Here is the link to the MISCC site, where you can view the webcast to learn about Monday’s meeting. The commissioners of the Office of Mental Health, and DHCR (Department of Housing and Community Renewal) made presentations about access to mental health services, and housing for people with disabilities. While I am happy that the MISCC is finally willing to work, I am getting impatient to see some results! Anyway, here is the link:
It’s about ten after 7 am, and we’re on our way to Albany for the MISCC meeting. There are 8 of us going–Bruce, Chris, Dean, Terrie, myself, Addrain, and of course, the Twins, Pat and Pam. Since we left a bit early, we should get there about 11 am, with plenty of time for lunch before the meeting.
Tomorrow, some of the Rochester ADAPT crew will leaving bright and early for Albany to attend a meeting of the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC). These meetings take place about four times a year. The Council was created two years ago by the previous governor, at the insistence of ADAPT. Though the task of the Council is to implement Olmstead by working to move people with disabilities from institutions to the community, until this year, they have done nothing. Now we’re working together!
The State of Fair Housing Conference
Thursday, October 11th, was a cold, blustery day, but that didn’t stop seven Rochester ADAPT members from attending the 6th Annual State of Fair Housing Conference. This year’s Keynote Speaker was none other than Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Anita Cameron, and Terrie Lincoln, Systems Advocates for the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) and the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL), respectively, were registered to attend the event, but brought along a few friends to help deliver a message to HUD. Kim Kendrick was supposed to have given ADAPT the numbers of Housing Choice and other vouchers earmarked for people with disabilities that HUD had reclaimed after they were put into the general pool of vouchers. Though Kim had agreed to meet with ADAPT for a few minutes after her presentation, Rochester ADAPT felt that conference attendees should have the opportunity to ponder for themselves, what does HUD REALLY know about Fair Housing?
While Anita and Terrie were attending the presentations, Debbie Bonomo, Jennifer Neufeglise, Shelly Perrin, and the Taggart twins, Pat and Pam, begin passing out leaflets to conference members and organizers. Conference members began entering with telltale pieces of bright orange paper amongst the conference materials. Conference organizers tried to confiscate the fliers from individuals, and when one of the fliers founds its way to Kim, there were whispered apologies all around.
By the time that the lecture ended, Rochester Police had surrounded our fearless crew, and were in the process of escorting them from the property. No one knew who called the police; all of a sudden, they were there demanding to know who was in charge. When Debbie responded, “we all are”, she was told, “you must leave, NOW!” Since the rest of the gang was aware of the plan to try to get them back in for the meeting with Kim, they left. The cops then tried to get Anita and Terrie to leave, even after they explained that they were registered. Suddenly, a woman appeared and told the police that they were with the conference. The woman knew some of the Rochester ADAPTers and was gleefully wondering was there going to be a protest.
What do you do when you’re thrown out, but still have a bunch of flyers left to hand out?
Educate everyone!
The crew was escorted off of the hotel property, at a nearby bus stop. They not only gave flyers to passersby, but to folks who were getting on the bus. The Taggarts even got on each bus and handed out flyers! It was amazing that the bus drivers even allowed this, but they did!
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After Kim’s presentation, where she threw around lots of statistics (40% of the ten thousand Fair Housing discrimination complaints from the state of New York were from people with disabilities!), Terrie and Anita waited to see if she would still meet with ADAPT. There were people crowding around Kim, and it was difficult to get through them, so they waited by the only door in or out of the room. After some time, Terrie’s Lift Line ride came, as did everyone else’s. Anita stayed behind to continue to wait. Finally, Julia Day, with the State Division of Human Rights, stopped by to say hello to Anita. Not being shy about asking for help, Anita asked Julia to ask Kim to come over. Julie came back with a message from Kim that she didn’t want a bunch of yelling in her face. HA!!
Soon after, Kim came over and sat down. She was quite unhappy about the flyers and said that it was unfair of us to slam her with the flyers after she had agreed to meet with us. Anita’s response was, “Ok, I understand. Now about those numbers…”
The meeting lasted about twenty minutes. Kim explained that she didn’t have any numbers, that there were other departments that did. She also suggested getting the numbers from the local Public Housing Authorities. Anita countered that Secretary Jackson charged Kim with getting that information. She went on to remind Kim that the biggest barrier to community living for people with disabilities transitioning from nursing homes and other institutions was the lack of affordable, accessible housing. Anita went on to say that mouthing platitudes such as “I feel your pain”, and “you’re preaching to the choir” is nothing but hot air when HUD doesn’t keep its promises. She advised Kim to “light a fire under the behinds of those staff who are supposed to be getting the information on those numbers to you, because they’re making you look bad, and ADAPT will not back down until you and HUD deliver on your promise.”
Kim then stated that she would call Anita tomorrow, October 12th, whether she had the numbers or not. “If I don’t call, my assistant, Deandra will call you.” As of now, the end of the workday of October 12th, there has been no call for either Kim or Deandra. Perhaps, ADAPT will have to jog her memory – ADAPT style!
I just received a response today from Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Despite what her assistant told me the other day, here is Kim’s response:
October 5, 2007
Ms. Anita Cameron
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608
Dear Ms. Cameron:
Thank you for your invitation to meet with representatives of the Rochester, New York, ADAPT chapter on October 11, 2007. As we have discussed, I will be available for a brief meeting following my presentation at the 6th Annual State of Fair Housing Conference.
On September 9, 2007, during my speaking engagement at the ADAPT Forum on Disability Rights in Housing, I outlined a few of HUD’s efforts to address the issue of affordable, accessible and integrated housing. HUD has executed Voluntary Compliance Agreements with many of the nation’s largest housing authorities and is on course to create almost 5,000 fully accessible units through this enforcement mechanism. We will continue to create an increased inventory of accessible housing units across the nation through our Section 504 compliance reviews. In addition, the Department seeks to support the President’s Money Follows the Person Initiative. I have directed all future Section 504 compliance reviews to include an assessment of public housing authority procedures to ensure that Mainstream and other special purpose vouchers are reassigned to eligible applicants with disabilities.
The Department is committed to furthering affordable, accessible, and integrated housing. I look forward to our meeting and hope that we can constructively work together to improve and expand housing opportunities for people with disabilities.
Sincerely,
Kim Kendrick
It will be interesting to see what Kim will have to say to us. I am sure that it will be more of the same old stuff. I will keep you informed.
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
Set Hearing Date For Community Choice Act!
Dear Community Services Advocates: Please send the following message to Representative Dingell during the week of October 3rd through October 12th.
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) is the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid issues, including the Community Choice Act. In May of 2007, Rep. Dingell promised to set a date in the fall of 2007 for a hearing on the Community Choice Act (H.R. 1621) in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, but has not kept his promise.
Without a hearing, the Community Choice Act will not be taken seriously, and will languish and possibly, die in committee. Also, a clear hearing date will give disability activists around the country time to plan and prepare to attend.
Click on “Take Action” to send the sample letter, or personalize it to let Rep. Dingell know how important a hearing on the Community Choice Act is to you.
Here is the link to respond to the Action Alert. Remove my information and insert your own. Anyone, anywhere can respond to this Alert. If you have already responded, you don’t have to respond again.
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