This is an interesting article in theWauwatosa Nowwritten by Rachel Minske about concerns over the lack of housing available for people with disabilities in Wauwatosa. She explains that a city committee meeting, many people voiced their concerns. She gives a few examples of the stories that were told at the meeting. The article goes on to say that the city will collaborate to find solutions to this problem.

Disability advocates concerned about lack of housing in Wauwatosa

By Rachel Minske

When 84-year-old Jean Davidson inevitably dies someday, she doesn't know what will happen to her daughter, Lanette, 51, who has Asperger syndrome, a condition that involves delays in the development of many basic skills.

The Davidsons reside in Wauwatosa and Lanette has lived with her mother all her life. Jean is concerned about what will happen to her daughter and where she'll live.

The Davidsons' situation is not unique.

At a City of Wauwatosa Committee for Citizens with Disabilities meeting in early August, a wide range of residents gathered around a conference room table to discuss their own housing conundrums.

One man, who he suffered a traumatic brain injury after he was brutally beaten by a Milwaukee gang, said he now lives in a home owned by his brother, unsure of where he'll go once his brother sells the house.

Another attendee was a single mom with a disabled daughter. The two live in a local apartment complex, financially strained to purchase a home of their own but with an income too high to qualify for housing assistance.

Housing concerns for such people in Wauwatosa are not unusual, said Julie Alexander, who co-chairs the city's committee.

"We're running into situations where children (and) families end up having to move out of Wauwatosa," she said.

Alexander said there could be a lot of reasons causing the lack of housing options in Wauwatosa.

She listed a high number of older homes that weren't initially designed to be accessible as one reason. Another is that people with disabilities rarely leave an accessible residence once they move in.

Apartments all booked

Alexander said there are about 5,000 people with disabilities in Wauwatosa and, generally, not enough housing options available to accommodate them all.

According to Gina Rodriguez of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Chicago regional office, there are four assisted properties in Wauwatosa that provide housing for people with disabilities.

Those properties include Center Street Apartments, 7400 W. Center St.; Greek Orthodox Manor, 9440 W. Congress St.; The Courtyard, 3030 N. 124th St.; and Tosa Glen, 1330 St James Court.

An inquiry with Rosenthal Associates, which oversees Greek Orthodox Manor, found that all of its 33 one-bedroom units and its one two-bedroom units are currently occupied, and the waiting list is closed.

Further, an inquiry with the Reilly-Joseph Co., which oversees The Courtyard apartments, found that the 138 one-bedroom units reserved for the elderly or people with disabilities and an additional 40 units for families are all occupied. The company is only accepting applications for people age 62 or older.

Rodriguez said the American with Disabilities Act requires new multifamily rental housing properties with five or more units to include not less than 5 percent of the units designed to be accessible for people with physical handicaps. For properties with 20 or fewer units, there must be a minimum of one handicapped accessible unit at the property, she added.

Both privately owned and publicly assisted housing, regardless of whether they are rental or for-sale units, must meet the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act when they are located in a building of four or more units, built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, Rodriguez said.

City steps in

Alexander said questions remain regarding housing needs for both those with disabilities and those without. She hopes a housing survey approved by the common council Aug. 4 will provide answers.

Brian Peters of Independence First, a resource in metro Milwaukee for those with questions regarding access and disability, said he has worked with committees to conduct housing studies for seven counties in the region.

Alexander also works at Independence First, where she oversees the nursing home transition program for the organization.

Peters said information he has collected on housing needs in Wauwatosa reveals the city's aging housing stock.

"This housing stock is very inaccessible, and much of it are also very difficult to make accessible," he said. "With aging demographics, it is in society's interest to try to create as much accessible housing as possible for not only non-elderly persons with disabilities, but for the aging baby boomers who may want to live in Wauwatosa."

Peters added Wauwatosa can try to increase the number of accessible housing options by encouraging universal design in multifamily housing and by helping homeowners rehab their homes for accessibility.

Alexander said finding solutions will hinge on collaboration throughout the city.

"The next thing we're sort of looking at is having a community conversation to really look at housing in general," Alexander said.

Source: http://www.wauwatosanow.com/news/disability-advocates-concerned-about-lack-of-housing-in-wauwatosa-b99559277z1-322969321.html