Organization Background

Carrfour, whose name means “Crossroads” in French, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1993 by the Homeless Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Its mission is to provide permanent housing and supportive services to maximize the self-sufficiency of the formerly homeless in Miami-Dade County and other cities in Florida through joint ventures with various non-profit organizations.

The services Carrfour provides make the difference between a productive life and falling into homelessness, often again and again, for lack of a permanent housing solution. At the helm of Carrfour as President is Stephanie Berman. Carrfour has become the leading provider of supportive housing in Miami-Dade, assembling over $70 million to develop and operate 700 units of supportive housing.

For more than 13 years, Carrfour has provided secure, attractive, affordable housing where residents pay 30% of their income for rent and services. The buildings are designed with the community in mind, with a “look” not only reflecting the flavor of the neighborhood in which they are located, but also improving upon it. Carrfour assigns a service coordinator to each resident to help formulate and implement an individualized plan including a variety of services to develop the resident’s potential of successfully reintegrating into society. Every resident is encouraged to maximize his/her earning potential in keeping with their ability and to re-establish family and community relationships.

Since its inception, Carrfour has been advocating for supportive housing as a cost effective way to stabilize and house people with special needs. The organization has made a major contribution, not only by creating supportive housing in Miami, but by advising the Administration, Congress and the general public about what is needed to develop the necessary units and provide the appropriate services. In November 2001, Carrfour created the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition, a nonprofit organization representing housing and service providers who recognize the effectiveness of supportive housing for people with special needs. Maria Pellerin Barcus serves on the Board of Directors after serving as President for 3 years. She represents the Coalition on the Florida Council on Homelessness.

Carrfour’s ultimate goal is to end homelessness in Miami-Dade County. Along with the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Carrfour has accepted the challenge of providing permanent supportive housing as a major cost-effective solution to bringing dignity and respect back to the lives of people who have either not experienced those feelings in quite some time or ever at all.