NEWSLETTER – FLCDC

The 2023 Fort Lauderdale Community Development Corporation meet and greet was held on Monday October 9th, 2023 at 7 p.m. It was a good time for all in attendance. The meet and greet gave the board members and residents an opportunity to get to know each other and share refreshments.

We talked about the results of the annual residents survey. The key concerns were parking and getting additional feedback to improve services for residents. FLCDC’s goal is to help improve the quality of life for all FLCDC for all residents. The FLCDC, executive director, board members and property manager will explore ways to improve the parking situation at all apartment buildings.

Residents Mr. Jones and Ms. Hamilton discussed suggested money management and financial literacy classes as well as first-time homeownership classes. They also brainstormed ways to increase resident participation for the next meet and greet event. We look forward to bringing solutions to your concerns and increased access to recommended services.

FLCDC strives to provide affordable housing in your community and are excited to serve you.

Health and Safety

The FLCDC makes every effort to provide a safe, healthy and clean living environment for you and your family. Please help keep your community clean by using the trash bins. Put your garbage and trash in garbage bags before placing the bags in the containers. Do not leave loose garbage and trash around the bins or on the ground.

Now may be a good time to remove clutter from your home. If you have clean clothing, small appliances or toys that are in working condition, consider donating items to Goodwill or a charity of your choice. This act of generosity will help you create a cleaner living space for yourself while helping someone else too.

Your Health—Get Your Flu Shot

Flu season occurs during the colder months, starting as early as October and sometimes continuing into May, although it usually peaks between December and February.

In the workplace and in school, shopping etc. we are all exposed to the flu. Be on the lookout for children or adults suffering with fevers, coughs, and sore throats. Take care and get your flu vaccination, wash your hands often, wear a mask in close quarters especially with strangers. Senior citizens are especially vulnerable. If you have flu like symptoms, seek guidance from your medical provider.

FEMA Aid is Available for Uninsured Losses Resulting from the April Floods

FEMA aid is targeted to uninsured losses and disaster-related expenses. This can include replacement of necessary personal property, such as furniture and appliances, repairs to make a home habitable, and uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage costs. Assistance for temporary housing is given out initially for one-month or two-month periods, but it can be reviewed for further assistance.

The Small Business Administration is offering long-term, low-interest loans not only to businesses but residents as well.

Anyone impacted by the disaster who hasn’t already applied for assistance should do so soon. The deadline for individuals to file for assistance is June 27, 2023.

You can go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. The helpline is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For in-person assistance, people may go to four locations:

• Hortt Park, 1700 SW 14th Ct. It’s open Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 8 pm.
• Samuel Delevoe Park, 2520 NW 6th St. It’s open on Monday - Saturday from 8 am - 7 pm.
• Sadkin Community Center, 1176 NW 42 Way in Lauderhill. It’s open Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 8 pm.
• The Northeast Parking Lot at the Big Easy Casino, 831 N. Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach. It’s open Monday - Saturday from 8 am - 7 pm.

Utility Billing

Due to the closure of City Hall, the Utility Billing and Collections office is temporarily located in the Development Services Department building at 700 N.W. 19th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33311.

The lobby hours are Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm.
The office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.

Manage Your Utility Account Online
• Manage your account online at https://utilitybilling.fortlauderdale.gov
• View and pay your bills online 24/7
• Go paperless to receive bills via email
• Schedule your payments in advance
• Make credit card payments with Auto Pay
• Sign up to Pay by Text
• Receive email and text reminders.

Online Payments
For online payments, we accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express.

What To Expect At Camp Y
From fun under the sun to making friends and learning life long lessons, Camp Y is the number one summer camp in the nation.

Campers make friends, have fun, get active and discover who they are and what they can achieve. Kids can expect to experience something new every day Whether it’s through singing or swimming, through nature hikes or sports, or fashion shows or leadership training, we help them grow as individuals and leaders Y Campers will even sit with a literacy teacher daily to prevent summer learning losses! Includes lunch and weekly activities!

Community Safety

The management and board of directors are very committed to your safety and well-being, effective January 2023 we have incorporated best practices in the policies and procedures to achieve this objective.

The lease that you signed to become a resident requires that all persons living in each apartment need to be listed and included in the lease. This is for the benefit of all residents in the community as well as the property owner.

Statistics prove that violence drops by as much as 40% in neighborhoods where residents know and watch out for one another. We encourage you to get to know your neighbors and to report unusual occurrences in the community. Each resident is responsible for adhering to the terms of their lease and is subject to eviction for not doing so.

Broward College at L.A. LEE YMCA/ MIZELL CENTER

Broward UP (Unlimited Potential) has expanded Broward College’s service model to ensure all Broward County residents have access to education after high school. Broward College is offering FREE workforce training and support services online and directly in the neighborhood at the Y. By partnering with Broward College the L.A. Lee Y’s goal is to help you get the training needed to find a good job, make more money, and get the skills needed to thrive in the workforce.

Broward College is located on the 4th floor at 1409 NW 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. Please stop by to explore their course and workshop options; or visit the website https://www.broward.edu/browardup.

Are you interested in homeownership?

The FLCDC is developing a new 2,005 square foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom single family home on a vacant lot located at 517 NW 13 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, between NW 6th Street and NW 5th Street.

This home is being developed in partnership with the City of Fort Lauderdale with HOME Funds. The purchase price is $332,000 and the homebuyer’s income cannot exceed 80% of the Area Median Income.

The City of Fort Lauderdale Purchase Assistance Program may be available to first-time home buyers, that have successfully completed a certified First Time Home Buyers Program and meet all other requirements.

If you are interested and have questions, please contact the FLCDC office at 954-764-8500

The new L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center now open!

Located in the Historic Sistrunk community, the new L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center will impact more than 18,000 people per year and include a preservation of the history of the community and previous L.A. Lee YMCA.

The building will be 65,000 square feet, and of that, YMCA traditional programs will be run in about 25,000 square feet. The rest will be Broward College, retail space, community meeting space, and other features available to the community.

Traditional Y program offerings – exercise and wellness options, youth programs and activities, family Health & wellness programs – diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Meeting Space - that supports events from community – family reunions, group meetings, HOAs, a place to gather

Retail Space - drive economic development in the corridor and give business owners affordable space to grow business

Preschool - to serve the community and continue the legacy of Mrs. Irma Wesley

Shared Work Space - Heard many businesses looking for space to set up until the can get on their feet

Black Box Theater - opportunity to bring cultural arts to the community and offer programming that the community wants to see

Swimming Pool - #1 Priority: teach kids to swim, provide low-impact exercise options

How To Stretch Your Food Budget

If you track your spending, you probably know how easily your food bill can get out of hand. It’s the budget category easiest to adjust when the budget needs to be balanced.

1. Cut out snacks - Avoid buying “snacky” food. It can be draining to the budget. Having 3 square meals a day is enough for most families and if someone gets a little hungry between meals, there’s usually some leftovers to munch on.

2. Always save leftovers - Even if it’s just one serving, it’s worth it. Store leftovers in a glass container, to easily microwave for quick prep.

3. Check out the clearance section - Walmart has a day-old bread shelf with the items considerably reduced.

4. Know how to store produce - Make your fresh produce last longer, so you don’t end up throwing out black bananas and squishy tomatoes. Find out how to extend the shelf life of your fruits and veggies and get the most of your grocery dollars.

1. Cleaning supports a strong immune system. If you’re someone who suffers from seasonal allergies , it may not only be pollen that is responsible for those sneezing fits. Dust, mildew, mold, pet dander and even bugs can be big immune system triggers for people prone to allergies , and cluttered homes tend to gather a lot of these pollutants during the winter months. Many scientists and environmental experts claim that the pollution inside your home can often be worse than outdoor air pollution. The best way to reduce the build up of these immune system disruptors in your home is to regularly vacuum your carpets, furniture and upholstery and clean out potentially damp areas such as bathrooms, basements and garages regularly.

2. Cleaning reduces stress. The physical act of cleaning may turn your brain off for a bit to allow you to relax your mind, some experts say. So while cleaning may seem like a repetitive, mindless task, that may actually be just what your brain needs to de-stress. Not to mention, eliminating external clutter may help you free yourself from internal mental clutter. Studies have also shown that doing housework for as little as 20 minutes can reduce your stress and anxiety by up to 20 percent . To help you de-stress faster, try cleaning products with calming scents like lavender or eucalyptus.

3. A clean space helps increase your productivity. The nature of clutter in your direct environment has significant effects on your ability to focus. When you are less distracted by the chaos that surrounds you or the extra things piled up in your home, you actually free up mental space that allows you to concentrate on any given task more fully. A study in 2011 from The Journal of Neuroscience confirmed this using MRI’s to track the brain’s response to cleanliness and found that more clutter significantly limits the brain’s processing capacity. Therefore, decreasing the clutter can decrease distractions and increase your overall productivity make for a much shorter to-do list.

Visit DOH-Broward for free COVID-19 tests and vax. No appt. Call 954-412-7300 for in-home appt. for homebound. Read more
The test sites listed below are FREE and do not require an appointment (except for the site at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport).
Select a location near you, or:
• A number of retail pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreen's, offer COVID-19 testing, as well as private health companies, urgent care centers and community health centers. A comprehensive listing of these sites can be found on the Florida Department of Health website. There may be a fee associated with test collections at some of these locations.
• If you are homebound and cannot leave your home to access one of the public test collection sites, please call DOH-Broward at 954-412-7300 to make an appointment for an in-home test.
• Diagnostic Testing available at Mills Pond Park located at 2201 NW 9 th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. Hours Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Phone: Dial 311 or (954) 412-7300 Website: www.broward.org

There are mortgages and assistance options that can help you become a homeowner, even with a low income If you have a stable job but are earning less than you’d like, you might be concerned that this can impede your ability to purchase a home. The good news: There are mortgages and assistance options that can help you become a homeowner, even with a low income.

Can I buy a house with a low income?
The short answer: Yes, you can buy a house with a low income, thanks to mortgage programs designed for lower-to moderate-income borrowers.
“Having a low income can increase your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. This limits some of the loan program options you may be eligible for, but it does not mean you absolutely cannot buy a home,” explains Balenda Hetzel, regional production manager with Inlanta Mortgage, which is headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Low-income mortgages and assistance
HomeReady mortgage
Fannie Mae’s HomeReady mortgage program addresses one of the challenges of buying a home with a low income by requiring just 3 percent as a down payment. With this loan, your down payment and/or closing cost funds can come from other sources beyond savings, including grants and gifts, and you don’t need to contribute any of the money personally.
To qualify, your income can’t exceed 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) for the location where you’re buying a home. (You can look up local limits using Fannie Mae’s tool.)

While you can put down as little as 3 percent with a HomeReady mortgage, you’ll be obligated to pay for mortgage insurance. However, those insurance premiums can be canceled once you attain 20 percent equity in your home. You’ll pay the mortgage insurance with your monthly mortgage payment, so it’ll add to that cost, but it’s easy to get out of once you hit that 20 percent. In addition, you can add a co-borrower to a HomeReady mortgage, even if that person isn’t planning on living in the home. “Unlike other home loans, all borrowers do not have to reside in the property,” says Roselina D’Annucci, a New York-based real estate attorney with the Law Offices of Serrano and Associates, P.C. “For example, parents who won’t be living in the home can be co-borrowers on the loan to help their children qualify for a mortgage. ”With a HomeReady mortgage, your mortgage lender can also consider your rent payment history in order to help qualify you for the loan," D’Annucci adds.

By Erick J. Martin with Bankrate

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The FLCDC Back To School Backpack Give-a-way!

The FLCDC in partnership with Acclaim Management provided well-stocked back packs to our families with school aged children.

Acclaim Management, FLCDC Board Members and Staff shopped, assembled and distributed the backpacks for students created from each individual “wish list” of school supplies. All backpacks were gifted with hand sanitizers and wipes to help keep students safe.

We wish each student a wonderful and successful 2021-2022 school year!