Miami-Dade mayor gives homeowner $50K for renovations ahead of holidays

MIAMI – It’s the season of giving and one Miami homeowner was presented with a Christmas miracle on Thursday.

Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levine Cava presented Darryl Williams, of Miami, with a $50,000 check so that his home could be renovated for the holidays.

“This is the biggest of the checks I’ve ever seen,” said Levine Cava.

It’s all part of the Christmas in July promotion spearheaded by the Community Action and Human Services Department’s energy, facilities and transportation division.

Williams encourages others to apply for the promotion.

“Apply, Apply. Whether you get it or not, Apply,” he said.

Williams moved to Miami to care for his elderly parents in the early 2000s. His mother passed away days after Christmas last year.

“They bought this home to my understanding in 1945,” Williams told Local 10 News.

Williams agreed that the money will be a game changer, outfitting the house with energy saving appliances and keeping costs down.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

“A half billion-dollar commitment in the county to helping people stay in their homes and keep the affordable, 9 million of that is to help housing stay affordable by renovations,” said Levine Cava.

Williams told Local 10 News’ Alex Finnie that he plans on redoing the roof, windows and giving the inside of his home a facelift with a new paint job.

“I’ve seen it (the promotion) for a long time,” said Williams. “I just needed a little push–now I got a little push.”