Re: Another story from New Jersey

[Guest guest]

The reporter should re-evaluate the math.  Place is line 2 years ago:  1,327. 

Place in line now:  1,126.  Supposed rate of placing people in 1 year:  300? 

Not unless some folks are jumping ahead in line because of emergency situations.

-Gail

From: ellenbronfeld <egskb@...>

Subject: Another story from New Jersey

IPADDUnite

Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 5:05 PM

Before you pack your bags for New Jersey, read this:

New Jersey's disabled wait years for homes

http://www.nj. com/news/ index.ssf/ 2008/1/new_ jerseys_disabled _wait_year

...html

New Jersey's disabled wait years for homes

by K. Livio/The Star-Ledger

Sunday November 30, 2008, 8:12 AM

Although she knew the letter from the state was coming, Elaine

Buchsbaum was not prepared for how devastating it would be.

Seven years ago, she and her husband put their son Matt's name on the

community housing waiting list for people with developmental

disabilities.

Earlier this month, the unwelcome news came in the mail from the state

Division of Developmental Disabilities. Matt Buchsbaum is number 1,126

on a list of 4,601 people who need a home.

When the Buchsbaums last asked the state for their son's placement

number it was 1,327. And that was two years ago.

" For me, it's overwhelming. I don't see where this is going, "

Buchsbaum said. " The answer can't be there is no service at all. "

Buchsbaum, 62, said she sees no progress in the state's attempt to

integrate disabled people into the community, especially if you take

into account those who have moved off the list because they either

left the state or died.

The division said it sent the placement letters this month to keep

families more informed in response to complaints the process was

bureaucratic and impersonal.

Division spokeswoman Pam Ronan said notifying families about their

loved ones' place in line for government-subsidiz ed housing will now

be " an annual event. "

What the state won't be able to tell families, however, is how long

they will have to wait for a home because funding levels change from

year to year.

For Somich, any wait is too long.

The 26-year-old man with Down syndrome has a job, a girlfriend, and a

strong will to take the next step. He would like to leave his family

home in Whippany and live in his own apartment, just like his younger

brother did after graduating from college.

But the Division of Developmental Disabilities made it clear just how

far from ready the state is to help him. He is No. 4,552, according to

his father, Steve Somich.

Seeing his son's number forced the elder Somich to consider the cold

reality of state economics. Without a steady infusion of government

funding to jump-start a nearly dormant placement effort,

Somich might be waiting for his independence until his parents, both

age 55, are too old or sick to look after him.

" I realized, given where they are with placing people, my son would

never get a placement unless something happened to me and my wife, "

Somich said flatly.

" Emergency " placements, such as when a parent gets sick or dies, drive

the movement of nearly 300 people a year. Often they end up in one of

the state's seven " developmental centers. " For many, this is not the

inclusive environment and independent life they had longed for.

Non-emergency placements, made with dedicated state funds, have

dwindled since 2002. Last year, the state dedicated $2.8 million,

enough to move about 28 people from the list.

The notification letters have been motivating families to redouble

their lobbying efforts in Trenton for more funding. The Somich family,

father and son, became citizen lobbyists this year, making appearances

at legislative hearings to urge lawmakers to find money in the state

budget to dedicate to community housing.

My son " saw the letter on the table and read it and said, 'What does

this mean?' I said it means we have to do more lobbying. He said,

'Okay,' " Somich said. " He knows nearly all his friends are living at

home, too. "

This year, the budget contains $12.5 million, a more promising number,

to assist people on the waiting list, Ronan said.

But before the housing waiting list is addressed, assistant

commissioner Ken Ritchey of the Division of Developmental Disabilities

set aside $1 million to assign roughly 200 disabled people to day

programs, which are in short supply.

" Ken Ritchey didn't want anybody sitting home with nothing to do, "

Ronan said.

That leaves $11.5 million to put together housing plans for roughly

100 people, she said.

Meanwhile, families further down the list are encouraged to call their

case managers at the division to talk about programs like respite and

physical therapy that might be available while they wait, Ronan said.

" Maybe we can provide some support right away, " she said.

Dinah Fox of Randolph said she hopes the letter does more than get

parents talking to the state. They need to talk to each other to

devise their own plans because the budget outlook next year is grim.

Her daughter, Robyn, is ranked 3,692 after waiting three years on the

priority list, she said. " This is abysmal and unacceptable, " she said.

Fox and her friend, Delaney, have already pitched an idea to

Gov. Jon Corzine that would unite parents in common geographic areas

to pool their state funds to purchase and set up homes for their

disabled loved ones. They would then arrange for a flow of existing

state and federal entitlements to help pay the ongoing operating

costs.

But so far, the idea has not gained traction. Fox is also devising a

plan to try to get the town of Randolph to build low-income housing

for disabled adults like her daughter.

Fox said it was the right thing to do for state Human Services

officials to send the letters.

" I hope they did it for motivation ... to get parents riled up, " she

said. " I think their (Human Services officials') hands are tied. "

[Guest guest]

That certainly could be the case, Gail...it happens here, so it is bound to

happen elsewhere...

Also, people move, which changes the placements in line, people die, etc....

It seems like LOTS of people will be dying waiting...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Another story from New Jersey

IPADDUnite

Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 5:05 PM

Before you pack your bags for New Jersey, read this:

New Jersey's disabled wait years for homes

http://www.nj. com/news/ index.ssf/ 2008/1/new_ jerseys_disabled _wait_year

..html

New Jersey's disabled wait years for homes

by K. Livio/The Star-Ledger

Sunday November 30, 2008, 8:12 AM

Although she knew the letter from the state was coming, Elaine

Buchsbaum was not prepared for how devastating it would be.

Seven years ago, she and her husband put their son Matt's name on the

community housing waiting list for people with developmental

disabilities.

Earlier this month, the unwelcome news came in the mail from the state

Division of Developmental Disabilities. Matt Buchsbaum is number 1,126

on a list of 4,601 people who need a home.

When the Buchsbaums last asked the state for their son's placement

number it was 1,327. And that was two years ago.

" For me, it's overwhelming. I don't see where this is going, "

Buchsbaum said. " The answer can't be there is no service at all. "

Buchsbaum, 62, said she sees no progress in the state's attempt to

integrate disabled people into the community, especially if you take

into account those who have moved off the list because they either

left the state or died.

The division said it sent the placement letters this month to keep

families more informed in response to complaints the process was

bureaucratic and impersonal.

Division spokeswoman Pam Ronan said notifying families about their

loved ones' place in line for government-subsidiz ed housing will now

be " an annual event. "

What the state won't be able to tell families, however, is how long

they will have to wait for a home because funding levels change from

year to year.

For Somich, any wait is too long.

The 26-year-old man with Down syndrome has a job, a girlfriend, and a

strong will to take the next step. He would like to leave his family

home in Whippany and live in his own apartment, just like his younger

brother did after graduating from college.

But the Division of Developmental Disabilities made it clear just how

far from ready the state is to help him. He is No. 4,552, according to

his father, Steve Somich.

Seeing his son's number forced the elder Somich to consider the cold

reality of state economics. Without a steady infusion of government

funding to jump-start a nearly dormant placement effort,

Somich might be waiting for his independence until his parents, both

age 55, are too old or sick to look after him.

" I realized, given where they are with placing people, my son would

never get a placement unless something happened to me and my wife, "

Somich said flatly.

" Emergency " placements, such as when a parent gets sick or dies, drive

the movement of nearly 300 people a year. Often they end up in one of

the state's seven " developmental centers. " For many, this is not the

inclusive environment and independent life they had longed for.

Non-emergency placements, made with dedicated state funds, have

dwindled since 2002. Last year, the state dedicated $2.8 million,

enough to move about 28 people from the list.

The notification letters have been motivating families to redouble

their lobbying efforts in Trenton for more funding. The Somich family,

father and son, became citizen lobbyists this year, making appearances

at legislative hearings to urge lawmakers to find money in the state

budget to dedicate to community housing.

My son " saw the letter on the table and read it and said, 'What does

this mean?' I said it means we have to do more lobbying. He said,

'Okay,' " Somich said. " He knows nearly all his friends are living at

home, too. "

This year, the budget contains $12.5 million, a more promising number,

to assist people on the waiting list, Ronan said.

But before the housing waiting list is addressed, assistant

commissioner Ken Ritchey of the Division of Developmental Disabilities

set aside $1 million to assign roughly 200 disabled people to day

programs, which are in short supply.

" Ken Ritchey didn't want anybody sitting home with nothing to do, "

Ronan said.

That leaves $11.5 million to put together housing plans for roughly

100 people, she said.

Meanwhile, families further down the list are encouraged to call their

case managers at the division to talk about programs like respite and

physical therapy that might be available while they wait, Ronan said.

" Maybe we can provide some support right away, " she said.

Dinah Fox of Randolph said she hopes the letter does more than get

parents talking to the state. They need to talk to each other to

devise their own plans because the budget outlook next year is grim.

Her daughter, Robyn, is ranked 3,692 after waiting three years on the

priority list, she said. " This is abysmal and unacceptable, " she said.

Fox and her friend, Delaney, have already pitched an idea to

Gov. Jon Corzine that would unite parents in common geographic areas

to pool their state funds to purchase and set up homes for their

disabled loved ones. They would then arrange for a flow of existing

state and federal entitlements to help pay the ongoing operating

costs.

But so far, the idea has not gained traction. Fox is also devising a

plan to try to get the town of Randolph to build low-income housing

for disabled adults like her daughter.

Fox said it was the right thing to do for state Human Services

officials to send the letters.

" I hope they did it for motivation ... to get parents riled up, " she

said. " I think their (Human Services officials') hands are tied. "