Last week, members of Miami’s community gathered in Overtown for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly built Children’s Village at Lotus House, the nation’s largest women’s homeless shelter.
The Children’s Village will serve as an education and resource center providing for children and families both sheltered at Lotus House and located in the surrounding community. It builds upon Lotus House’s mission of ending homelessness, this time by working to prevent it altogether through early intervention, family support and wraparound services.
According to a new survey by the University of Florida, Florida rents have risen 39% since 2019, fueling a 28% increase in family homelessness statewide.
Exterior photo of the newly-built Children’s Village at Lotus Village in Miami’s Overtown Neighborhood.
(Lotus House)
“Lotus Village was developed on the premise that a shelter built on a foundation of evidence-based therapies and holistic programming could end the cycle of homelessness,” said Lotus House Founder Constance Collins in a press release. “Nearly two decades later, more than 86 percent of our guests are exiting the shelter system following their stay at Lotus Village. The next step is preventing homelessness by empowering children and families through educational and therapeutic supports, year-round programming, and greater access to healthcare and social services — all under one roof at the Children’s Village.”
The Children’s Village will work through a collective-impact strategy in which community-based organizations deliver educational and creative programming, holistic therapeutic and health services, and legal and financial support for children and families. The new facility will house 14 nonprofit organizations, including Arts4Learning, Care4U, Children’s Bereavement Center, Easter Seals South Florida, Girl Power Rocks, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Lotus House Center for the Advancement of Children and Families, Mindful Kids Miami, Nana’s Restart, Overtown Optimist Club, Overtown Children & Youth Coalition, The Alliance for LGBTQ youth, United Way, and Urgent Inc and Urgent Academy.
The 71,000-square-foot campus is located just across the street from Lotus Village, a privately funded 500-bed shelter that opened in 2018.
Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin also announced a $5 million gift to support the new building’s operations and programs.
“The Children’s Village is a powerful example of how communities can come together to create lasting change,” said Griffin. “When we invest in children, we invest in the future of our city — in the ideas, talent, and potential that will define Miami for generations to come. Lotus House is helping to ensure that every child has the foundation to dream boldly and achieve their full promise, and I’m committed to supporting this mission.”
Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by Lotus House’s Annual Gala. Attendees included Collins, supermodel, author and philanthropist Gisele Bündchen and singer, songwriter and actress Gloria Estefan.
Since opening in 2006, Lotus House has served more than 13,500 women, children and youth.