 In the last 10 years, as reported by the City of Miami Planning, Building and
Zoning Department, Miami experienced many socio-economic changes. Presently, it
is ranked the fourth poorest city in the United States. In 1990, the poverty rate
increased dramatically from 25.5 to 31.2 percent. If these undocumented residents
were added these figures, in all likelihood Miami would have the highest poverty
rate of any major U.S. metropolitan city. The poverty rate of 45.6 percent in Little
Haiti is significantly higher than the city-wide average of 31.2 percent, and three
to five times the figure for the State of Florida. According to a 1990 statistical
profile, 48% of the workforce is not employed. Consequently, Little Haiti has experienced
housing deterioration, economic disinvestment and increased social needs. According to the 1990 Census, the average annual household income of Little Haiti
was $14,142 compared with Dade County's average of $42,783. The minimum income requirement
to participate in LHHA's programs is $12,500 or 29 percent of the Dade County average
household income. To purchase homes through LHHA, clients must complete the our
Home Ownership Training Program. LHHA's service area is the community of Little Haiti located in the City of Miami's
northeast area. It's boundaries are: I-95 - west, Biscayne Boulevard - east, I-195
- south, and 87th Street (Little River Canal) - north. Little Haiti's residential
area is characterized by low-density, single-family and duplex developments, and
medium-density, multi-family structures, with recent immigrants from Haiti being
the predominant population. The 1990 U.S. Census reported the population of Little
Haiti to be 39,243 - consisting of 82% blacks, 5% whites, 12.6% Hispanics and 0.4%
other. Year established as nonprofit organization 1987 |