Catholic Charities Providing help. Creating hope.

Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association donates
$150,000 towards farm worker housing project

By Judy Bokorney
Web Site Editor

Arcadia—Farm workers are the backbone of the agricultural industry in Southwest Florida. When Hurricane Charley ravaged DeSoto County, a large portion of low-income housing was destroyed. Many migrant workers and their families found themselves with no decent place to live. The most needy of the community were suffering even more.

With the help of many donors and grants, Catholic Charities Housing, Inc. immediately set forth to fill the housing gap by initiating the building of new and affordable homes. The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA), a trade group for growers, also recognized the importance of supporting migrant farm worker families by quickly raising $50,000 for a DeSoto County housing project called Casa San Juan Bosco. Now, a second donation of $150,000 again has been awarded to Catholic Charities from FFVA.

Richard Kinney, a member of the FFVA and instrumental in raising the funds, said the new housing project not only will help farm workers with much needed housing but also will offer a better future. “The community atmosphere at the housing project will provide these struggling families with other services that will help them to become more self sufficient,” he said. “It has been an honor to be associated with such a worthy cause. It is one of those good relationships that comes out of a bad situation.”

Catholic Charities Housing Board President Jack Martin said he is glad to see the fruit and vegetable growers interested in solving the housing shortage. “Having the growers embracing this project means a lot to us,” Martin said. “It is important that we work together.”

According to Sister Cathy Buster, vice president of Catholic Charities Housing, about 8,000 migrant workers lost their homes during Hurricane Charley in DeSoto County. “About 80% of the work camps were destroyed,” she said. The new homes being built for the housing project by Home Front will be able to withstand winds over 200 mph she said.

Prior to Hurricane Charley, DeSoto County already lacked decent low-income housing and because of the situation Catholic Charities formed a housing corporation. When the powerful hurricane struck the community the need became a crisis. “We had to do something right away,” Martin said. “We are grateful that the FFVA contacted many of its member growers and packers and encouraged them to get involved,” Martin said.

Catholic Charities of DeSoto County offers assistance with housing counseling, along with after-school tutoring, financial assistance and immigration services. Sister Buster said a Catholic Charities housing counselor would guide farm workers and their families through the process of obtaining and maintaining housing in the Casa San Juan Bosco project.  For more information call 863-494-1068.

Photo: Members of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association present members of the board of Catholic Charities Housing, Inc. with a check for $150,000 towards a new farm worker housing project.