Wastebook - Senator Tom Coburn - U.S. Senate

Wastebook 201322. Federal Government Spends Millions on Apartments for Deaf Seniors, ThenDecides They Can’t Be Used by Deaf Seniors – (HUD) $1,236,500After spending $2.6 million on needed apartments for the deaf, government lawyers now say theTempe, Arizona based Apache ASL Trails (Apache) apartment facility violates the law because it hastoo many deaf residents. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),the apartment facility does not do enough to also attract non-deaf residents. 285 However, HUD fundedthis award winning project “knowing” the property was designed and built “for seniors who are deaf,hard of hearing, and deaf-blind.” 286About eight years ago, a federal study found that deaf and hard of hearing persons face pervasivediscrimination in the rental housing market. 287 So projects like the 75-unit apartment, designedspecifically for the deaf started to be funded and built. 288 The Tempe, Arizona building is highlysuccessful. According to reports, more than 85 percent of the units are occupied by deaf, deaf-blindand hard of hearing tenants. 289 Currently there is a long waiting list.The apartments offer a much needed “independent living community for seniors 55 years of agelocated close to everything in the East Valley.” 290 Most importantly, the apartments create a barrierfree environment that facilitates communication among residents and between residents and staff.Additional amenities include a “video phone that allows residents to talk with friends,” 291 lightequippedfire alarms, and “blinking lights signal when the doorbell rings and when utilities like thegarbage disposal and air conditioning are running.” 292 It is worth noting that these additionalamenities far exceed the minimal accessibility requirements mandated by HUD for persons who aredeaf.Apache ASL Trails Advertisement with SignLanguageHUD is now threatening to pull all Arizona housing aidunless the managers of Apache reduce the number of deafresidents to no more than 18 of the complex’s 75 apartmentsor 25 percent of the available units. The National Associationfor the Deaf has described these actions as unprecedented,saying “There is no statute or regulation that mandates anysuch 25 percent quota, and the imposition of any such quotais an ideological principle that ignores the reality of housingneeds for many people with disabilities including deaf andhard of hearing individuals.” 293Apache residents say living at facility has positivelytransformed their lives and that they would be devastated ifthis housing were not available. One resident in signlanguage told a reporter that “I would be devastated. I wouldcry. I want to stay here, we need this place.” 294Bernie Horwitz, A 73-year old Apache tenant, told Arizona Family in 2012, “I get the sense HUD isalmost coming in here saying they want to get rid of deaf people.” 295 A bipartisan coalition of membersof the Arizona Congressional Delegation is leading efforts to resolve this matter in a manner thatprotects the current residents of Apache and the purpose for which the building was built.40