Miami Jewish Health Systems Breaks Ground on New Low-Income Housing Complex at Douglas Gardens North

April 29, 2011 - PRLog -- Miami Jewish Health Systems (MJHS), one of the largest and most innovative providers of healthcare and residential services for seniors in the Southeast U.S., has broken ground on its latest expansion of Douglas Gardens North, an affordable senior living community located in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Once operational in 2012, the new building will house 75 apartment units and offer low-income seniors access to healthcare and social services. The new development was made possible by a $10.5 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, which was one of the final grants to be issued in Florida through the department’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program. Section 202 is set to be phased out this year.
         
For the building’s ceremonial groundbreaking on April 27, 2011, Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortiz joined executives from MJHS and Douglas Gardens North including Chairman of the Board of Douglas Gardens North Fred Katzin, MJHS Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Freimark, MJHS Chief Operating Officer Morris Funk, Douglas Gardens Senior Housing, Inc. Director Randy Holmes and a representative of U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
         
“HUD entrusted these dollars to Miami Jewish Health Systems and Douglas Gardens North in large part because of our track record of sound management and efficient spending,” said William R. Holmes, Director of Douglas Gardens North. “We believe that responsible stewardship of public money involves impacting as broad a swath of the community as possible – beyond serving our residents, we aimed to create a project that served a larger role in the community, providing healthcare and social services for those who can benefit from them.”
         
While the HUD Section 202 program will be phased out, the need for affordable housing for seniors has never been greater following years of recession. The number of people statewide in need of assistance has grown dramatically; Douglas Gardens North alone has 500 seniors on its waiting list.
         
“We are deeply grateful to all who helped make this project possible, including U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was integral in the securing of our funding,” said Jeffrey Freimark, Chief Executive Officer of MJHS. “Right alongside our mission of delivering high quality healthcare, we aim to provide affordable places to live for those who are in need. Douglas Gardens North serves a critical role in the community, offering safe, affordable homes for our low-income seniors. We are proud to expand our mission with this new project.”
         
The project was designed with the community and sustainability in mind. MJHS hired a minority-owned architecture firm to design the building and Coral Gables, Florida-based Beauchamp Construction Company will serve as general contractor. A series of environmentally-sustainable features are intended to achieve LEED Silver certification (LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design, is the national benchmark for evaluating environmentally-sound buildings). MJHS also included a generator and other amenities that will enable the new building to serve as a emergency shelter. Public spaces will host civic functions and community meetings.
         
The Douglas Gardens North campus is located at 705 SW 88th Avenue in Pembroke Pines, Florida. For more information on the complex, Miami Jewish Health Systems, or applying for Section 202 housing, please visit www.miamijewishhealthsystems.org or contact Susan Gotlieb, Property Manager, at (954) 704-3464.

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Miami Jewish Health Systems is one of the largest and most innovative healthcare providers in the southeast United States. Founded in Miami in 1940, the 1,000 employee not-for-profit healthcare system treats 3,700 people daily through Centers of Excellence, residential living, community care, Alzheimer’s and memory care, nursing and medical care programs. These areas of focus aim to help people of all ages enjoy longer, healthier, more enriched lives. Learn more at www.miamijewishhealthsystems.org.