Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Miami Herald - Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Andrea Robinson, arobinson@herald.com
Now the city may award $3.3 million in new contracts -- without a bidding process -- to the same agencies that activists say wrongly received money last year. The contracts are set to be voted on at Thursday's commission meeting.
Those agencies specialize in AIDS education and prevention, but the funding was supposed to be earmarked for housing needs. Activists say the city's Office of the Community Development never should have given them more than a half-million dollars in funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Activists John Muhammad and Marc Cohen want commissioners to reject the contracts and order city officials to draw up a new plan with their input.
"The city has made significant mistakes," Cohen said. "I don't trust them."
Dan Fernandez, acting director of community development, said there was no bid process this time around because the four agencies were previously approved by the city for AIDS prevention. He said the agencies are located in different regions of the county, and would be more accessible to clients.
The agencies are Spanish American Basic Education and Rehabilitation, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Care Resource and the Center for Positive Connections.
He said his office did not deliberately violate federal rules in awarding housing funds to prevention agencies.
"HUD has some rules in black and white, but others have shades of gray," he said.
Sherri Kaplan, executive director of Positive Connections, said she didn't think it would be difficult to offer housing services.
"All it takes is training and bringing in the right staff to make it happen," Kaplan said.
The issue is over how the city administers the $13 million Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS program, designed to provide housing and related support services to people living with AIDS or HIV.
The discord comes at a time when more people locally are being diagnosed with AIDS or its precursor, HIV.
Activists contend that for the past five years the city has refused to consult with the county's HIV/AIDS citizens advisory board on its spending priorities. That, activist Tim McCarron said, created "flawed decisions on how to use HOPWA funds."
Fernandez said he was willing to work with the activists, if they meet him halfway.
Incoming Commission Chairman Johnny Winton said both sides needed to work out their problems.
The activists' ire was touched off by two HUD rulings by in response to charges that the city did not follow federal procedures in giving out money.
Earlier this year, HUD ordered the city to repay more than $500,000.
The housing funds went to three agencies that provide AIDS prevention and education -- a violation of federal rules. The same agencies are up for approval again, this time to provide housing service.
More recently, the city recently was forced to suspend its utility and mortgage payment programs because it failed to follow disbursement guidelines.
Muhammad, chairman of Miami-Dade County's HIV/AIDS planning advisory board, said the families were notified this month that they would not get help with their house and rent payments. He said about 60 families received the notices, although city officials said the number was lower.
"This is costing us homes and placing our lives at risk," Muhammad said.
Fernandez said the city is creating an emergency program to help with missed payments.
"We're going to try to provide assistance to prevent homelessness," Fernandez said.
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