Obama Administration’s Proposal Would Devastate HUD Section 811 Program

(Information provided by Consortium For Citizens With Disabilities CCD )

In a major disappointment, the President’s budget seeks a deep reduction for the HUD Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program. Section 811 is the only federal program that produces non-profit owned affordable and accessible housing units for non-elderly people with severe disabilities. Specifically, the FY 2011 budget proposes only $90 million for the HUD Section 811 program – a $210 million reduction from the FY 2010 appropriation of $300 million.

Specifically, the President is requesting the following with respect to Section 811:

• A transfer of $113 million out of Section 811 to the Housing Choice Voucher appropriation for the cost of renewing roughly 14,000 Section 811 “mainstream” tenant-based rental vouchers with few assurances of accountability on the part of Public Housing Agencies administering these vouchers for continued targeting to people with disabilities upon turnover;

• $90 million in funding for Section 811 for FY 2011 – nearly all of which would be directed toward renewals and contract amendments for 811 operating subsidies (Project Rental Assistance Contracts -- PRACs) for existing Section 811 units; and

• No funding for the development of new Section 811 permanent supportive housing units for non-elderly adults with the most severe disabilities.

What Justifies the Administration’s Proposal to Devastate Funding for the HUD Section 811 Program?

Administration officials are currently offering the following arguments in defense of the FY 2011 budget to make deep cuts to Section 811:

1) The Section 811 capital advance/project-based development program is in need of reform. This budget calls for a time-out on the development of new units to “redesign”the program.

The Administration’s budget proposal completely ignores bipartisan legislation to reform HUD Section 811 that has passed the House twice since 2008 – most recently on July 22, 2009 by a vote of 376-51 – with every member of the House T-HUD Subcommittee (except Mr. Carter) voting aye. The bill, also known as the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act, HR 1675/S 1481, addresses every concern that the Administration has raised regarding the Section 811 capital advance/project-based program, e.g. 811 projects take too long to develop, 811 costs per unit are too high, 811 fails to leverage other sources for capital, etc. Specifically, HR 1675/S 1481 reforms Section 811 by:

• Streamlining the development process by creating new options for non-profit sponsors to leverage other capital development resources such as LIHTC, HOME, state trust funds, Federal Home Loan Bank funds, etc. and allowing state housing finance agencies (at their option) to take over underwriting of 811 projects; and

• Authorizing a new PRAC-only demonstration program that would allow 811 funding to be used exclusively for shallow project-based subsidies to support small set asides of 811 units integrated within other affordable rental housing developments – and tripling the number of new units with the same appropriation.

In short, Congress has already endorsed major reforms for the Section 811 program – through the normal authorization process. It is time for HUD to get on board with these long overdue reforms rather than cutting funding and “suspending” 811 production.

2) The proposed cut is not nearly as bad as it looks since $113 million is being transferred to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher appropriation for renewal of all current 811 “mainstream” tenant-based vouchers

It is important to note that the Administration’s proposal to shift the renewal cost for 811 “mainstream” vouchers to Section 8 for FY 2011 differs from the policy in HR 1675/ S 1481 which also authorizes a transfer of 811 tenant-based renewals to Section 8.

• HR 1675 simultaneously authorizes a Section 811 PRAC-only demonstration designed to maximize the opportunity to retain resources being drained from Section 811 and promote integrated scattered site supportive housing,

• Allowing the shift of renewal costs to Section 8 as part of the authorizing legislation allows Congress the opportunity to put in place statutory protections to ensure that HUD and Public Housing Agencies meet specific obligations to track targeting and leasing of these tenant-based vouchers, particularly with respect to turnover and linkages to related federal permanent supportive housing policies (Community Living, Olmstead, HHS “Money Follows the Person” program and community plans to end homeless, etc.).

3) The Administration is requesting increases in other HUD programs that will provide housing assistance to people with disabilities.

It is true that the President is requesting $85 million for “special purpose” vouchers for homeless individuals and families and that 4,000 of these vouchers would be targeted to people with disabilities experiencing chronic homelessness. However, this proposal is no substitute for the unique and compelling need that 811 meets:

1. These “special purpose” vouchers do nothing to target resources for people with severe disabilities who desperately need permanent supportive housing but fail to meet HUD’s definition of chronic homelessness – that is, people with disabilities currently in nursing homes and other institutional settings waiting for community-based options or living at home with aging parents;

2. These “special purpose” vouchers would not build a single new unit of accessible permanent supportive housing;

3. There are some people with the most severe disabilities who – because of unwilling landlords and/or the lack of fully accessible rental housing – cannot successfully rely on tenant-based rental assistance programs like the Housing Choice Voucher program. They need a dedicated supply of permanent supportive housing units that can be linked with supports and services order to live in the community and avoid costly institutionalization.

Over the past decade, disability policy has shifted away from investment in large congregate housing that segregates people with specific disabilities into single purpose buildings owned by service providers. HR 1675/S 1481 are designed to spur investment in more integrated, scattered site supportive housing options. This does not however mean that federal policy should shift away from investing in the development of new supportive housing and rely solely on tenant-based assistance – especially in communities with vast shortages of accessible rental units and/or landlords unwilling to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Wiping out funding for Section 811 would only serve to set the Section 811 reform process back and leave people with severe disabilities – the most vulnerable in our nation – with no permanent supportive housing options.

February 12, 2010

MV-1, the first factory-built and assembled wheelchair-accessible vehicle

MV-1, the first factory-built and assembled wheelchair-accessible vehicle

The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) announced today that volume production of the MV-1, the first factory-built and assembled wheelchair-accessible vehicle designed to meet the unique needs of the paratransit, taxi and consumer market, will commence in October 2010. The new vehicle will be powered by the Ford 4.6L 2V EFI V8 and the Ford 4R75E Electronic 4-speed automatic transmission and will be available in either gasoline or dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) models.

The MV-1 is the first and only vehicle built from the ground up in the United States to meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) vehicle guidelines. Unlike other wheelchair-accessible vehicles, it is not a conversion or aftermarket retrofit. Safe, durable, and less expensive than other accessible vehicle choices, the MV-1 was specifically designed to meet the demands of paratransit and taxicab fleets as well as individual consumers.

The MV-1 production will commence at the AM General plant in Mishawaka, Indiana with volume production beginning in October. AM General, which designs and produces the military HUMVEE and assembles the HUMMER H2, has a world-renowned reputation for building rugged vehicles, based on eight decades of successful innovation and growth. Durability and safety are critical to MV-1 customers and AM General is best positioned to help deliver on those needs.

The MV-1 is the only vehicle in its class with an OEM-engineered and factory assembled dedicated CNG fuel system option to ensure the same durability, reliability and quality that fleets demand from gasoline powered vehicles. The clean-burning CNG vehicle features a range of 250 miles and best-in-class cargo compartment volume. As a result of a strategic partnership between VPG and Clean Energy Fuel Corp., Clean Energy intends to expand its CNG fueling infrastructure in key US markets to support fleets operating the CNG powered MV-1.

The new MV-1 features 56-inch high and 36-inch wide rear doors for easy wheelchair entrance via a wide ramp that carries a 1200-pound capacity yet easily stores beneath the floor inside the vehicle. The MV-1 can accommodate five passengers plus the driver, including up to two forward facing wheelchair riders. With an interior floor to ceiling height of nearly 5 feet, the MV-1 can easily accommodate even the largest electric wheelchairs and provides easy entry and exit for all passengers with or without mobility challenges.

VPG is taking preproduction reservations at this time. Visit www.vpgautos.com or contact VPG at sales@vpgautos.com, 786-230-2100 to reserve an MV-1 today.

About Vehicle Production Group

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) designs, develops and markets purpose built specialty vehicles to meet the needs of large niche vehicle segments that have historically been served by converting or retrofitting general use vehicles. The first vehicle segment VPG has addressed is the wheelchair accessible paratransit, taxi and consumer markets throughout North America. In 2008, VPG received financing from Perseus, a merchant bank and private equity fund company.

Press Contact: Peter Moore (203) 331-2317

Source Communications peter@sourcecommunications.net

Human Rights Banquet in Coeur d'Alene

I attended the Human Rights Banquet here in Coeur d'Alene. The speaker, Dr. Reginald Weaver was not only amazing; his words reinvigorated me, empowered my soul and increased the fire within. I live those words everyday of my life: Never quit! Do what is correct! Push back against hate! Do what is Good and Just!

The fight for Civil Rights and the fight to end prejudice and discrimination will always continue. I will NEVER lie down and NEVER allow evil and hatred to get past my sight without calling it for what it is and doing something about it.Events like that validate me; they remind me why the Supreme Architect of the Universe put me on this planet: To make change and be a role model for others to follow, and to lead the fight that needs to happen as long as the forces of Hate exist. It is STILL about the Content of Character and nothing else. I have dedicated my life to helping others and teaching others to Advocate for themselves and for the issues that matter to them.

I know some Truths, and they are: Only Love can conquer Hate, Only Justice can end Injustice, and bad things will NOT happen if Good People do not turn away.

There will be an end to inequality someday. I believe this with all of my being. Yes, maybe there will be a few malcontents and hate filled hearts, but they will be so small a number they will have no power and no ability to affect the rest of society in any significant way.

When we strive to try and actually listen and understand each other; when we have empathy for each other's lives, when we truly embrace diversity in all its forms and when we realize that we need each other, it is that moment when the walls start to come down. It is that moment when fear and shame start to come to an end. It is that moment that we start to become a little wiser, a little more "grown up" as human beings.

You want to know why I do this work? You want to know why I fight and why uncountable numbers of people fight so that people can live as good a life as they can? You want to know why some of us out here in the fight will never, ever want to do anything else but change things to the better?

It is a very simple answer actually: It is because we actually CARE about our fellow human beings and what kind of world we want to live in; not just for us but for future generations as well.

No matter what. No matter if society wants to kick you in the teeth, call you names, throw up more and more obstacles or try and hinder you in any way: Keep fighting! Keep doing what is correct and just, beautiful and true, honorable and important and most of all what matters most to bring about Equality and Respect into every aspect of society.

And maybe, just maybe when you pass away from this world, you will have positively affected at least one life, brought about one change (no matter how small) and truly left a legacy for the next generations to follow and to implement. The words of Ed Roberts, Dr. King, Cesar Chavez, Gloria Stienem and so many others in the entire Civil Rights movement have every bit of relevance and every bit of power now as they did then. It is up to us to carry them forward, and I know that there is no doubt we will. We shall indeed overcome one day.

Patrick Blum

DACNW

Concern over hearing loss from personal music players

Check out this interesting story from Science Daily:

Concern over hearing loss from personal music players

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used an epithet ...

Reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used an epithet relating to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is both shocking and disappointing, according to The Arc of the United States.

According to a Wall Street Journal story on an embattled White House, “Some attendees said they were planning to air ads attacking conservative Democrats who were balking at Mr. Obama’s health-care overhaul. ‘F—ing retarded,’ Mr. Emanuel scolded the group, according to several participants.” The Arc hopes that the Members of Congress in that meeting were equally offended.

This is the second serious verbal miscue by the Administration about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. President Obama’s unfortunate statement last year on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, equating his poor bowling performance with that of people with intellectual disabilities, sparked justifiable outrage from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The President subsequently apologized for his remarks and disabilities advocates saw it as a teachable moment. Mr. Emanuel’s use of hateful language would suggest that it is the White House staff that needs to be taught a lesson in respect for people with disabilities.

Statements such as these—particularly when used by someone at high level—amplifies pervasive societal attitudes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities somehow don’t measure up—that their lives are worth less. “Using a slur about people with intellectual disabilities to criticize other people just isn’t right,” said Peter V. Berns, chief executive officer of The Arc of the United States. “For people with disabilities it is disrespectful and demeaning and only serves to marginalize a constituency that already struggles for empowerment on every front,” Berns added.

Disability rights advocates had high hopes for this Administration when the President appointed a Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. This was a move that the Administration called: “our first step to ensure that we have a strong advocate for people with disabilities at the highest levels of our Administration.”

The more than seven million individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families demand an apology for Mr. Emanuel’s use of language that denigrates our constituency. The White House needs to lead by example and demonstrate through words and actions that it is not acceptable to use people with disabilities as a source for ridicule. To condone this language is to deny opportunities for people with disabilities in the workplace, in the community, in school, and in every other quarter of society.

The Arc of the United States strongly supports legislation (S.2781) introduced by Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland that would change the term “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” to “intellectual disabilities.” Given the two White House incidents of inappropriate use of the term regarding these constituencies, The Arc hopes that the Obama Administration will put its full force behind the enactment of this legislation.

The Arc of the United States (www.thearc.org) promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetime.

By The Arc - Jan 28, 2010 7:08:04 PM

Next decade offers promise for treatment of spinal cord injuries

From ScienceDaily.com

ScienceDaily (2010-04-04) -- Although new developments in the management of spinal cord injuries (SCI) are on the horizon, any eventual cure for the condition is more likely to involve a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from expertise in several fields, according to new research published in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(JAAOS).

Each year, approximately 12,000 men and women sustain and survive spinal cord injuries, and about 259,000 Americans currently live with a long-lasting SCI.

Although traditionally associated primarily with young adults, today the average age of SCI patients has risen to 40.2 years.

Automobile crashes are the most common cause of SCI, and males are most often affected, comprising almost 81 percent of all SCI patients.

According to Ranjan Gupta, MD, chair of the department of orthopaedic surgery and professor of orthopaedic surgery, anatomy and neurobiology, and biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine, newer therapeutic approaches including stem cell therapy and novel drug formulations, hold special promise for management of SCI patients.

"Yet, spinal cord injuries are especially difficult to treat because they involve more than a direct injury to the spine," noted Dr. Gupta. "The primary mode of an SCI involves changes to the patient's anatomy that occur as the result of the actual traumatic event. Secondary injuries may occur as a result of how the body responds to the primary injury, usually by producing scar tissue that can make treatment problematic."

Dr. Gupta added that it is in the area of these secondary injuries that there are many promising areas of research, from optimizing the acute management of the patient to pharmacologic interventions to cellular transplantation.

"Yet, to maximize the chances for recovery after SCI, early surgical intervention is essential," he stated.

With the sustained, robust attention from scientists and clinicians, as well as the continued active support from the National Institutes of Health, there should be substantial changes in the clinical management of SCI over the next decade. "As long as the field is being actively researched, there is cause for renewed and continued hope," Dr. Gupta continued.

"Patients with spinal cord injuries face possible significant neurologic problems, resulting in paralysis and other disabilities. Innovative treatment strategies such as stem cell transplantation have enjoyed renewed interest under the current administration," Dr. Gupta noted.

"Currently, the FDA has been more receptive to cellular transplantation trials, with one of the first trials being actively planned in the next two years," he said. "While there have been several animal studies showing benefits from various pharmacological interventions, the human clinical trials are still pending."

Dr. Gupta noted ongoing clinical trials -- including the Surgical Treatment of Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (STASCIS) -- continue to explore new approaches to the management of SCI, including multidiscplinary approaches that rely on several specialties to shape a successful treatment.

"It is extremely unlikely that SCI will respond to one single intervention, or that there will be a 'magic bullet,' " he concluded. "Rather, the treatment of SCI will undoubtedly require a multidisciplinary approach and management."

Feds Ill-Equipped To Hire People With Disabilities

Here is an interesting article from Disability Scoop... follow the link (I am not allowed to post the story here) "Feds Ill-Equipped To Hire People With Disabilities"