By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
An artist's rendering of Camillus House's planned 31,000 square-foot Camillus Direct Care Building, which will be constructed on the new Norwegian Cruise Line Campus of Camillus House. The will also be home to a 48-bed overnight shelter for men and women, a service center offering showers, clothing exchanges, laundry and mail services as well as a 20-bed respite care program funded by a ####_C_.5 million partnership with Baptist Health South Florida. The medical respite care program will serve individuals who are homeless and in need of bed rest in order to recover from their ailment. Camillus Health Concern, a sister agency of Camillus House, will provide onsite primary health care services to individuals residing on the new campus as well as to non-residential clients. Services will include screenings and treatment for problems particularly prevalent among the chronically homeless population, including diabetes and hypertension.
Made possible by a $1.5 million financial partnership with Baptist Health South Florida, this vital medical respite care program will serve individuals who are homeless and in need of bed rest in order to recover from their ailment. Camillus Health Concern, a sister agency of Camillus House, will provide onsite primary health care services to individuals residing on the new campus as well as to non-residential clients. Services will include screenings and treatment for problems particularly prevalent among the chronically homeless population, including diabetes and hypertension.
The 31,000 square-foot Camillus Direct Care Building, which will be constructed on the new Norwegian Cruise Line Campus of Camillus House, will also be home to a 48-bed overnight shelter for men and women, a service center offering showers, clothing exchanges, laundry and mail services.
Brother Justin Howson of the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd who have operated Camillus House for more than 50 years, Bob Dickinson, chairman of the Camillus House board, Paul R. Ahr, president and chief executive officer of Camillus House, and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado came together Jan. 20 to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Direct Care Building.
The new building will feature a host of unique attributes including a rooftop urban garden that serves both as an energy conservation measure and a healing program for residents. Camillus House anticipates earning Gold LEED Certification for the entire campus as a result of the energy efficient elements incorporated into its design.
As two of South Florida�s premiere faith-based organizations, Baptist Health South Florida and Camillus House are committed to improving the lives of �the least, the last, and the lost� of Greater Miami. The new Camillus Direct Care Building will serve as the entry point into the full continuum of care offered by Camillus House to individuals who are homeless in Miami-Dade County.
Once fully operational, the campus will have a 340-bed capacity integrated with a variety of employment, social service and clinical treatment programs including an expansion of emergency housing and residential programs for women and Spanish-speaking individuals. The facility will include many progressive elements including a rooftop urban garden, a kennel for pets, increased job training and educational services, and the Institute of Homeless Studies, all designed with an end goal to end chronic homelessness in Miami-Dade County within the decade.
