March 19, 2024 — Community Partners of South Florida (CPSFL), has received a $150,000 commitment from JPMorgan Chase to help Palm Beach County residents address heirs property challenges and secure their homes for future generations. CPSFL, a trusted leader in comprehensive community development, will invest the funding in financial education and legal counseling to strengthen asset-building among residents and communities.
Noting the increasing number of residents calling CPSFL about potential evictions and financial struggles amidst rising rental rates, CPSFL will use the funds from JPMorgan Chase to provide educational workshops, counseling, direct financial and technical assistance to low-income and elderly residents. Workshops will be offered in person and virtually.
At the same time, CPSFL’s housing experts are also focused on the rights of homeowners, particularly the elderly, facing legal and financial challenges that risk their ability to pass their homes to heirs. The funds will be used to arm individuals and communities with the tools they need to create and maintain their assets and pass them down to future generations.
In partnership with Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and Florida Rural Legal Aid Services, CPSFL’s workshops for both tenants and homeowners will be open to all Palm Beach County residents, with specific programs for residents of Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay. Dedicated financial coaches, rental counselors, and legal consultants will offer individual counseling.
The Northend RISE Community (North End of West Palm Beach, Coleman Park, and Pleasant City neighborhoods) will serve as a pilot for the legal consultancy portion of the project by engaging the area’s elderly and very low to low-income clients in accessing services to keep or regain title to their properties. CPSFL hopes to bring the program to other communities in 2025.
Lynda Charles, Vice President of Housing Services at CPSFL, is looking forward to taking advantage of all the grant’s learning opportunities. “We are grateful for this commitment from JPMorgan Chase which will help families and their heirs keep their homes and build wealth, while also helping their communities grow and prosper,” she said.
“We take great pride in our history of supporting organizations and programs that strengthen the communities we serve,” said Maria Escorcia, Southeast Region Executive for Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase. “Through community organizations like CPSFL, we are able to grow and expand our reach and impact in Palm Beach County. Through this commitment, we hope to help more people build and preserve generational wealth and achieve long-term financial stability in their communities.”
ABOUT COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Housing Partnership, Inc., doing business as Community Partners of South Florida (CPSFL), is a comprehensive community development 501(c)3 nonprofit agency headquartered in Riviera Beach that connects communities with equitable access to housing and financial literacy, child and family behavioral health, and community-based programs all designed to help families thrive. CPSFL’s core focus is revitalizing neighborhoods by investing in people, infrastructure, and economic development. The annual budget is approximately $17 million with 220 staff. CPSFL is a chartered affiliate of NeighborWorks America, a national, nonpartisan network of organizations striving to make every community a place of opportunity. For more information visit www.cpsfl.org or call 561-841-3500.
