FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MIAMI, FL – In response to Hurricane Irma and the economic impact on Miami-Dade County’s low-income residents, Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department, with support from Citi Community Development, and in partnership with the Community Action Agency Foundation, Catalyst Miami, Branches and Youth Co-Op Inc., will be offering extended hours at multiple Community Resource Centers throughout the County.

“We know that many families have experienced a disruption to their income,” said Catalyst Miami CEO Gretchen Beesing. “Wages have been lost, jobs have been lost, and it’s difficult to catch up on important bills. For two-thirds of families in the County, Hurricane Irma may have been the emergency that took them from living on the edge to financial distress.”

The collaborative of nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and the Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department will provide important services to stabilize low-income families, including during select evening and weekend hours. Available services include: emergency food and shelter assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and job placement, utility payment assistance, various commodities, assistance with federal applications (FEMA) and assessment for other non-emergency services, such as early childhood education, elderly and disability services and services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and addiction.

Saturday hours will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on October 27, November 4, November 11 and November 18 at the following Community Resource Centers: Culmer, Miami Gardens, Frankie Shannon Rolle (Coconut Grove), Florida City and Liberty City.

In addition, select sites will be open until 7:30 p.m. from October 30 through November 30. Florida City, Edison/Little River and Coconut Grove will have these extended hours on Mondays; Perrine, Hialeah and Culmer will have these hours on Wednesdays; and Naranja, Wynwood and Miami Gardens will operate extended hours on Thursdays. Be advised that all Community Resource Centers will be closed on November 23 and 24.

For locations and contact information, please visit www.miamidade.gov/socialservices/. For additional information, contact Wanda Walker at 786-469-4610.

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About Catalyst Miami

Catalyst Miami believes everyone deserves a healthy and financially secure life; currently, two in three families in Miami don’t have enough savings to weather a financial emergency of any kind. For over 20 years, Catalyst Miami has committed to empowering residents to build better futures by providing family economic security programs, developing leadership and civic engagement, and building coalitions to address poverty. More detailed information about all their programs can be found on their website (catalystmiami.org).

Media Contact: Molly Delahunty
Tel.: 786-414-1292
Email: [email protected]