A Miami-based organization has received a $200,000 grant to buy foreclosed or abandoned Liberty City houses and transform them into affordable housing for low-income residents.
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida received the money from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, a charitable arm of Wells Fargo.
The organization will use the money to buy and renovate 10 houses.
Founded in 1978, Neighborhood Housing Services works to create affordable housing and revitalize communities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, offering services such as financial counseling, homebuyer education classes and foreclosure-prevention assistance.
The houses to be purchased with the grant will be equipped with energy-efficient appliances and have window treatments and other “green” amenities.
They will be available for purchase at favorable terms by residents of Liberty City or those who have been displaced as a result of the foreclosure crisis.
The Wells Fargo foundation’s "Leading the Way Home" program provides up to $250,000 to nonprofit organizations for large building or renovation projects to stimulate growth, stability and investment in distressed neighborhoods, the organization said.
The foundation has also awarded a $200,000 grant that will let Broward Alliance for Neighborhood Development purchase foreclosed homes in Hollywood, Oakland Park, Sunrise and West Park.
Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County received $150,000 to build 10 affordable homes for low-income families in the Point Sienna Heights area.
The Liberty City Link staff may be contacted at reisnern@fiu.edu.
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