Following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic damage throughout Florida’s gulf coast, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with the Florida Farm Bureau as well as local agricultural producers, farmers, and growers to discuss the storm’s impact. Photos are courtesy of...
Following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic damage throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with local officials and volunteers from the barrier islands to discuss the storm’s impact and current recovery efforts. Photos are courtesy of...
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm, causing catastrophic damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite state-requested resources and authorize key policy flexibilities in order for Floridians to make a swift...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host two in-person events to assist constituents affected by Hurricane Helene and help navigate applications for FEMA assistance. Food, water, and additional resources will be available at the events. Event...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person and virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of...
Following the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Debby, some local governments in Florida face looming budget shortfalls that could disrupt disaster recovery efforts. If these local governments receive reimbursements for past hurricanes from the Federal Emergency...
Miami, FL – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) urged the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to quickly approve applications from the Miami-Dade Public Housing Authority for tenants of public housing located in Liberty City and Overtown eligible for Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs). These vouchers allow tenants to relocate and are offered to tenants during Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a program that converts “traditional” public housing to project-based privately owned housing.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Secretary Carson:
Thank you for visiting the Liberty Square housing project last April to commemorate the beginning of the redevelopment of the second-oldest public housing complex in the United States.
Liberty City and Overtown are home to some of the most resilient individuals I know, and I am proud to represent them in the United States Senate. However, these communities are unfortunately also home to violence, gangs, and profound loss. On March 31, 2018, a dispute between two adult siblings became violent and led to the fatal shooting of a four-year old toddler playing in her front yard.
This tragedy is symptomatic of the violence that has wracked this community for far too long. I believe we can make a real difference in this community by ensuring safe and sanitary housing during the redevelopment process.
As you know, Liberty Square and the rest of Miami-Dade’s public housing are beginning the first phases of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which will convert them into mixed-income and project-based properties and make them eligible to apply for Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs). However, this process will take a significant amount of time – time that families living in insecure places simply do not have, especially if they have young children.
I request that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) work with the Miami-Dade Public Housing Authority on the TPV program and, should tenants of this community request, quickly review and approve eligible applications. Allowing those families who wish to move to other locations could save lives and help families escape poverty.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and look forward to working with you to ensure the safety of these families.
Sincerely,