WINK TV (Fort Myers) February 7, 2006
Catholic Charities Builds Migrant Housing
Desoto County - Maria arias walks around her family's new home with a smile. She is a migrant worker in desoto county. And hers is a model home for a new migrant housing complex. "We currently have 86.35 acres. We are going to develop a community called Casa San Juan Bosco," said Sister Cathy Buster with Catholic Charities. Buster is heading the effort to build 125 single family homes for migrant workers on rural land in Arcadia. Desoto county's migrant community was devastated after hurricane charley. Many of the workers live in mobile homes partially destroyed by the storm. Eugene Turner's family owns citrus groves in Cesoto County. A portion of the land was donated by his family. "These folks get up long before daylight. They work until after dark and are deserving of a nice place to come home to," said Turner. A portion of the homes will be open to undocumented workers. "They are the backbone, along with the farmworkers who have their greencards or are legal, to continue the agricultural industry within this area and for the benefit of the whole state," said Buster. The homes will rent between $350 and $450 a month. It comes with all appliances. Sister Cather Buster says it will be more than a housing complex. It will be a community. "We're also going to have a soccer field, baseball diamond, tot lot and some recreational areas for them," she said. The project is funded by grants from the USDA and Florida Housing Finance Corporation. They hope to start construction this May.
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