| |
| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #855 |
| GALATA Intergenerational Community Resource Center |
| |
| Requester: |
Joseph G. �Billy� Louis |
Organization: |
GALATA, Inc. |
| |
| Project Title: |
GALATA Intergenerational Community Resource Center |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 12:04:38 PM |
| |
| Sponsors: |
Bullard |
| |
| Statewide Interest: |
| The Center will provide a safe and accessible place for people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to participate in educational, social, and vocational activities. Services to youth ages 11-18 are designed to reduce instances of teenage pregnancy, gang and general neighborhood violence, school dropout, and illiteracy while encouraging leadership, attainment of post secondary education, and gainful employment. Services to elderly ages 60+ aim to provide linkage to needed social services, reduce feelings of isolation, serve daily hot meal and encourage good nutrition and fitness. |
| |
| Recipient: |
GALATA, Inc. |
|
Contact: |
Joseph G. �Billy� Louis, BS or LaKeesha Fletcher, MSW |
|
| |
916 N. Flagler Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030 |
|
Contact Phone: |
(305) 242-7060 |
|
| |
Homestead 33030 |
|
Contact email: |
galatainc@hotmail.com |
| |
| Counties: |
Miami-Dade |
| |
| Gov't Entity: |
|
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
| |
| Project Description: |
| In December 2006, GALATA purchased a building located at 916 N. Flagler Avenue in Homestead, FL 33030 for $590,000, located along the newly expanded Busway, This 5500 square foot building is twice the size of GALATA�s former location and is ideal for the services that GALATA provides.
Funding from the Community Budget Issue Request is being solicited for Galata to achieve our goal which is to double the number of clients served annually to 1000, through our programs and services, we will be able to provide activities such as: information and referral, legal services, recreation to reduce loneliness and isolation, daily hot meal, mental health counseling, immigration services, literacy classes, information on obtaining a senior Gold Passport for free transportation and escort services, self-enhancement workshops, tax assistance and financial counseling and recreational activities.
This population is among the most underserved members of the South Dade communities. Accordingly, they currently face issues such as lack of French/Creole speaking medical personnel working in medical facilities, significant cultural barriers and misinformation and miscommunication throughout elderly communities as to public assistance availability and eligibility criteria.
A large percentage of the elderly Hispanic, Haitians, and other minorities are living within the poverty range. 80% of counted refugee/immigrant populations are documented as receiving earnings of only minimum wage due to lack of training and education that prevents them from participating in the professional and paraprofessional workforce.
They have been experiencing economic, social and financial hardships due to legal, language and cultural barriers. In the case of elderly Haitian farm-workers, the clients are faced with the choices of going to the farms, asking their children for help, or attending school, the latter of which doesn�t offer immediate rewards. On the farms, the elder has little exposure to acculturation or socialization skills that can be of extreme importance in their adjustment process to living in a new country.
In order to bridge those gaps, Galata will provide services to the elderly populations who are in desperate need of these services. Galata will collaborate and coordinate with other agencies, such as SOS (Start Off Smart - helping consumers who are in the court systems because of domestic matters), COFFO (Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations, Inc., who is providing legal and immigration services), MUJER (Mujeres Unidas en Justicia, Educacion y Reforma) for domestic violence intervention, Community Action Agency (CAA), The Alliance for Aging, and New Horizon, the ACCESS and SAVE program ect.
The GALATA Intergenerational Community Resource Center will include an exercise room, a full service unisex beauty salon for the elderly, a computer lab and resource library (literature provided in English, Spanish, Creole, and French), and rooms for community training programs. In addition to this, an after school program for the youth, summer youth employment, youth mentoring, technical/vocational training (i.e. carpentry, computer repair, A+ Certification, CISCO Networking Certification, Network +, and Power Point Presentation training), economic development training, and self-sufficiency activities to the community. This center is easily accessible via public transportation and will provide a safe environment for people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to participate in educational, social, and vocational activities.
Project Readiness
GALATA has made great strides in accomplishing our goal of purchasing and renovating a building to serve as the GALATA Intergenerational Community Resource Center.
GALATA is pleased to report that to-date $680,000 has been secured for the purchase and renovation of the building.
Funding Secured (See Commitment Letters Enclosed):
Miami-Dade County Building Better Communities Grant - $500,000 (purchase)
Miami-Dade County OCED- CDBG - $180,000 (renovations) (Letter enclosed)
Local government officials, community partners, and GALATA�s governing board has provided letters of support for this project, and participants have been allowed the opportunity to give their input as to what they would like to see in the center. (See Appendix: Letters of Support)
Sustainability
GALATA has secured $500,000 to pay off a large portion of our $590,000 loan used to purchase the building. These grants will greatly reduce our overhead expenses creating additional funds to be used to enhance our direct services. This will include hiring additional staff and doubling our client base.
Attached, you will find a list of GALATA committed funds and grant requests to document our ability to continue with operational costs. GALATA continues to submit grant proposals for various foundations and governmental agencies (local, state, and federal) for the expansion of services.
Finally, GALATA is making preparations to apply for accreditation through the National Council on Aging with a goal of becoming the first Nationally Accredited Senior Center in Miami-Dade County. Completing the GALATA Intergenerational Community Resource Center is the final step in preparation for accomplishing this goal. By becoming a nationally accredited senior center, we will be able to portray to potential funders that we are a viable, fundable, and qualified provider in the Miami-Dade community.
|
| |
| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
| |
| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Galata will provide activities such as: information and referral, legal services, recreation to reduce loneliness and isolation, daily hot meal, transportation to doctor visit, mental health counseling, immigration services, literacy classes, senior Gold Passport application, self-enhancement workshops, tax assistance and financial counseling and recreational activities. |
| |
| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$300,000 |
| |
| Total cost of the project: |
$1,190,000 |
| |
| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
| |
| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Federal |
| |
Cash Amount |
$680,000 |
|
| |
| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
|
No |
| |
| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
|
Yes |
|
Amount: |
$150,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
| |
| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
|
No |
| |
| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
| |
| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
| |
Documentation: |
2007 Alliance for Human Services Social Service Master Plan, OCED-CDBG HUD and Agency Needs Assess |
| |
| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
|
No |
| |
| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
|
No |
