Leah Stockton, Director of Development and Engagement with Keys Health and Housing, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
Keys Health and Housing was formerly known as AH Monroe.
Stockton said, “It’s the same organization, same mission, doing the same work, same people, just everybody under a new name of Keys Health and Housing.”
Key West Pride was a great event.
Stockton said, “We had a great time at the street fair. We were offering our free HIV testing as well as HIV prevention materials. We had a booth set up there, and then, as always, we were thrilled to participate in the parade, and we love that the parade is now in the evening, so it’s a little bit cooler, and it was just a great experience seeing everybody come out and enjoy themselves.”
How are the Lofts coming along in terms of occupancy?
Stockton said, “We have just a couple of units available at the 120% AMI, but our wait list is open for them off, and units do turnover fairly regularly. Life happens, and so anybody interested in that, it’s 98 units of affordable rental in the heart of Bahama Village, right down actually near Truman Waterfront, a great location, a beautiful new building. So, anyone interested in that, they can reach out.”
There is also a housing project in Marathon.
Stockton said, “All of our housing to date has been in Key West, and so we’re very excited that this is our first initiative up the Keys, moving into Marathon, and we have purchased a piece of land in Marathon, and will be building 12 units, seven of those will be affordable rental units for low-income individuals and families, and then five of the units will be called the Hope House, and Hope House is a program for women, or women with children in distress, whatever that distress may mean. There’s lots of different definitions of it, and they can move into this program, and we help them get ready for that next step in their life, whether it’s going back to school, whether it’s dealing with a health crisis, whatever it is, getting their credit together, whatever it is they need to sort of move on to that next step. It will have a case management piece to it, so that we can help support while they’re living there in this safe, stable housing.”
Participants in Hope House will pay rent.
Stockton said, “When they’re ready to leave, when they’re finished with the program, and they’re ready to leave, they will get that amount back in full. We have a donor that is covering the cost of running the program, so that the participants that are paying rent, they will get that back in its entirety to then use to buy a car, put a down payment, go back to school, whatever it is, start a small business, whatever it is that they need to do, which is really pretty amazing.”
Keys Health and Housing is here to help.
Stockton said, “Anyone who is in need of help, please reach out. That’s what we’re here to do. Anything healthcare related or housing related, even if it’s not something that we can help you with directly through our programs. One of the services that we provide is referrals, and our staff has been doing this a long time, many of them, and know the community very well, so we can point you in the right direction, and we’ll do our best to help. So, as always, anybody listening that needs some help, they can call us 305-296-6196 and we are glad to help.”
For more information, click here: https://keyshh.org