Wheelchair-accessible Housing Search (difficulty level: NYC)
July 7, 2023 8:36 AM Subscribe
Trying to help a loose acquaintance who's trying to find wheelchair-accessible housing, specifically in Staten Island. How can they search? Is there an entity that can help?
The gent in question is a loose acquaintance - former Marvel writer Len Kaminski - who's been stuck in a REALLY bad and financially abusive care facility since a bad accident last year. He finally made a public post about his plight - he'd lost his insurance, apartment, AND his disability payments, and they were doing little in the way of medical care - and fans and friends very quickly got together a GoFundMe to help him out.
However, Len has said that having the money is only part of the problem. He actually could have checked out of the facility a few months ago - if he had a place to move to. He'd already lost his old apartment, and it wasn't suitable anyway. He definitely has the money to get into another place, but finding one that can accommodate his wheelchair is becoming the issue now. He's said he'd even consider a hotel for a little while.
The sticking point is that real estate in New York City is hard enough to find - ADA-accessible housing even more so, and when you add in that you're trying to search for the apartment from a room in a crappy nursing home, it's one hell of a challenge.
So. Are there any associations that could work with him to help him find the housing he's looking for, to get him the hell out of there?
The gent in question is a loose acquaintance - former Marvel writer Len Kaminski - who's been stuck in a REALLY bad and financially abusive care facility since a bad accident last year. He finally made a public post about his plight - he'd lost his insurance, apartment, AND his disability payments, and they were doing little in the way of medical care - and fans and friends very quickly got together a GoFundMe to help him out.
However, Len has said that having the money is only part of the problem. He actually could have checked out of the facility a few months ago - if he had a place to move to. He'd already lost his old apartment, and it wasn't suitable anyway. He definitely has the money to get into another place, but finding one that can accommodate his wheelchair is becoming the issue now. He's said he'd even consider a hotel for a little while.
The sticking point is that real estate in New York City is hard enough to find - ADA-accessible housing even more so, and when you add in that you're trying to search for the apartment from a room in a crappy nursing home, it's one hell of a challenge.
So. Are there any associations that could work with him to help him find the housing he's looking for, to get him the hell out of there?
Best answer: Has he contacted a Center for Independent Living branch? I worked with them in another state and they provided referral and advocacy services for accessible and fair housing.
posted by fies at 8:45 AM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fies at 8:45 AM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Just checking back in with the initial one; all Len has said is that he recognizes the address of the SICIL as being near his old apartment, and he thanked me. I'm assuming this means he'll check it out. But if there are other resources I can shoot him I'm all ears!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:50 PM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:50 PM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
This is not a short term solution but he should start applying on Housing Connect. Most projects have a mobility-impairment set aside. A small one, but it costs nothing but time to apply, so even if he finds an okay place it’s worth making the effort for the future.
posted by praemunire at 3:56 PM on July 7, 2023
posted by praemunire at 3:56 PM on July 7, 2023
Beyond SICIL, look into everything relevant under the services in your community section of NCIL's website (the national/coordinating body on independent living). NCIL folks are very good, so don't hesitate to reach out to them directly, too.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:10 AM on July 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:10 AM on July 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Update: I reached out to SICIL last week myself. Len has very, very limited internet access (his phone is down, and his only connection with the internet is an iPad the care facility issued him - and they control the login info and the password). I called again today, and the guy I talked to was HORRIFIED and told me exactly what we needed to do to get the ball rolling.
He'll be emailing me today with a copy of their initial paperwork, and I've gotten Len's email to loop him in when that comes. It sounds like SICIL is exactly who we needed.
Wish us all luck.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:39 AM on July 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
He'll be emailing me today with a copy of their initial paperwork, and I've gotten Len's email to loop him in when that comes. It sounds like SICIL is exactly who we needed.
Wish us all luck.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:39 AM on July 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:43 AM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]