HOUSING
In 1991, the board and staff of Better Way recognized that, for this very late stage, chronically addicted, homeless population, more than just short term care and treatment would be necessary if lasting change was to occur for these individuals.Accordingly, the first of many applications for housing assistance to be sent to U.S. HUD was submitted in January of 1992. Better Way received word in July of that year that it, along with six other projects under the umbrella of the County's Housing Agency, had been awarded 10 years of rental assistance for 36 units in the west wing under Shelter Plus Care/ SRO program. There would follow Better Way Apartments and several other HUD rental assisted supportive housing projects in the next ten years, sufficient to allow Better Way to truly boast of having an actual 'continuum of care'.Better Way rental assisted housing projects and programs provide a drug/alcohol free supportive living environment where residents can build upon gains made in treatment while pursuing long term educational, vocational training and other goals. Many men and women need such an environment to consolidate therapeutic gains and maximize chances for long term recovery. Others who may be more disabled will need the safety and security of accessible supportive services and the company of others in recovery to maintain quality of life. All statistics related to successful long term recovery point to the length of time in treatment and in a supportive living environment as the most important factors.Housing applications can be picked up at Better Way of Miami, main facility located at 800 NW 28th St. at the front desk, between the hours of 7am and 7pm 7 days per week. Applications must be completed entirely and returned to the front desk, once the applications are received, eligible applicants will be put on a waiting list. The time of placement takes approximately 2 to 5 months depending on the size of the waiting list, and the housing program selected. Also the applicant must have documented information to substantiate their homelessness and disability prior to completing an application.
Click on Permanent Housing Application if you would like to download and print a copy.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
PARTNERS FOR HOMES IS A PROGRAM FUNDED BY LUTHERAN SERVICES OF FLORIDA. PARTNERS FOR
HOMES PROVIDES PERMANENT HOUSING TO DISABLED SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BETTER WAY OF MIAMI WILL PLACE FORMERLY HOMELESS
INDIVIDUALS INTO THIS PROGRAM WITH DOCUMENTED HISTORIES OF SEVERE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT, ADDITIONALLY, BE HIV POSITIVE AND/OR SUFFER FROM
CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS (DUAL DIAGNOSED). THE PARTNERS FOR HOME PROGRAM PROVIDES
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT. THE TENANT AND CASE MANAGER WILL
WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP SERVICE PLANS TO DESIGNATE THEIR NEEDS, ASSIST IN
OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, OR INCOME MAINTENANCE BENEFITS AS WELL AS PROVIDE
COUNSELING AND INTERVENTION TO THE TENANT. EACH TENANT WILL PAY 30% OF THEIR
MONTHLY INCOME (OR 40% OF ENTITLEMENTS) TOWARDS THEIR RENT AMOUNT. HOUSING IS
LIMITED TO DADE COUNTY ONLY. RENTAL ASSISTANCE CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 6 MOS. TO
THREE YEARS.
ACCESS PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM FUNDED
BY LUTHERAN SERVICES OF FLORIDA. THE ACCESS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MOVE-IN
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THOSE DISABLED SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE
WORKING BUT CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF MOVING INTO AN APARTMENT, EFFICIENCY OR
OTHER RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT. BETTER WAY OF MIAMI WILL PLACE
FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES INTO THIS PROGRAM WITH DOCUMENTED
HISTORIES OF SEVERE SUBSTANCE ABUSE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT, ADDITIONALLY, BE HIV
POSITIVE AND/OR SUFFER FROM CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS (DUAL DIAGNOSED). THE HEAD OF
HOUSEHOLD MUST HAVE SAVINGS IN PLACE TO PAY TO BETTER WAY OF MIAMI, INC. 30% OF
THE TOTAL COST TOWARDS THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO THEM THROUGH THE ACCESS
PROGRAM. THE ASSISTANCE CAN INCLUDE: FIRST MONTH’S RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSIT,
FURNITURE ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE (LIGHT, PHONE, ETC.) AND/OR FOOD
VOUCHER. THE TENANT MUST AGEE TO STAY PLACED FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS. LIMITED
ASSISTANCE MAY BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE INITIAL MOVE-IN HAS BEEN SECURED.
SRA PROGRAM IS A SPONSOR-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOUSING AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. BETTER WAY APARTMENTS IS AN INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY COMPRISED OF 55 UNITS
OWNED BY BETTER WAY OF MIAMI, INC. BETTER WAY OF MIAMI WILL PLACE FORMERLY
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS INTO THIS PROGRAM WITH DOCUMENTED HISTORIES OF SEVERE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT, ADDITIONALLY, BE HIV POSITIVE AND/OR SUFFER
FROM CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS (DUAL DIAGNOSED). TENANTS PAY 30% OF THEIR ANNUAL
ADJUSTED INCOME TOWARDS THEIR MONTHLY RENT. THERE IS NO SECURITY DEPOSIT
REQUIRED BY THE TENANT TO MOVE IN. TENANTS ACTIVELY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT,
ENTITLEMENT BENEFITS, VOCATIONAL AND/OR ARE CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION ARE
WELCOMED. EACH UNIT INCLUDES A BATHROOM, LIVING ROOM AND A KITCHEN. ALL
PERSPECTIVE TENANTS ARE NOT ONLY SCREEN BY BETTER WAY STAFF MEMBERS BUT ALSO BY
THE SCREENING COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE BETTER WAY TENANT ASSOCIATION.
TRA PROGRAM IS A TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES TO DISABLED SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BETTER WAY OF MIAMI
WILL PLACE FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES INTO THIS PROGRAM WITH
DOCUMENTED HISTORIES OF HIV/AIDS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT, ADDITIONALLY, BE CHRONIC
SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AND/OR SUFFER FROM CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS (DUAL DIAGNOSED).
THE PROGRAM IS FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WHO REQUIRE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IN DADE COUNTY. THEY MUST BE ACTIVE IN OBTAINING THE SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES NECESSARY TO MANAGE THEIR DISABILITIES AND HAVE A SOURCE OF INCOME TO
MAINTAIN HOUSEHOLD. TENANTS PAY 30% OF THEIR ANNUAL ADJUSTED INCOME TOWARDS
THEIR MONTHLY RENT. THERE IS NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED BY THE TENANT TO MOVE
IN.
SRO PROGRAM IS A SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR CLIENTS IN DAY/NIGHT TREATMENT MODALITY. BETTER WAY WEST IS A 36 UNIT BUILDING LOCATED ACROSS FROM
BETTER WAY OF MIAMI TREATMENT FACILITY. THE SERVICES PROVIDED AT SRO ARE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH DAY/NIGHT TREATMENT MODALITY. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ATTENDING ALL GROUPS AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES. THE TENANTS PAY 30% OF THEIR
ANNUAL ADJUSTED INCOME TO CLIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS ROOM AND
BOARD.
Better Way of Miami, Inc.
800 NW 28th Street
Miami, Florida 33127
305.634.3409