrants have played in the steep rise in home prices in Miami. The racial profiling and loan abuse by banks as well as the disproportionate levels of mass migrations into the city, have ignited the homeless crisis in Miami.

In conclusion, Miami’s homeless crisis should be taken very seriously by both politicians and citizens. It is key that residents become aware of the magnitude of the problem. In the near future, thousands of Miamians could be left without a home. The final effect of this crisis could have serious repercussions in the entire community. In addition, other cities around the nation have applied innovative methods that Miami could replicate in order to tackle the problem. Although this problem could pose a threat to the economic and social stability of Miami, there is still time to take action.

 

 Allow me to introduce myself. I am a sophomore student at Miami Dade College studying Political Science, with the ultimate goal of focusing on public policy and educational reform. I am 19 years old. I am originally from Spain and I have been living in Miami for the past 8 years.

 The topic of my research is: WHY DOES MIAMI HAVE A HOMELESS CRISIS?

  I selected this topic because, in my opinion, this is one of the biggest problems that Miami is currently facing, as a matter of fact, most major cities in the nation are seeing an increase in the number of homeless people living in their streets.

 My research shows several studies both at a local and national level. The researches focus on the major causes for the increase in homeless residents as well as past legislations and notorious court cases that have influenced the way Miami is currently tackling this problem.

My thoughts are that, it is extremely sad to see such a high the number of Miami residents that depend on affordable housing and that are currently living in the streets. The past Section 8 housing application in Miami Dade County clearly showed the lack of planning and resources that are being invested into this crisis. Over 90,000 people applied for Section 8 housing, while less than 6,000 thousand residents received affordable housing. I have high hopes that with enough citizen awareness and political initiatives, the homeless crisis in Miami and in the rest of the U.S can be solved.

 The title of the sources I used for my talks were the following:

 Does anyone have any questions? Please feel to ask me.

Thank you for listening. I hope you have a great day.