The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust was created in 1993 by the Board of County Commissioners with several primary functions:
- to administer proceeds of the one-percent food and beverage tax;
- to implement the local continuum of care plan, a three-phased plan, called the Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan (the “Plan”); and
- to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners on issues involving homelessness.
The Trust is not a direct service provider. Instead, it is responsible for the implementation of policy initiatives developed by the 27-member Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Board, and the monitoring of contract compliance by agencies contracted with the County, through the Trust, for the provision of housing and services for homeless persons.
Through its policies and procedures, the Trust also oversees the utilization of the food and beverage tax proceeds dedicated for homeless purposes, as well as other funding sources, to ensure the implementation of the goals of the three-phased plan.
Additionally, the Trust has served as lead applicant on behalf of the County for federal and state funding opportunities, and developing and implementing the annual process to identify gaps and needs of the homeless continuum.
The Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan is well into implementation as a result of directives of the Board, with policies and funding recommendations made to the Board of County Commissioners in support of the Plan.
Homeless Trust Leadership
The Trust is chaired by Ronald L. Book, Esq., Rabbi Solomon Schiff is Vice Chair, and Judge Steve Leifman is Finance Chair. Hilda Fernandez serves as the Trust’s Executive Director.
