Virginia Key tiny homes

Page 13 | Opinion

Virginia Key’s new residents

Commissioners have voted to relocate the city’s people experiencing homelessness to “tiny homes” in Virginia Key

COMMENTARY BY SARYN MOORE, STAFF WRITER

HOMELESSNESS has been a prevalent issue in Miami for many years. All living things should be entitled to personal safety, but in the near future, people experiencing homelessness will face threats to such entitlements, namely hurricanes, limited resources, lack of access to public transportation and will be forced to interrupt ecosystems. These are all crucial issues that will arise due to the establishment of tiny homes on Virginia Key for people experiencing homelessness.

On July 25, Miami-Dade officials voted to build 50-100 tiny homes on Virginia Key, located between the Virginia Key Beach Park and Virginia Key Outdoor Center, according to WPLG Local 10 news. These homes will become residencies for people experiencing homelessness in Miami. However, this plan will not suffice to meet the needs of all groups involved and affected by this.

This location clearly has many faults. Transportation is a huge factor, as Virginia Key is about a two mile walk to the closest public transit. Vital necessities such as medical care, grocery stores and job opportunities are just a few of the key resources that are miles from where the residency will take place.

Additionally, the location of Virginia Key can be deemed unsafe for those living there. Considering that Virginia Key is an island, residents are at risk during any heavy weather and flooding during a natural disaster. Given that there is also a Miami-Dade County wastewater treatment facility on the island, living near a waste management building can potentially be dangerous for civilians’ health.

“I don’t see how putting them on a secluded island will benefit anyone, especially when there are plenty of other suitable lots with far better infrastructure,” junior Lorenzo Londono said.

DID YOU KNOW? Miami-Dade County has a total of 7,627 homeless persons. Source: Miami-Dade Continuum of Care

Virginia Key is recognized as a historical park and preservation, which protect the wildlife that inhabits the island. The park is overseen by the The Virginia Key Beach Trust; it began to protect the area when ideas for private development in the park arose, according to the Virginia Key Beach Park’s website. Bringing residency into the park will disturb the natural cycle that many have worked so hard to keep safe.

“I believe this will open the door to development on the island and in the coming years we’ll see the island paved over and turned into condos for the ultra-wealthy. We will lose one of the most important historic sites in Miami,” operations manager of Virginia Key Outdoor Center Bradley Luft said.

The concern for the preserved areas should not be overlooked. As a result of the plan, pollution in the bay will increase and these animals’ habitats will be compromised. The human disturbance in these areas will likely intimidate the current wildlife from their natural routine.

Areas such as the corner of NW 71th St. and NW 5th Pl. were also potential candidates for the project. This location has a fenced in empty lot and acceptance from the Florida Department of Transportation. The site at 2451 NW 7th Ave. in Allapattah was also considered; the location has services nearby and a shorter walk to public transit, according to the city of Miami-Dade’s proposal. Clearly Virginia Key is not the optimal location.

Although the plan to build shelter for people experiencing homelessness has good intent behind it, the negatives of the plan largely outweigh the benefits. Implementing this plan puts the safeties of people experiencing homelessness and the inhabitants of Virginia Key at risk. h

students speak up

"THIS PLAN IS DISRUPTIVE TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THE WILDLIFE." Yinelys Esquivel, Senior.

Saryn Moore/ highlights

"THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO LIVE THERE ARE GOING TO BE FAR FROM MANY NECESSITIES." Genesis Mercado, Senior

Saryn Moore/ highlights