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Building a World of Inclusion |
Foundations
ABILITY Awareness's E-Newsletter
Fall 2007
Vol. 1, Issue 2
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Foundations ABILITY Awareness's E-Newsletter Fall 2007 Vol. 1, Issue 2 |
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In This Issue: · We Need Your
Help
Our success has been made
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Communications &
Outreach
Thanks to You Thank you for your readership! It takes the efforts of many individuals to make this e-newsletter possible. We highly value your input and welcome any suggestions for new articles or comments on the contents of our e-newsletter. Contact Jennifer Beekman, Communications & Outreach Coordinator, through email or at (714) 277-4330. We look forward to serving you!
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Where you live is more than four walls, a roof, and a place to "hang your hat." It's your home, a retreat, a haven, an expression of yourself, and much more. Unfortunately, 54 million Americans with disabilities do not have a safe and affordable place to call home. Instead, millions remain in substandard, non-accessible housing or public institutions such as nursing homes and crowded homeless shelters. While the motivation to own a home is powerful, the affordability gap for persons with disabilities continues to worsen at alarming levels. According to Priced Out in 2004, "...to more than 4 million adults with disabilities living on Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, the goal of having a home of one's own - whether a small studio apartment or a single family house - has become even more impossible to achieve today." The National Home of Your Own Alliance reports that less than 5% of these individuals own their own homes. In addition, those who do rent pay an average of 109.6% of their entire monthly income to rent a one-bedroom unit. In order to solve this housing crisis attention must be paid to not only the affordability gap, but also the need for accessible, visitable homes through universal design features. Universal design addresses this need through wider hallways and doorways, barrier-free entrances, elevated electrical outlets, lowered switches, and other features that allow homes to be accessible and visitable to every person. While accessibility accommodations were once considered a threat to the value and marketability of a home or an apartment, when constructed with universal design features they are now considered an asset to any residence. Throughout the country and locally we are actively addressing these issues by partnering with other nonprofits in both our ABILITY House program and in modifying existing homes. But these efforts have a cost and we can't do it alone; what we need is your help. The average construction cost associated with each ABILITY House is $66,400 and can vary depending on location, the cost of land, and adjustments necessary depending on the homeowner's disability. Examples of these added expenses include: Zero-step entrance: $200-$5,000 ABILITY Awareness is building homes, communities, and human potential one house at a time. You are the key to help people with disabilities achieve the American Dream of homeownership. As you consider your year-end charitable giving, please remember ABILITY Awareness. Open the door to opportunity and help Build a World of Inclusion.
In order to continue healthy and viable programs that further our mission, we are currently seeking AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members to provide assistance in the areas of fundraising and board member development. AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve full-time, for one year with varying work hours while receiving a living allowance, health coverage, and an education award of $4,725 or $1,200 post-service stipend. In addition, we will provide support and guidance through skills training, opportunities to participate in a variety of career advancing activities, career counseling, and staff mentoring. To learn more about the benefits in becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA member and the opportunities available at ABILITY Awareness, contact Jennifer Beekman, Communications & Outreach Coordinator, at 714-277-4330 or jbeekman@abilityawareness.org. AmeriCorps*VISTA provides fulltime members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Through AmeriCorps*VISTA, ordinary people provide extraordinary service in more than 1,200 projects nationwide. We are in the news! Having been featured on both the KIIS Community Council and the subject of the cover story in the September/October 2007 edition of First-Time Homebuyer Magazine, ABILITY Awareness found itself the focus of media attention twice in the last month. On October 7th our own Executive Director, Judi Pennella and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's Executive Director Sharon Ellis were featured on the KIIS Community Council. A weekly show on 102.7 KIIS-FM, the forum focuses on social service organizations and the issues they confront. During the 20 minute interview both Judi and Sharon outlined ABILITY Awareness's collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County in their Homes for Heroes development. This development, which will be located in San Juan Capistrano, is targeted towards veterans with disabilities or their surviving family members. By working together, both organizations will help veterans achieve the American Dream of homeownership while also engaging volunteers with all types of disabilities in building the homes. To hear this interview, click on the KIISFM logo below.  In addition to our exposure on the KIIS Community Council, our feature cover story in First-Time Homebuyer Magazine, September/October 2007 edition, brought to light the importance and urgency of creating affordable, accessible housing through universal design. The article highlighted our commitment to providing affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities through our ABILITY House program. It also focused on our continuing efforts to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities to people with disabilities thereby emphasizing their often overlooked skills and valuable contribution to society. The importance of both were summed up in this excerpt from Christina Gilmore, Ms. Wheelchair America 1999: "For anyone to experience the wonders of life, one must mentally and physically be willing to venture out beyond what typically feels comfortable and safe. For most of us this comfort zone has and will continue to be our homes. Accessible housing has been a difficult challenge for many in the disabled community, and it is this challenge that has kept them from truly experiencing the good and the bad that comes with life. Now, thanks to all of the efforts put forth by the volunteers and sponsors of ABILITY House, Chris Wright (a current ABILITY House recipient) now has the opportunity to leave his porch and experience life while also having the freedom to come home again to a place where he feels comfortable and independent."
Welcome Mark Hauber,
Copyright 2007© ABILITY Awareness. All rights reserved. |
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Through Foundations, it is our goal to set the foundation for “Building a World of Inclusion” by highlighting our progress and providing meaningful ways for you to become involved in our mission. As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities through housing, employment, education, media and volunteer opportunities. We believe that anyone can volunteer and work to make a difference in their community.
DONATE
- We depend upon your donations to help make a
difference in someone's life. Your donations help empower people with
disabilities and other health conditions lead valued lives and embrace
self-sufficiency.
BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR - Your support allows you the opportunity to change lives, increase employee morale, maximize your marketing dollars, improve communities, and promote corporate responsibility! If you are interested in these opportunities or have
suggestions of other ways to be involved, please contact us
through email or by phone at
Accessibility/Visitability Volunteer Corporation
for National and Community Service Points of
Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network |
Born in Southern California, Mr. Hauber
earned his BA in Sociology from Farleigh Dickinson University and
master's degrees in both English and education from Boston College, where
he was a member of the Phi Delta Kappa honor society. His dedication to
working with persons with disabilities began while employed as a social
science research assistant at the University North Carolina-Greensboro.
