FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 20,
2002) – Lee County’s Department of Human Services has issued its Annual
Report, which details, in an easy to read format, the agency’s results over
the previous year. To receive a
copy, call 652-7900.
The department provides
direct services in three major areas: Family Self-Sufficiency (helping
low-income families), Housing Services (rehabilitating homes and providing
down-payment assistance), and Neighborhood Building (revitalization of
low-income neighborhoods). It also
administers grants to not-for-profits and pass-through funding from the federal
and state governments.
Some of 2001’s
accomplishments:
Coordinated $2.3 million
of improvements in the Neighborhood Districts (Charleston Park, Dunbar, Pine
Manor, Page Park and Harlem Heights), including 6.25 miles of sidewalks. In the last 10 years, Harlem Heights has received $3.5
million in infrastructure improvements to allow for more affordable housing.
Developed the
Neighborhood Building Program in Charleston Park.
As a result, the Charleston Park neighborhood has organized the first
Boy and Girl Scout troop; 42 percent of children participating in the
after-school program also increased their grades.
In Housing Services, 63
homes were purchased and rehabilitated and 111 families received “first
home” down-payment assistance.
In Family Self-Sufficiency, 36 people received vocational training through the award-winning LEE (Lee Education and Employment) Program and 26 households raised their income an average of 80 percent. More than 3,000 units of emergency services were provided to families in crisis.
The department provided $1.6
million of funding to the Lee County Public Health Department for programs
dealing with injury prevention, primary care and prevention, and education.
It also issued grants of $1.9 million to local human and social service
agencies through the Partnering for Results Program. This month, Human Services and the United Way of Lee County
launched a searchable Internet database of 350 local human services
organizations that makes it easier to match those needing help with the
appropriate agencies.
Lee County Human Services provides a complement of integrated services to low-income families and disadvantaged neighborhoods, including emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling services, housing rehabilitation, neighborhood infrastructure improvements and neighborhood building, and services for the homeless. The department employs 42 people and has a Fiscal Year 2002 budget of $16.9 million.