Hey Kim, Where are those numbers you promised?
Some time back, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, along with Kim Kendrick, the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD promised ADAPT that they woul let us know how many reclaimed Housing Choice vouchers earmarked for people with disabilities were available after “accidently” being returned to the general pool of Housing Choice vouchers when tenants with disabilities had died or moved. The numbers were supposed to have been given to ADAPT during our Housing Forum back in september when we were in Chicago. Kim showed up empty handed, and needless to say, ADAPT was not pleased.
Well, what do you know — Kim will be in Rochester on the 11th of October as a Keynote Speaker for the 6th Annual State of Fair Housing Conference! Rochester ADAPT wants to meet with her to get those numbers from her. To that end, I wrote a letter, and sent it off yesterday. Let’s see if she responds!
October 2, 2007
Kim Kendrick
Assistant Secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, SW
Room 5100
Washington, DC 20410
Dear Ms. Kendrick,
Affordable, accessible, integrated housing is critical for persons with disabilities to live independently within our communities. Due to the level of poverty that many of us experience, Housing Choice vouchers represent an important opportunity to obtain affordable housing, particularly for those transitioning from nursing homes or other institutions. Several months ago, Secretary Jackson promised ADAPT that he would disclose the number of Housing Choice vouchers originally earmarked for people with disabilities that had been reclaimed after being put into the general pool of vouchers. This was to be done during the Housing Forum that took place on September 9, 2007 in Chicago, IL. Needless to say, ADAPT was sorely disappointed when you did not have those numbers for us at your visit!
It has come to our attention that you will be in Rochester on October 11, 2007 to address the 6th Annual State of Fair Housing Conference. Rochester has a sizable ADAPT chapter, and would like to meet with you on that date, either before, or after the conference, to discuss the numbers of Housing Choice vouchers earmarked for people with disabilities that HUD has reclaimed. Please contact Anita Cameron at (585) 546-7510 or acameron@rochestercdr.org to make an appointment. We look forward to working with you and Secretary Jackson to ensure that people with disabilities have access to affordable, accessible, integrated housing.
Sincerely,
Anita Cameron
Rochester ADAPT
October 6th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Well, hello! Anita will have to post Kim’s response to having a meeting with us. She is such a coward. We will see how she responds when we are there on Thursday…