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Home My WebLink Aboutapplication cover letterCentro Hispano Can help you with: • Translation/Interpretation • Identification letters • Learning the English Language • Food • Clothing • Referrals to health care, social services and legal aid ■ Job placement • Getting involved with the community! We are here to help! N oe CENTRO HISPANO g t 923 McAlmont N Little Rock, AR 72202 o (501) 376-6470 OL C E Centro U U � C 0 ispano 2 a) 0) c 0 a E a) 0 c a N 0 C a) empowering the Hispanic Population in Arkansas Facts about Centro Hispano Centro Hispano is an interfaith, nonprofit outreach to the Hispanic population in the Little Rock, Pulaski County area. Our primary goal is to empower Cher Hispanic community and promote awareness of the Latin population in Arkansas. The Hispanic population in the state of Arkansas is estimated to be around 42,000 and 6,000 in Pulaski County. This large population has called for communities to better understand the Hispanic culture. Centro Hispano exists to further develop and assist the Hispanic community identify resources. St. Edward's Catholic Church of Little Rock donated the property located on McAlmont for use by Centro Hispano. Volunteers from the Hispanic community, and many others, have worked to rehabilitate the two buildings located on the property. One home serves as offices and residence for full-time VISTA volunteers and the other is being renovated to serve as a temporary family center. What is Centro Hispano doing? Centro Hispano serves the community by providing information referrals, basic needs assistance and cultural acclimation for Hispanics and non -Hispanics. Centro Hispano direct services include translation and interpretation, job referrals, English Language tutoring, identification letters for Arkansas State identification, and other basic needs. Referrals may include legal aid, health care, social services; food and jobs. If we have not mentioned your need, please call or stop by, we will try to help in any way we can. If you call and there is no answer, please leave a message. We will call you at our first opportunity. Sometimes there will not be someone who fluently speaks Spanish or English at the Centro Hispano. If this happens, please speak slowly and clearly. How can / help ? Contact Centro Hispano, and we'll get you involved. Whether in translation, tutoring English, helping with rehabilitation of the buildings, delivering food or clothing or anything else-- we can use your talent! We rely on volunteers for most of the things Centro Hispano accomplishes. There is no language requirement; We can use your help whether you're bilingual or not. Where is the Centro Hispano and when can l go ? Centro Hispano is located across from MacArthur Park on the east side of Little Rock. It is best to call before coming to see us. Most days and weekends there will be someone there to assist you. However, if you need a special appointment, feel free to call and schedule one. Centro Hispano NARRATIVE REGARDING 9231/2 McALMONT RENOVATION Centro Hispano is seeking approval from the Historic Commission in order to renovate 923 `/2 McAlmont into a family shelter. Currently it is zoned High Density Residential, and has a conditional use permit for temporary shelter use --and Centro Hispano has an office building on the property. We are an interfaith non-profit outreach to empower the Hispanic population in the Little Rock, Pulaski County area. The center developed out of the concern to address the needs of Hispanic Arkansans. According to the 1990 census, eighty-five percent of the Arkansas Hispanic population live at or below the poverty level. The property has been donated on a five year lease with options to extend. We expect to receive on going financial support from the Catholic Diocese, private organizations, federal government support and fundraising activities as well. There is a strong base of support at Centro Hispano since its opening in 1993 over $40,000 has been raised through events and petitions to support the facility. Proposed changes include a new roof, new trim, new windows, new wood siding and new rear columns in accordance to the regulations established by governing entities. We expect to begin construction in early November and complete early next spring. The primary goal of the shelter is to temporarily house families in times of their greatest need. For example, families will have an emergency situation which requires hospitalization. Many families cannot afford the cost of hotel rooms, therefore, the shelter at Centro Hispano will be, ideal for temporary housing oftwo or three families maximum. The shelter will not house more than three families at a time and will not take away any value from the historic district. A related affect of the shelter will be cleaning and securing an area of this neighborhood. We understand that the building has remained vacant for some time, and expect that its renovation will further stabilize this area of east/downtown Little Rock. The site is near two restaurants, filling stations, apartment buildings and UALR School of Law. We believe our construction will not adversely affect these entities. Currently none of the shelters in Pulaski County have a bilingual staff person therefore often times when an individual is in need of assistance Centro Hispano is notified. Many times individuals and families are turned away or given little help due to the language barrier. Centro Hispano believes that the role of a shelter in a community is to enable people to become self- sufficient. When a shelter does not attempt or cannot communicate with individuals in their native language it is impossible to find jobs, housing or receive basic needs. Centro Hispano has a full board of directors headed by Henry Tuck. There are currently three VISTA volunteers working at the center Barbara Niess, Pablo Caballero and Jessica Temple. Our main facility was totally rehabilitated by members of the Hispanic community. While the families are at the shelter they will have the opportunity to improve their own situation. Centro Hispano is proud to help play a part in fulfilling our commitment to the Hispanic community of Pulaski County. Without doubt our shelter will play a role in enabling and empowering the lives of Hispanic Arkansans. 923 McAlmont, Little Rock, AR 72202 • (501) 376-6470 Centro Hispano September 1, 1995 Department of Neighborhoods and Planning 723 W. Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 To whom it may concern: We are proposing to receive a conditional use permit in order to renovate 923 %2 McAlmont into a family shelter. Currently it is zoned High Density Residential, and has a conditional use permit for office use—and Centro Hispano has its offices located on the property. Centro Hispano is an interfaith non-profit outreach to empower the Hispanic population in the Little Rock, Pulaski County area. The center developed out of the concern to address the needs of Hispanic Arkansans. According to the 1990 census eighty- five percent of the states Hispanic population live at or below the poverty level. Currently none of the shelters in Pulaski County have a bilingual staff person therefore often times when an individual is in need of assistance Centro Hispano is notified. Ma4y times individuals and families are turned away or given little help due to the language barrier. Centro Hispano believes that the role of a shelter in a community is to enable people to become self-sufficient. When a shelter does not attempt or cannot communicate with individuals in their native language it is impossible to find jobs, housing or receive basic needs. The primary goal of Centro Hispano's shelter will be to temporarily house families in times of their greatest need. For example often times families will have an emergency situation which requires hospitalization many families cannot afford the cost of hotel rooms therefore the shelter at Centro Hispano will be ideal for temporary housing of two or three families maximum. The shelter will not house more than three families at a time and will not take away any value from the historic district. Centro Hispano has a full board of directors headed by Henry Tuck. There are currently four VISTA volunteers working at the center Patrick Presley Barbara Niess, Pablo Caballero and Jessica Temple. Our main facility was totally rehabilitated by members of the Hispanic community. • While the families are a t the shelter they will have the oppotunity to improve their own siutation. The property has been donated on a five year lease with options to extend. We expect to receive on going financial support from the Catholic Diocese, private organizations, federal government support and fundraising activities as well. There is a strong base of support at Centro Hispano since its opening in 1993 over $40,000 has been raised through events and petitions to support the facility. Centro Hispano is proud to help play a part in fulfilling our commitment to the Hispanic community of Pulaski County. Without doubt our shelter will play a role in enabling and empowering the lives of Hispanic Arkansans. Sincerely, Patrick Presley Coordinator 923 McAlmont, Little Rock, AR 72202 - (501) 376-6470