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2/5/99, 6:38 pmcst
Institutions are not homes
Again this year the Memphis Center for Independent Living is working with HCD on the overall plan for community development. This is our general statement of purpose combined over the past two years.
The Memphis Center for Independent Living's prime goal in participating in the homeless and special needs assessment is to ensure that institutionalization does not replace housing. People with disabilities desperately need housing and the support services that will prevent or prolong inappropriate institutionalization.
Debra Brown has echoed Secretary Cuomo's belief that "a nursing home bed is not a home." Memphis' FY99 must reflect the large population of this city undeserved and inappropriately stuck in institutions without the essential supports for community living.
Furthermore, there is an even larger population that is struggling to stay out of institutions and are receiving services voluntarily or out-of-pocket. Tennessee is last among the 50 sates at providing "activities of daily living," and "attendant services," to the most economically vulnerable members of our community.
Last year Dawn Russell and myself were pleased that the Consolidated Plan Three-Year Strategy took this into account. Looking back at last year, however, I see that we were not happy with the form used to gather information. The following is our preface to the data collection form.
MCIL promotes self advocacy and systems change. Individuals need and deserve to have real input into the things that shape their lives. It is obvious by this form that we are not headed in the right direction to promote progressive solutions for housing problems.
Our efforts in working with the Consolidated Plan are not represented in your form. We are not service providers. MCIL is not looking to HCD for funding. We point out we have no monetary interest because it is our desire to create a system that is responsive to the needs of Memphians.
Because there is no attendant services in Tennessee, there are no service providers to get data from concerning inappropriate institutional placement. However, MCIL has found that this is of critical need for our community. It is essential that you consider everyone that is not provided attendant services "at risk," and everyone denied attendant services as inappropriately institutionalized.
The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org
MCIL is a United Way of the Mid-South member Agency
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