Our Mission: "Building Better Lives through Homeownership and Education"
Who We Are
The Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida is a 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for those living in Immokalee and eastern Hendry CountyBeliving that a good education and adequate housing are fundamental to peoples' ability to build assets and better themselves, the Empowerment Alliance is focused on those critical needs in rual Southwest Florida. Through collaboration with our many partners, the Empowerment Alliance has brought more than $34 million into the communities served (see our 2007 accomplishments).
The Empowerment Alliance was formed in 1999 under Rural Federal Enterprise Community program. This program ended in 2008, but the Empowermentcontinues its mission of Building Better Lives Through Homeownership and Education with the goal of helping residents become self -sufficient. The Empowerment Alliance helps thoes seeking affordable housing with homebuyer education and counseling to prepare them to be responsible homeowners. The Empowerment Alliance also constructs affordable housing by using grants and donations to reduce the mortgage on the home to a level that is affordable to first-time homebuyers. Since the areas served by the Empowerment Alliance lack a good suply of safe, decent housing, new construction is often the best choice to help families provide safe, stable homes for their children.
Who We Serve
The Empowerment Alliance service area covers approximately 750 square miles of land spread out among two counties and two Indian Reservations. The population totals approximately 37,000 permanent residents with a poverty rate of 33 percent. In addition, the seasonal influx of migrant farm workers increases the population by 15,000 to 20,000 people during the winter growing season from September to April. We serve eight communities: Immokalee in Collier County; Montura Ranch, Flaghole, South Clewiston, Harlem, Hooker’s Point within eastern Hendry County; and the Big Cypress and Immokalee Seminole Indian Reservations.
Contact Us
To learn more about our programs in Immokalee or eastern Hendry County or to experience our programs at work, please contact us at:
Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida
750 South Fifth Street
Immokalee, FL 34142
239-658-3315 (phone)
239-657-3084 (fax)
administration@easfonline.org
housing@easfonline.org
