North Miami–State Senator Ileana Garcia (R-Miami), Chair of the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, today attended the grand opening of Mia Casa, a dedicated site for homeless seniors. During the 2022 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature, Senator Garcia worked to secure a $1.75 million appropriation to aid in the construction of Mia Casa. State Representative Demi Busatta Cabrera (R-Coral Gables) sponsored the appropriation in the Florida House.

“I am so proud to have played a role in securing funding for Mia Casa. 39 percent of those experiencing homelessness on our streets are senior citizens. I see this every day and regularly engage with individuals experiencing homelessness to better understand their stories and to see what can be done to help them. Housing is a big part of the solution,” said Senator Garcia. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Miami-Dade County and the Homeless Trust on preventing and ending homelessness in our community.”

“Our seniors built the thriving communities where we now live, work and raise our families, and they deserve to live out their golden years in comfort and safety, surrounded by important support systems. I am so pleased that we could play a role in the funding for Mia Casa, and appreciate Senator Garcia’s advocacy in bringing this important project forward. Senator Garcia is a champion of our seniors and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, she is constantly seeking innovative solutions to address the challenges faced by the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).

On April 24, 2020, in preparation for and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust began operating a housing site in North Miami for senior citizens experiencing homelessness who were at high risk of serious illness from the virus.

Dubbed Mia Casa, more than 600 seniors have passed through its doors over the past three years. Senator Garcia secured a $1.75 million special appropriation to assist Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development and the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust with the purchase of a dedicated, permanent site for Mia Casa.

The Homeless Trust purchased the property on January 31, 2023. A former Assisted Living Facility, the property has 65 rooms, and currently houses 120 senior citizens. The Homeless Trust funds the operations of the facility. Mia Casa allows for the quick placement of seniors from the streets, and the Homeless Trust works to bridge seniors living there to other housing in the community.

Tallahassee, FL – Senator Linda Stewart (D – Orlando) is joining Senator Jim Boyd (R – Bradenton) by co-sponsoring SB 724: Florida Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative.

This bill creates a Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative within the Department of Environmental Protection. This Initiative’s purpose is to help expedite the creation of new technologies and approaches to help restore coastal seagrass ecosystems and establishes an advisory council consisting of experts to oversee the implementing of these efforts.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, seagrass is a vital part of a healthy marine ecosystem by helping maintain water quality, provide food and habitat for marine organisms, and supporting local economies.

The seagrass restoration initiative must submit an annual report to the governor and help with the creation of a 10 year restoration plan to implement technologies developed under the initiative.

“Protecting Florida’s natural resources has always been a priority of mine and this bill will improve the quality of our water, restore marine life, and keep our coastlines healthy,” said Stewart.

Tallahassee, FL – In response to yesterday’s tragic event that occurred at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, Senator Rosalind Osgood (D-Broward County) released the following statement:

“Yesterday, we again experienced the undeniable deep feeling of sorrow caused by another school shooting. If only this and other acts of mass murder did not happen. But the reality is that we live in a time when death and attacks on the innocent has become all too routine. Too many of our schools, churches, clubs, grocery stores, and neighborhoods have been shooting galleries over the past years.

Homicide, murder, and suicide by firearms are the highest cause of death for our nation’s children and youth.

For every responsible gun user there is three times as many irresponsible gun users. There is an evident need for gun law reform. If we fail to ignore this problem, more lives will be lost.”