A lifeline for the homeless in South Florida
Antonio “Tony” Villasuso is the president of The Caring Place, a non-profit organization that helps the homeless.
Having experienced homelessness and addiction himself, Villasuso joined the team in October 1999. Since then, he has helped the company overcome the challenges associated with helping those in need.
When he started at Miami Rescue Mission (now known as The Caring Place), there was a crack cocaine pandemic plaguing South Florida, so the mission was focused on addiction and homeless relief, but today, there has been a shift to also focus on mental health and the needs of the aging homeless population in the area.
“Back in 1999, when I walked through the doors of The Caring Place, homelessness was at an all-time high, and we were in the middle of a crisis,” said Villasuso. “Over the years, our services have grown and adapted to meet the community’s changing needs. Today, we offer addiction support and care for the homeless and needy, among other services to aid in restoring their lives.”
More than just a shelter
The Caring Place has continued its services to provide not only shelter but also essential services such as meals, clothing, showers, mental health support, and access to education.
The Caring Place’s focus is on rebuilding broken lives to help people reintegrate into society, rather than just providing a place to stay.
“In the Miami and Broward Outreach Centers we serve over 400 people every day, sometimes even 900 counting outside guests. We offer them the essentials they need to start rebuilding their lives,” Villasuso shared. “Our goal is simple: no one should be homeless, and we are here to help these people transition out of homelessness, not just house them temporarily.”
Building stronger partnerships for greater impact
The Caring Place partners with many local government organizations, such as the Homeless Trust, and businesses across Miami-Dade and Broward counties to amplify their efforts.
Villasuso believes building relationships and community response are the most important parts of tackling homelessness. For over 103 years, The Caring Place has been at the forefront of this mission, and the entire team behind the company is committed to continuing this legacy.
In 2001, The Caring Place saw a need to serve the Spanish community. As a result with Villasuso he geared up the Vidas Cambiadas Regen Progam. Here the Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters receive the same level of support and care. “It’s no different than the English program. It’s just that they speak Spanish, and we have our curriculum in Spanish, and we have bilingual case managers,” Villasuso explains.
The Spanish program has been instrumental in uniting different cultural groups. Villasuso hopes to keep up this unity and further promote inclusivity.
How you can help
Show your support for those in need with the resources you have. The Caring Place is open to donations and volunteers.
For more information on how you can help, visit www.caringplace.org.
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