Friday, February 27, 2009

Foreclosure Prevention Help

ACORN of Broward County holds foreclosure prevention workshops FREE of charge that are designed to get applicants/participants an opportunity to get a HUD certified counselor to assist in the modification of their mortgage loans for homes that are in foreclosure. The workshops are held two times a week on Tuesday evenings at 6:00pm and Saturday mornings at 10:30am at the Broward County ACORN office. For more information, contact: John I. Cook, organizer, at (954) 678-8334 anytime!
Location: 2700 West Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 23, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311

Friday, February 13, 2009

Peanut Recall



An Important Public Health Message from Community Voice Mail,

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration


Have you heard about the recall of foods that contain peanuts or peanut butter in them because they may contain Salmonella? Salmonella is bacteria that can make you sick with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Products on the recall list include cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream that have peanut butter or peanuts in them. Major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are NOT affected by the recall.

To find out if you have food that is on the recall list, you can go to the FDA web site and look it up using a searchable database at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html. Or, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636 ). You can call this number 24 hours a day and speak to an operator in English or Spanish who will look up the food for you.



If you learn that food you have IS on the list, do NOT eat it, and throw it away. Also, do NOT feed the recalled food to your pets or other animals, as it can make them sick too. If you have questions about the recall or if you have questions about Salmonella, do not hesitate to call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO… that’s 1-800-232-4636…


We hope you found this information valuable, and plan to check the list or call the CDC to see if food you have is on the recall list. Also, please tell your friends about the recall, and forward this message!

Section 8 applications coming soon

The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale will be opening a waiting list for our Section 8 Program. We will be handing out applications on February 21, 2009 at 500 West Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 from 8:00 a.m. until all 3000 applications are distributed. DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 7:00 AM. A Public Lottery will be held in a later date to select 2500 names for our Waiting List; you do not have to attend to be selected. Instructions for returning applications will be found on the application.



To qualify: the family's yearly gross income must not exceed the very low-income for the household size. For families that currently have subsidized rent, the yearly gross income must not exceed the low-income limits for the family size.

I
person 2
persons 3
persons 4
persons 5
persons 6
persons 7
persons 8
persons
VERY LOW
INCOME
$24,900
$28,500
$32,050
$35,600
$38,450
$41,300
$44,150
$47,000
LOW
INCOME
$39,850
$45,550
$51,250
$56,950
$61,500
$66,050
$70,600
$75,150






Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Broward Homeless Count

Broward County begins homeless census
Biennial census may settle the dispute between advocates and county government
By Lisa J. Huriash | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 30, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE - Walking around Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here., trying to stay clear of police, and panhandling money for coffee at Burger King, Normand Neunier is largely invisible most of the year.

But on Thursday, he counted.

Neunier, 56,told volunteers conducting a homeless census in Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports that his employer went out of business in November 2007, leaving him unable to pay the rent.

"I just need a job," Neunier said. "It's depressing."



To find him and the thousands of others in his situation, 244 volunteers scoured Broward's bus terminals, soup kitchens, libraries and parking lots from 4 a.m. to about 8 p.m. Thursday.

Counties must conduct a homeless survey every two years as a condition of state and federal funding. Palm Beach conducted its audit for a 24-hour period that began Wednesday. Results from both counties are not expected for several weeks.

In Broward, however, the numbers are often a source of contention.

The Coalition to End Homelessness, which conducted the audit from the late 1980s through 2007, found more than 3,300 on the street and hundreds more in shelters in its 2007 count. But county officials said the more accurate figure was 3,150.

"There were demographics that didn't look right," explained Steve Werthman, division director of Broward County's homeless initiative partnership. "One hundred percent of residents in emergency shelters were counted as chronic. Usually, it's about 15 percent, so it raised a red flag."

This year, Werthman received permission from state agencies to take over the census.

Laura Hansen, who heads the Coalition to End Homelessness, insists the county is underestimating the problem.

"Why are our numbers higher than their numbers? I'm not going to say they are doing anything wrong, but perhaps a perception there are fewer homeless people clears their consciousness somewhat," she said. "Unless we know the scope of the problem, we really are going to be handicapped in terms of addressing it."

Volunteers Pat Mantis and Eddie Copeland scoured the Riverwalk area looking for homeless. They had chocolates in their bags to give those who cooperated.

"We're conducting a survey," Mantis told a disheveled man pushing a suitcase. "Go to the Internet," he told her. "There's lots of information there."

Richard Ellis, 50, was more helpful.

He said he got behind in his rent after he lost his job moving furniture. He has only been homeless one night and spent it sleeping under a tree. "I can't stand being in this position," he said.

Neunier said he spent nearly a year at different shelters but was unable to find a new job. His only possessions are a blanket, a jacket, a change of socks, shirts and pants, and a razor he carries in a black backpack ("my house," he explains).

He uses his knapsack as a pillow. "It's a lot easier to sleep at night when you've had a couple beers," he said.He doubts the census results will help him because there's only so much money to go around. A community volunteer who used to hand out two or three sandwiches at a time to the homeless has cut back to just one, he said.

"Times are hard," Neunier said.

Cold weather Advisory.

COLD WEATHER EMERGENCY ADVISORY

Date: February 3, 2009 Time: 10:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts low temperatures in the low 40s late tonight into Wednesday morning for Broward County, with even colder conditions overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning when wind chill will it make it feel like the lower 30s.

As a result of this forecast, Broward County has declared a cold weather emergency. Homeless persons are advised to report to the following locations, no later than 6:30 p.m. both nights for transportation to special cold night shelters:


• City of Pompano Beach

Pompano Beach City Hall 100 W. Atlantic Blvd (SE Corner)


• City of Fort Lauderdale

The Salvation Army 1445 West Broward Blvd


• City of Hollywood Corner of N. 21 Ave & Lincoln St

and/or

Corner of N. 21 Ave & Sherman St

(both locations East of railroad tracks)



Please notify homeless persons in your area of this plan.


This activation is for two nights: Overnight Tuesday, 2/3/09 until Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. and overnight Wednesday 2/4/09 until Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.



If you have any questions or need additional information on the plan for your area, contact:



Steve Werthman

Director

Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership Division

Office: 954-357-6167 or 954-593-3321 cell