With the cost of living rising in South Florida, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado visited Chapman Partnership South on Monday to bring attention to the urgent issue of homelessness across the county.
According to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, homelessness in South Miami-Dade has decreased. However, more than 3,000 people remain unsheltered this year. Local officials say the leading cause of homelessness continues to be the county’s lack of affordable housing.
Scott Hansel, CEO and President of Chapman Partnership, aims to expand support for those most affected. His team hopes that increased collaboration with public officials will help strengthen long-term solutions for families and individuals struggling to find stable shelter.
Regalado, who volunteered alongside her staff, spent the day serving meals to residents ranging from young children to seniors. She emphasized that public perception about homelessness often differs from reality.
“Whenever we talk about the unhoused or homelessness, I think people in most of Miami-Dade County are a little misinformed,” Regalado said. “It’s not bipolar people or drug addicts or the people that you see in the street. They’re really people that are one paycheck away from being homeless.”
Regalado also presented a check to Chapman Partnership to support their ongoing programs. She later met with several South Miami mayors to coordinate broader efforts intended to assist families in need during the holiday season and beyond.
