May 16, 2001
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Bob Kafka (512) 442-0252
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(202) 479-4000 hotel, until 5/18/01

ADAPT Scores Meeting With HUD Sec. Martinez to Address Housing Crisis

(WASHINGTON DC) In a week that defies explanation, ADAPT scored yet another victory by gaining a meeting with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Mel Martinez, to address the nation's crisis in affordable, accessible housing for persons with disabilities. Before coming to Washington ADAPT had written twice asking for a meeting with no commitment from the Secretary.

In addition to the lack of affordable accessible housing, ADAPT wants Secretary Martinez to put some teeth into HUD enforcement of housing rights laws; assure that persons with disabilities are involved in all planning, at both the local and national levels, with any accommodations they need; and direct that HUD monies currently financing nursing homes be diverted to the new Section 8 Homeownership option to guarantee affordable mortgages for persons with disabilities and others with very low incomes.

When the 500 ADAPT activists from 39 states rolled up to HUD headquarters, they were met with 3 foot high orange metal barricades manned by scores of police officers. "When we saw that, we thought we'd be in for a long day," said Bob Liston, ADAPT Montana State Organizer. "Then all of a sudden, in true ADAPT style, and much to the surprise of the police, we broke through the barricades, went through the doors and into the building. That sped up the negotiating process considerably."

After an hour of negotiation between 6 ADAPT representatives and about 30 HUD staffers, the meeting with Secretary Martinez was announced to the crowd in front of the HUD building by Daniel Murphy, the Secretary's Chief of Staff.

The demonstration at HUD headquarters concluded a week of successful protest as ADAPT let the new Bush Administration know there would be no letdown in ADAPT's efforts to free people from nursing homes and other institutions, while preventing others from being forced into institutional settings.

"Anytime there's a new administration, we know we're starting over to some degree," said Mike Auberger, National ADAPT Organizer. "But we recently lost a Maryland ADAPT member who was barely getting care in a nursing home while waiting for community based services. That's a loss our community can't afford and won't tolerate, and we will do whatever it takes to stop those losses, and prevent new ones."

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