HACFM Director of Housing Sherri Campanale, HACFM Executive Director Marcus Goodson, HACFM Commissioner Lemuel Teal, Mayor Randy Henderson, Dr. Carrie Robinson, City Manager Billy Mitchell, Rick Nelson & J.B. Schuetz
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 27, 2015) – The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers (HACFM), along with the City of Fort Myers, celebrated Arbor Day with a proclamation and tree dedication on April 24 at the Dr. Carrie Robinson Community Center in Fort Myers.
The HACFM and city leaders, including Mayor Randy Henderson and City Manager Billy Mitchell, gathered to dedicate 64 new trees that have been added to the HACFM’s public-housing neighborhoods within the city within the last month in honor of Arbor Day.
Mayor Henderson read a proclamation at the event.
According to ACTrees.org, more trees equals less crime. In studies done in Chicago, there were dramatically fewer occurrences of crime against both people and property in apartment buildings surrounded by trees and greenery than in nearby identical apartments that were surrounded by barren land. The study also found that when compared to people who live in places without trees, residents who live near trees have significantly better relations with, and stronger ties to their neighbors. They have more visitors, socialize more with their neighbors, know more people in their apartment building, and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in places without trees.
The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers serves as a catalyst for increasing access to safe, stable and sustainable housing and to help develop, preserve and revitalize communities through affordable rental housing. The agency is dedicated to empowering families with the means to become as self-sufficient as possible through its Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) and HOPE VI Community Supportive Services (CSS) programs, encouraging and facilitating movement toward financial independence beyond the need for HACFM services. The HACFM also aims to instill pride and a desire for an enhanced quality of life for families and serves the greater Fort Myers community in a manner that demonstrates professional courtesy, respect and caring, while recognizing the needs and limitations of the mentally and physically disabled, aged and infirmed.
For more information, call 239-344-3220 or visit www.hacfm.org.
City Manager Billy Mitchell, Mayor Randy Henderson, HACFM Commissioner Lemuel Teal & HACFM Executive Director Marcus Goodson
HACFM Executive Director Marcus Goodson, Mayor Randy Henderson & City Manager Billy Mitchell
Jackie James, J.B. Schuetz, Matt Fairchild & Adam Lightfoot
Lori Rosado, Jeanne Dufresne & Jose Parrilla
