A Mission to End Homelessness: Miami-Dade County

“Public libraries play an important role in communities,” says Library System Director Raymond Santiago.

To provide support services to formerly homeless individuals and families, many with special needs, the Miami-Dade Public Library System joined forces with the county’s Homeless Trust and Carrfour Supportive Housing, a nonprofit organization that provides permanent housing.

From this innovative partnership—based on the “mixed use” approach to development and construction—emerged the new Hispanic Branch Library, which sits below the Villa Aurora Apartments, an affordable housing complex for previously homeless families. The project, the first of its kind east of the Mississippi, successfully combines functions with like-minded entities to create the best use of public facilities during tough economic times.

“Public libraries play an important role in communities,” says Library System Director Raymond Santiago. “Providing access to resources, learning, and discovery means our residents have the opportunity to become better prepared in school, in their jobs, and in improving themselves. Having a library inside the Villa Aurora complex means that we already have a built-in audience of learners. The Hispanic Branch is a great asset not only to the residents but also for the people in the surrounding neighborhood.”