By Alyna M. Bello
City of Homestead Mayor Steven C. Bateman, Councilman Stephen Shelley, and Homestead Police Chief Al Rolle wanted to recognize and commend the exemplary work that the members of the New Hope Counseling Outpatient Residential Prevention Services (C.O.R.P.S.) do day in and day out. This extraordinary community organization, the only one of its kind in the South Miami-Dade area, provides residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment to primarily homeless males. New Hope C.O.R.P.S houses fifty-two beds and treatments can last from 60 days to 9 months.
Tuesday, July, 6, 2010 was proclaimed by the Mayor and City Council as New Hope C.O.R.P.S Day. Mayor Bateman stated, “We wanted to acknowledge one more great organization within our City that brings so much good and hope to people. We are here to support an agency that helps so many going through a difficult time and gives them a much needed second chance. I commend their caring staff for their untiring dedication to our community.”
New Hope was established in 1993 by Founder Manuel A. Alvarez after he recognized a gap in services and the need for treatment opportunities for men in the South Dade community. The mission of this community agency is to break the self-destructive cycle of addiction through a religious, therapeutic, and rehabilitative approach. This agency is dedicated to helping participants re-enter society as productive citizens.
This organization is able to operate through grant money from the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust which awarded New Hope C.O.R.P.S. $425,391 to implement Project Regeneration, a transition housing program for substance abuse and mental health treatment for the chronic homeless population within our community. The total cost of this project is $538,278 and in order for New Hope to execute the grant, the agency was required to raise $150,887 in matching funds. At the proclamation presentation, the Patrick P. Lee Foundation presented New Hope C.O.R.P.S. with a check for $150,887, the amount that was needed. This is the second donation awarded by the Patrick P. Lee Foundation to support this initiative of continuing to offer professional, caring, and individualized services to those who have a history of mental illness and substance abuse.
The Patrick P. Lee Foundation’s primary mission is to assist medical and educational projects and support to non-profit organizations that empowers families and communities with the resources needed to create positive change.
“Giving back to the community that surrounds you is what counts,” said Patrick P. Lee, founder of the Patrick P. Lee Foundation. Cynthia R. Lee, Member of the Board of Directors for the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, added , “ New Hope C.O.R.P.S. is an institution that exemplifies what the Patrick P. Lee Foundation is all about. We are pleased to support it and the important work they are doing.
