Campaign Launch

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Miami Dade Housing Agency admitted to losing over half of the families who were promised new homes when the county tore down Scott Homes over five years ago utilizing a federal HOPE VI grant. In response former residents and community organizations launched the Find Our People Campaign to find all the missing residents and fight for immediate housing.
The campaign was announced at a lively rally and press conference in front of the last remaining Scott Homes building (7155 NW 22nd Ave) by former residents, members of Low-Income Families Fighting Together (LIFFT), Miami Workers Center, Heart & Soul Coalition. The group also erected a Find Our People Name Wall that will serve as an information collection point and constant reminder of the failure of HOPE VI.
“We were kicked out of our homes and promised so much: housing, services, a chance to come back,” said Yvonne Stratford, former Scott resident and LIFFT leader. “They have broken every single promise. HOPE VI is a failure.”
Find Our People Campaign is utilizing radio announcements, wide-spread street outreach, a phone hotline 1-877-33-Housing-Now, and a website www.findourpeople.blogspot.com to locate the missing residence.
“Not only are we trying to find all of these people we are also demanding housing now,” declared Tony Romano of the Miami Workers Center. “The county and HOPE VI tore down Scott Homes in the middle of a housing crisis. They displaced over 850 families in the black community. This loss of housing in the black community during these hard times for housing is criminal and racist.”
Members of LIFFT and former Scott residents stood in front of an 8-foot tall “Name Wall” made up of five panels. Each panel will hold 75 names and space for people to fill in information about their lost neighbors, family and friends.
“I come out of Scott. I was homeless. But I was one of the lucky few. I got my home a couple months ago,” said Caprice Brown former Scott resident and member of LIFFT. “But I wont stop fighting until we all get was promised to us. Justice for Scotts. Find our people”