Former La Quinta Hotel Becomes Hideaway: Permanent Housing for Homeless Adults in Cutler Bay

Transformation of La Quinta Hotel into Hideaway

• 🏨 The former La Quinta hotel in Cutler Bay has been transformed into a new permanent housing facility named Hideaway Bay.
• 🎯 This facility will provide a permanent home for approximately 130 homeless adults, aiming to move them out of temporary shelters.

Resident Experiences and Support

• 🏠 Cleveland Ian, a resident for two and a half months, shares his experience of being priced out of his previous residence and becoming homeless.
• 🛌 He highlights the significant improvement in living conditions, moving from a crowded homeless shelter dormitory to his own private space at Hideaway.
• 🤝 The director, Denny Baladano, notes Ian's active role in the community, helping organize trips and making residents feel part of something.

Services and Independence

• 🍳 Hideaway Bay offers meals, furnished bedrooms, and support services to help residents regain independence.
• 🚌 Staff teach residents how to utilize accessible transportation like Metro Connect and county bus lines.

Community Integration and Support

• 🤝 Ron Book from the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust emphasizes that residents are vetted and will be great members of the community.
• 🗣️ Initially, there was some opposition from the town's mayor, Tim Maybot, but an understanding was reached, recognizing the shared goal of helping a vulnerable population.
• 🎉 Mayor Maybot has since embraced the project, even participating in a celebratory dance with new residents.

Ongoing Needs and Donations

• 👕 Hideaway Bay is seeking donations of gently used clothes and musical instruments.
• 🎶 The facility hopes to develop music-related programs for residents who were formerly musicians.
• 💰 Cleveland Ian expresses gratitude for the affordability, stating that the rent does not consume a large portion of his disability check, leaving funds for extracurricular activities.