from staff
As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will chronicle the efforts of local nonprofit organizations each week. Bailey Publishing & Communications invites all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and any other information they feel would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: [email protected].
We also encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Community-based housing for disabled
Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc. began as the housing program of a services organization. In 2004, the agency evolved into an organization dedicated solely to the provision of quality, affordable housing. Since that time, it has increased the housing it provides the community by 750 percent.
The mission of Ability Housing is to provide quality, affordable, community-based housing with an emphasis on adults with disabilities and others challenged by homelessness.
“We adopted this mission when we realized there was a void in housing provided to the community. There were shelter beds and traditional affordable housing but nothing bridging the gap between those two. As a result, individuals and families were relegated to remaining in shelters for months and months; there was no where for them to go,” stated Executive Director Shannon Nazworth.
Ability Housing is the only organization in our community with the focus of developing and operating quality, affordable, rental housing that: provides a permanent solution to the homeless issue plaguing our community; provides housing affordable to the community’s most vulnerable households; stabilizes and revitalizes neighborhoods effected by detrimental rental properties; and improves the quality of life of the resident, the neighborhood and the broader community.
The foundation of this mission is not the housing created but the residents of the housing and their neighborhoods. The output is housing units; the outcomes are an improved quality of life for each resident and the community.
“Some of those we serve have a disability and require supports to live independently. Others are facing financial challenges – especially in today’s economy – and really just need an affordable place to live in order to be successful,” explained Board President Reggie Fullwood.
Homelessness in Duval County has increased 92 percent since 2000. Ability Housing’s mission is integral to ending this blight on our community.
Ability Housing provides several housing options to the community. CASA is a groundbreaking, award-winning, scattered-site, single-family rental project designed for adults with disabilities. HousingLink Jax is an innovative homeless prevention strategy created in collaboration with the City and the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Villages implements national best practices for housing vulnerable households.
Through Villages, Ability Housing develops and operates quality, multifamily, rental properties. The housing is linked with services to ensure vulnerable households have the supports necessary to maintain their housing and continue to improve their quality of life.
Ability Housing’s impact on the community is not limited to the housing developed. Over the last five years, Ability Housing has become increasingly involved in advocating for local, state and federal system changes that enable an increased production of housing for vulnerable households.
Because of these advocacy efforts, Nazworth has been appointed to several statewide positions, including the state’s Affordable Housing Study Commission and the Council on Homelessness. Locally, Ability Housing has been instrumental in advocating for increased housing resources for persons with special needs including those facing homelessness. Ability Housing actively participated in the creation of a rental assistance program designed to prevent homelessness in Jacksonville. Ability Housing staff have served on the board of the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition, been appointed by the mayor to the Jacksonville HIV Health Services Council and have served as members of the City of Jacksonville Extremely Low-Income Housing Workgroup.
For more information on Ability Housing visit www.abilityhousing.org.
– Submitted by Ability Housing.
Health care for the uninsured
St. Vincent’s Healthcare is partnering with Volunteers in Medicine-Jacksonville for an event to highlight the national “Cover the Uninsured Week 2009” which concludes Saturday.
There are currently 46 million Americans, including 9 million children, who are living without health insurance. In Jacksonville there are 120,000 individuals who are uninsured and forced to gamble every day they won’t become sick or injured.
The St. Vincent’s Mobile HealthCare RV will provide free health screenings Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Volunteers in Medicine clinic at 41 E. Duval St.
Since 2003, Volunteers in Medicine-Jacksonville has provided a wide array of health services to low-income, working uninsured individuals and their families who live or work in Duval County. Services include free diagnosis and treatment, free laboratory testing, free or extremely low-cost prescription medications, free nutritional counseling and diabetes education, free mammograms and ultrasound diagnostic procedures for female patients age 40 and older, free ophthalmologic examinations and referral for secondary care to hospitals and specialists.
To volunteer, confirm patient eligibility or get more information, call 399-2766 or visit www.vim-jax.org.
Bowling to help children
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides one-on-one, professionally supported mentoring programs for youth. The organization matches adult volunteers who want to make a difference in a child’s life with children who need and want a friend.
Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida holds its largest fundraiser of the year at local bowling alleys.
“Bowl for Kids Sake” will be held Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at Bowl America on Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park. Individuals or companies who would like to participate may call Nicola Barnack at 727-9797, ext. 252.
Federal grant to aid homeless
The Emergency Services & Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc. has received a $3.91 million Continuum of Care grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will be used to assist homeless individuals and families in Duval and Clay counties find a stable home and also to provide services to that community.