Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 4-8-16 Edition

Features
Rep. Ed Narain Named A 2016 Distinguished Advocate
Just weeks after lawmakers ended the 2016 Legislative Session, the Florida Chamber has announced that Rep. Ed Narain (D-Tampa) is one of the Florida Chamber of Com- merce's 2016 Distinguished Advocates for his commitment to championing pro-jobs, pro- business legislation.
"Rep. Ed Narain high- lighted the need for STEM-ed- ucated teachers that will help prepare the next generation workforce for our global econ- omy and worked to welcome innovators by expanding Florida's R&D tax credit," said David Hart, Executive Vice
ED NARAIN State Representative
President of the Florida Cham- ber of Commerce.
The Florida Chamber's Distinguished Advocate award recognizes lawmakers who
fought tirelessly for the pas- sage of pro-business legisla- tion - no matter how difficult - and furthered the Florida Chamber's goals of securing Florida's future through job creation and economic devel- opment.
"It is an honor to be se- lected as a Florida Chamber Distinguished Advocate again this year. I am proud to work alongside the Chamber to cre- ate an environment that allows small and minority owned businesses to flourish while welcoming innovators and job creators to our state," Rep. Narain said.
Future Apartment Complex Will House The Homeless
THE GRAHAM HOUSE (Before It Was Torn Down)
The Edmund Gaines Gra- ham Home in East Tampa has housed elderly and infirmed patients for 64 years. Now, what’s left of the building has been shoveled aside to make way for a 90-unit apartment complex that will house the homeless.
The project is spearheaded by Gracepoint, which is located just west of the construction area on Henry Avenue just east of 22nd Street. The new com- plex will offer half of the per- manent housing units to the homeless. The other half will be occupied by Gracepoint clients consisting of elderly people with mental and behav- ioral issues.
The project will cost about $18 million and is funded with federal dollars funneled through the state. It will take about a year to complete.
Everyone living in the com- plex will have access to medical and mental-health care sub- stance treatment services, and pharmacy and on-site social services all offered through Gracepoint.
A few years ago, Gracepoint opened Cypress Landing in North Tampa. It was a run- down apartment building that was renovated to provide hous- ing for 17 homeless people. That facility has saved the pub- lic $400,000 a year in hospital, jail, court costs and other serv- ices typically picked up by tax- payers.
The facility will be called The Graham at Gracepoint and the story behind the Graham Home goes back to the 1930s.
Mrs. Graham died in 1938 and left money for a home for the elderly, to be paid out of the Graham trust. That totaled about $300,000 at the time.
It took more than 10 years before the funds were released to build an apartment building to house up to 28 elderly resi- dents. But over the years, the trust dwindled and eventually, trustees approached Grace- point, then known as Mental Health Care, to take over the management of the building. In 1992, that was made possi- ble.
Running the home depleted the trust by about $50,000 a year, so last year, trustees ap- proached Gracepoint to turn the operation over entirely, in- cluding management and the land, asking that the facility re- main open for at least five years.
The new building will have three floors, and rent for homeless residents will be paid for through U. S. Housing and Urban Development vouchers.
Eligible homeless individu- als interested in moving into one of the affordable housing facilities should contact the ini- tiative, Hillsborough County Homeless Services or Grace- point.
Career Day
The Florida A&M University National Alumni Association’s Plant City Chapter, invites the public to attend its Career Day at Greater New Hope Anointed Ministries, 2104 Mud Lake Rd., Plant City, 33566.
This event will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 11 a. m. The hope is to inspire upcoming youth to attend FAMU to get a sense of what it’s like to achieve academically and become a part of a unique learning experience. Although this is a FAMU event, please don’t be dismayed if you are not a Rattler. All HBCU’s are welcome and highly encouraged to attend!
With the special guest speaker, FAMU’s Vice- President, Dr. William Hudson Jr., this occur- rence will be full of inspiration, knowledge and power. Let’s come together to motivate our young people and support them in achieving great things.
Mesha Stubbs is Plant City Chapter President of FAMUNAA.
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B