According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, Miami is the 5 th poorest large city in the United States and the residents of Liberty-Model City being among the poorest of all. The total population in Model City is 95% African-American; 3% Hispanic; 0.59% Anglo Saxon non-Hispanic; and 1.68% representing other non-Hispanic.
About our neighbors ...
The average median household income in Model City is $18, 810. Our data base represents over 10,000 clients of which 60% are elderly and live on a fixed income. Many of these elderly individuals receive a total of $7-$17 in food stamps. These particular individuals rely solely on our services to supplement their food insecurities from month to month.
Many of our elderly clients go without food because they simply cannot afford to pay rent, utilities, medicine and food. Additionally, many of them are raising their grandchildren and great-grandchildren because the parents are serving in the military in Iraq, or their parents have died from AIDS, or domestic violence. They assume this additional responsibility in an effort to keep their family together.
Our organization serves these individuals when they are unable to get assistance from other agencies. Our seniors have been productive citizens all of their lives and should not have to be making a choice of whether to buy medicine, pay rent or buy food.