First-Ever Affordable Housing Community For Adults Living With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities Announced In Miami-Dade County
Supportive Living Community “Casa Familia, Inc.” Provides a Long-term Solution to the Lack of Affordable Housing for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Press Release
June 30, 2019
Miami, FL - In the first step to provide quality and affordable housing solutions for adults living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), South Florida-based nonprofit organization Casa Familia announced it has officially executed a lease with Miami-Dade County for seven acres of land in Kendall, Florida on which a state-of-the art permanent housing community will be developed and has secured first stage financing for the project.
The Casa Familia community will be constructed in phases, with the first offering to provide 50 to 60 units upon completion, which are expected to be occupied immediately. When complete, the community will incorporate affordable housing, continuing education, extracurricular activities, and social opportunities along with person-centered solutions for individuals with IDD. It will provide these services in a campus-style setting with green space, walkways, social areas, a fitness center and more. It will be the first and only community of its kind in South Florida.
Without Miami-Dade County’s leadership and vision in activating this property through a long-term ground lease, and working to organize a path for partnership, this project would not be a reality. Now, with the execution of the lease thanks to the invaluable help of law firm Bilzin Sumberg in streamlining negotiations and securing the site, Casa Familia has begun a campaign to raise the additional necessary funds for the long-term operations of the community.
“We have long recognized that housing options for adults with IDD are extremely limited and we have made it our primary goal to advocate for the rights of individuals with IDD to live independently by providing solutions to this problem,” said Karin Jawitz, President of Casa Familia’s Board of Directors and a mother of two who have a diagnosis of autism. “Our team has worked diligently over the past year to select an affordable housing developer and a perfect location for this residential community in Kendall. We thank Miami-Dade County for partnering with us on this impactful endeavor.”
Founded by eight families whose children have special needs, Casa Familia’s mission is to proactively address the lack of affordable, quality housing options for these adults to live independently, paving the way for similar projects in the South Florida community and beyond.
Bilzin Sumberg assisted Casa Familia in the site selection and represented them in the lease agreement with Miami-Dade County to make this public-private partnership a reality. According to Sara B. Herald, real estate and public-private partnerships attorney with Bilzin Sumberg, the Kendall location was selected to provide residents access to safe affordable housing and public transportation in a community-like setting.
About Bilzin Sumberg
Bilzin Sumberg works with clients whose business and legal opportunities and challenges span the United States and cross borders to Europe, Latin America, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm's growth has paralleled that of its Miami home base, a region known for its rich cultural, social, and professional diversity. Bilzin Sumberg lawyers concentrate on services at the heart of both regional and international commerce, including real estate, land development and government relations, environmental, corporate law, joint ventures, domestic and international tax and estate planning, business litigation, finance, and public/private partnerships. For more information, please visit bilzin.com.
The Casa Familia community will be constructed in phases, with the first offering to provide 50 to 60 units upon completion, which are expected to be occupied immediately. When complete, the community will incorporate affordable housing, continuing education, extracurricular activities, and social opportunities along with person-centered solutions for individuals with IDD. It will provide these services in a campus-style setting with green space, walkways, social areas, a fitness center and more. It will be the first and only community of its kind in South Florida.
Without Miami-Dade County’s leadership and vision in activating this property through a long-term ground lease, and working to organize a path for partnership, this project would not be a reality. Now, with the execution of the lease thanks to the invaluable help of law firm Bilzin Sumberg in streamlining negotiations and securing the site, Casa Familia has begun a campaign to raise the additional necessary funds for the long-term operations of the community.
“We have long recognized that housing options for adults with IDD are extremely limited and we have made it our primary goal to advocate for the rights of individuals with IDD to live independently by providing solutions to this problem,” said Karin Jawitz, President of Casa Familia’s Board of Directors and a mother of two who have a diagnosis of autism. “Our team has worked diligently over the past year to select an affordable housing developer and a perfect location for this residential community in Kendall. We thank Miami-Dade County for partnering with us on this impactful endeavor.”
Founded by eight families whose children have special needs, Casa Familia’s mission is to proactively address the lack of affordable, quality housing options for these adults to live independently, paving the way for similar projects in the South Florida community and beyond.
Bilzin Sumberg assisted Casa Familia in the site selection and represented them in the lease agreement with Miami-Dade County to make this public-private partnership a reality. According to Sara B. Herald, real estate and public-private partnerships attorney with Bilzin Sumberg, the Kendall location was selected to provide residents access to safe affordable housing and public transportation in a community-like setting.
About Bilzin Sumberg
Bilzin Sumberg works with clients whose business and legal opportunities and challenges span the United States and cross borders to Europe, Latin America, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm's growth has paralleled that of its Miami home base, a region known for its rich cultural, social, and professional diversity. Bilzin Sumberg lawyers concentrate on services at the heart of both regional and international commerce, including real estate, land development and government relations, environmental, corporate law, joint ventures, domestic and international tax and estate planning, business litigation, finance, and public/private partnerships. For more information, please visit bilzin.com.
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