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The Memphis Center for Independent Living Journal

ADAPT wins concessions from HUD.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development agrees to ADAPT demands.

By Cassie Holdworth-James

Cassie James at the Nashville HUD office. (WASHINGTON DC) ADAPT’s month long campaign to get HUD Secretary Jackson to live up to his previous commitment to meet with ADAPT regarding the ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA was successful. Fifteen ADAPT representatives met with Secretary Jackson on Monday May 15, 2006. The feeling was positive after the meeting with Jackson, three Assistant Secretaries, and several key HUD staff. Jackson made the following commitments:

Send a Secretary Directive encouraging Housing Authorities to make people living in institutions including shelters, regardless of age, a preference at the local levels. Mike Oxford agreed to write something that to use as a starting point.
Host a meeting with CMS and ADAPT at the table so we can assure we are all on the same page in this goal and moving forward on areas that are in our power to help create this pool of vouchers.
Meet with ADAPT three times a year to discuss progress on ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA and other issues such as the modification program that could help modify existing units for people with disabilities.

These three areas that Secretary Jackson agreed to are important steps in moving forward on implementing ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA. At the ADAPT Action in Nashville this past March, ADAPT delivered a message to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office in Tennessee that ADAPT demands the federal housing department make housing vouchers available to get people out of Nursing Homes.

At the HUD office in Nashville, about 400 ADAPT activists gathered at the entrance but did not block access. The group packed the small concrete apron outside the door and chanted “our homes not nursing homes.”

“For the people of Tennessee it has taken a long time,” said Deborah Cunningham, Executive Director of the Memphis Center for Independent Living. “For the past twenty-years we have been working to get people out of nursing homes and into affordable, accessible, integrated housing. Today proves we are serious and that we are committed to this struggle for however long it may take.”

WANTED: Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of HUD, for crimes against persons with disabilities - ADAPT. “I came down here to listen to you, I will hear what you have to say. I have been given a letter that I assure you that will get to Secretary Jackson.” Said William H. Dirl, the director of the Nashville HUD office. “I understand that the major concern as it relates to HUD is vouchers. That is a concern that we are worried about also. We will certainly make sure that your wishes and your concerns make it to the highest levels, which is Secretary Jackson.”

Between the time Mr. Dirl reported that the message would get to Alphonso Jackson and the Secetary’s acknowledgement of the meeting time, ADAPT passed out WANTED posters at countless PHAs around the country calling for Jackson to set a meeting date. The poster with Jackson’s photo accused him of “crimes against people with disabilities.”

Cassie James-Holdsworth, Director of Community Advocacy, Liberty Resources.
cassiejames@libertyresources.org

MCIL Journal Index 2006

	Date	Name
	12/30/2006	Reform Commission Issues Final Report
	12/24/2006	HHS Launches New Website Promoting Long-Term Care Planning
	12/20/2006	TennCare Budget
	12/19/2006	COMBATTING AUTISM ACT
	12/15/2006	NCD Commends Adoption of UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
	12/9/2006	Medicaid Prescription Drug Plan
	12/5/2006	Congress Extends Mental Health Parity Provision for Additional Year
	11/20/2006	Housing Victory - Steve Gold
	11/16/2006	ADAPT NASMD Action.
	11/14/2006	Testimony to the Medicaid Commission by Executive Director John Lancaster.
	11/1/2006	ADAPT CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTORY WITH STARBUCKS!
	10/31/2006	ACTION ALERT: STARBUCKS.
	10/23/2006	Report Refutes Claims of Elections Fraud.
	10/13/2006	You're Invited to MCIL’s Annual Open House & Silent Auction.
	10/6/2006	Housing Vouchers and Money Follows the Person.
	9/22/2006	Rochester ADAPT hits Congressman Kuhl and VP Cheney.
	9/16/2006	No Excuses: ADAPT Action, Washington DC September 2006.
	9/13/2006	ADA Notification Act Hearing.
	9/9/2006	The Evil Bed Tax.
	8/27/2006	Priority Components for Inclusion in a Integrated Managed Care System.
	8/22/2006	MEDICAID LONG TERM CARE DATA.
	8/16/2006	CHALK IT UP!
	8/11/2006	Info for Travelers with Disabilities.
	8/4/2006	Reasonable Accommodations and Federally-funded Housing.
	7/27/2006	NEW EEOC PUBLICATION ADDRESSES EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS.
	7/24/2006	Harkin Introduces Bill to Improve Medical Access for People with Disabilities.
	7/23/2006	White House Website Violates Federal Law.
	7/6/2006	Change is Happening: Another Look at FY 2005 MA Expenditures.
	6/30/2006	Alaska Supreme Court Strikes Down Forced Psychiatric Drugging Procedures.
	6/21/2006	McClellan Addresses NCIL.
	6/17/2006	Broadband Legislation Update.
	6/6/2006	Has the ADA Made a Difference in Your Life?
	5/27/2006	Affordable health insurance for low-income and uninsurable people.
	5/23/2006	Nursing Home Waiver in Jeopardy!
	5/17/2006	ADAPT wins concessions from HUD.
	5/12/2006	More Than 50 Million Americans Report Some Level of Disability.
	4/28/2006	Disability Advocates: Texas "Futile Care" Law Should Be Euthanized.
	4/16/2006	I'm Uninsurable and Cover Tennessee Won't Cover Me!
	4/6/2006	Update on the Community Choices Act.
	4/1/2006	3RD Annual Free Yo Momma Day!
	3/30/2006	Where is HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson?
	3/27/2006	Governor's Cover Tennessee plan Fails.
	3/22/2006	From the Nashville ADAPT Action.
	3/10/2006	Shame on The Republican Party.
	2/17/2006	Community Choices Act of 2006.
	2/6/2006	TennCare Reform - By Sen Steve Cohen.
	2/1/2006	ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA.
	1/25/2006	AAPD Final Letter to Senate on Alito Nomination.
	1/20/2006	Microenterprise Training.
	1/17/2006	Disability Activists Criticize Administration and Supreme Court.
	1/10/2006	TennCare Leadership Training.

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