Crestview Towers Condominium Residents

Miami, FL – July 4, 2021 - Following the Surfside condo tragedy, communities across Miami-Dade are reviewing housing inventory and taking action to vacate buildings deemed unsafe. Late Friday, the 10-story Crestview Towers in North Miami Beach was among the condominiums where residents were told they could not return. The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, in partnership with the American Red Cross, Miami-Dade County’s Office of Emergency Management and Miami-Dade Animal Services, were able to respond quickly and provide short-term assistance for families with no resources or supports. Temporary emergency shelter accommodations and meals are being provided at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition’s E. Darwin Fuchs Pavilion as families work to identify alternate housing options. Twelve households consisting of 26 individuals, including two family pets, were initially identified and assessed by the Homeless Trust early Saturday morning, and later provided legal assistance by Homeless Trust partner Legal Services of Greater Miami.

On Monday, July 5, beginning at 10 a.m., the Homeless Trust will transition the remaining households to new, temporary accommodations and work to help families identify new housing stability plans. Under the leadership of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, partners are working to develop a comprehensive plan for the possibility of more situations like this.

“The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust stands ready to partner with communities and together with emergency responders to provide a safety net for those impacted by the sudden loss of their housing,” said Ronald L. Book, Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. “While we have assisted in situations like this in the past, the number and scale of condo closures is expected to increase as new scrutiny is being paid on aging and neglected facilities. Our community’s ability to coordinate immediate, alternate housing and services for those without resources and supports will help prevent further trauma on impacted households.”