[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LITTLE HAITI HOUSING ASSOCIATION, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 1997

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Little 
Haiti Housing Association, Inc. [LHHA], for its receipt of the Maxwell 
Award of Excellence from the Fannie Mae Foundation. Mr. David Harder, 
executive director of LHHA accepted the award Tuesday, May 20, during 
the foundation's ninth annual awards ceremony.
  The Fannie Mae Foundation recognized LHHA for its scattered site home 
ownership project which is a model for the Nation. The program 
renovates abandoned houses that have become havens for drug dealers and 
redevelops vacant lots used as trash dumps. Between July 1995 and June 
1996, the project successfully renovated 10 homes and built 1 new home. 
Since the project's inception in 1987, LHHA's dedicated workers 
renovated or built 48 homes, thus enabling 48 families to become 
homeowners.
  Mr. Harder regards LHHA as more than a housing program; it is, ``a 
tool to restore stability in communities.'' LHHA's contribution to that 
philosophy is illustrated by the array of services offered to 
homeowners and persons qualifying for home ownership.
  LHHA designs services and programs to strengthen members of the Dade 
community. Home buyers complete the association's 8-week home ownership 
training program. Classes are offered in Haitian-Creole, Spanish, and 
English. LHHA also offers classes in English for Speakers of Other 
Languages; post-purchase counseling; the banking system; citizenship 
preparation; and job skills training.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work of Executive Director Harder and his 
team, Jules LaBossiere, president of the board of directors and Jacques 
Saint-Louis, assistant director. Their tireless efforts to provide safe 
affordable housing to this community in Dade County is much 
appreciated. Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc., sends a strong 
message to drug dealers and others, that we will take our communities 
back.

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