Press Release
Release date: May 27, 2020
Contact: Juan Carlos Gordillo
Marketing & Communications Consultant
juang@nhssf.org
786-237-2122
Funds have been exhausted
Miami, September 1, 2020 — Starting in May, meaningful housing relief was delivered to help residents focus on regaining employment and getting back on their feet without the fear of losing the roof over their heads because they’ve failed to meet their rent or mortgage payments. After a couple of months of processing applications, the NHSSF C19 Relief Program’s funds supported by the Community Foundation of Broward have been exhausted. We thank the patience and trust of applicants. We genuinely appreciate the Community Foundation of Broward’s support in making this program possible.
Miami, May 27, 2020 – “I am a single mother of 3 young boys. I got laid off on March 13, due to the crisis of COVID-19. I am struggling to make any source of payments since I am no longer receiving any income from my job. I am afraid I won’t be able to pay my rent and all the accumulated rent I will have.”
Sadly, a story like this one is too familiar to many of us right now. Overnight stay-at-home orders were released, thousands of residents in South Florida were laid off, furloughed or saw their working hours cut drastically, the economy went to a full stop, and even when we are about to go back to a “new normal” the depth and extension of this lockdown have impacted our communities in ways we couldn’t even imagine.
Across South Florida, NHSSF has accounted for hundreds of households being financially affected since the COVID-19 took a step into our state, thanks to a survey distributed among served residents. Based on those results and NHSSF long experience as first responders in times of crisis, we swiftly reached out to partners and stakeholders to join forces in providing support to the families most vulnerable among us.
“We designed an emergency assistance program for Broward residents impacted by the coronavirus: We provide financial assistance to low-income families in Broward County to enforce housing stability in the aftermath of the pandemic,” stated Kimberly T. Henderson, President and CEO. The NHSSF C19 relief program will supply emergency assistance that can be used to pay full or partial rent, cover full or partial mortgage payments for those homeowners not covered by FHA, Fannie or Freddie, or cover escrow assistance or HOA fees, in a case-by-case scenario.
“NHSSF is deeply appreciative of this partnership with the Community Foundation of Broward, who shares our deep commitment to forging financial resiliency for Broward families who are struggling with the financial fall out due to COVID,” said Ofonedu Goodwyn, Chairman of NHSSF Board of Directors. The Community Foundation of Broward fully funds this program. This grant-making public charity helps connect Broward residents to crisis response services as the one NHSSF provides.
Starting in May, meaningful housing relief is being delivered to help residents focus on regaining employment and get back on their feet without the fear of losing the roof over their heads because they’ve failed to meet their rent or mortgage payments. Applications to the relief program can be sent through the NHSSF website or by phone call. Aid will be available in a first-come, first-served scenario until funds run out. For more information, Broward families can call 211 Broward, send us an email to info@nhss.org or call us at 305-751-5511.
Support has been provided by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward:
Kearns Family Foundation Fund
Barbara and Michael G. Landry Fund for Broward
August Urbanek Family Fund
Mary N. Porter Community Impact Fund
About the Community Foundation of Broward
Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation of Broward helps families, individuals and corporations create personalized charitable Funds that deliver game-changing philanthropic impact. 473 charitable Funds represent more than $212 million in assets, distributing $119 million in grants over the past 35 years. The Community Foundation provides bold leadership on community solutions and fosters philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter. The Foundation empowers visionaries, innovators and doers to create the change they want to see in the community – and to BE BOLD. www.cfbroward.org
About NHSSF
Putting families on the path to prosperity is our mission and the outcome we pursue when working with local residents to build flourishing and thriving communities across South Florida. With extensive experience providing financial literacy programs and housing services and products that empower individuals, create affordable housing opportunities, and revitalize neighborhoods, Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF) is a 501(c)(3) affordable housing and community development nonprofit organization, headquartered in the City of Miami since 1978.
In recent years, NHSSF has been at the forefront of local community leadership, playing a role as an educator, a builder, a lender, and a community catalyst thanks to its five lines of businesses currently available to the public. NHSSF is a chartered member of the NeighborWorks® America. In this capacity, we are part of a nationwide network of over 240 chartered community development organizations and one of the twenty that serve Florida residents.
