Fellow listmates,

Do any of you have suggestions for this woman's friend?
If so, please contact Sandy directly at [log in to unmask]
Thanks,
Dave Reynolds
--
My friend, Paula Howaniec, is vent dependent, quadriplegic. She has been
living as a renter at a house owned by "New Start" - an agency in southern
CA. She and her 3 roommates are quite happy with their home and health
care. Recently, the Los Angeles Department of Health Services visited them
and said their home "looks like" a 'facility'. Paula said they identified
such "problems" as - the bathroom not looking like a bathroom in a typical
home (so what? they couldn't use it then!), the hallway walls having a
protective coating on them to prevent wheelchair marks, the medical
information is at a central place rather than in each individual's room.

I've been there many times and have never ever observed any problems with
anything. To me, it looks like a home!

The problem? DHS is evicting the residents from their own home - they have
30 days to find an accessible home for 4 people (they want to stay
together), a home that is fully accessible AND affordable for people with
fixed incomes.

I would think that their current home - just as it is - is less restrictive
than a "licensed care facility". Isn't that what the Olmstead decision did?

Now, Paula has normal living responsibilities, like buying her own groceries
and eating food that she wants to eat. If DHS has its' way, she'll be soon
forced to live in a more restrictive setting where she has less rights.

What can be done to prevent these people from being forced to move out of
their own home?

Sincerely,
Sandra Goodwick
La Crescenta, CA
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