Action Alert # 6 -- The Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act (H.B. 1276, H.B. 1277)


History:

The Act establishes a grant and loan program for people with disabilities of all ages to make home modifications to allow them to live in homes they choose rather than being institutionalized. Spearheaded by Representative Elizabeth Coulson, it was fully supported by CCDI and the Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP). The Illinois General Assembly passed this Act by a vote of 109 to 0 in the House and 55 to 0 in the Senate. The Act was signed by the Governor in 2001 but has yet to be funded. Last fall, The House Urban and Revitalization Committee recommended $1.5 million to 750 households in Illinois.

This year, Representative Coulson is seeking funding for the Act in both the Department on Aging and the Department of Human Services DHS (H.B. 1276 and H.B. 1277, respectively). The funding sought for the Department on Aging in H.B. 1276 is $1,000,000, while the desired funding for DHS in H.B. 1277 is $2,500,000. If this funding were appropriated, it would allow structural modifications to homes, such as, widening doorways and adding ramps to exits and entrances among many other types of alterations. More importantly, funding this Act would help keep people in their homes and communities instead of nursing homes and other institutional settings and allow opportunities for those who want to reintegrate into the community.

Freedom to live in communities is a civil right. In its 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. decision, the U.S. Supreme Court stated, “Unjustified placement or retention of persons in institutions severely limits their exposure to the outside community, and therefore constitutes a form of discrimination based on disability.” Further, a recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons found that more than 9 in 10 people age 65 and over would like to stay in their current residences for as long as they can.

The need for home modifications and assistive technology is only going to increase. Almost one-fourth of those age 45 and older anticipate that they or someone else in their household will have difficulty getting around their home in the next five years. Three (3) in 10 Americans age 45 and older are concerned about not being able to afford home modifications that will enable them to remain at home.

Finally, access to affordable housing is extremely limited for Illinoisans with mobility impairments. Home modifications and assistive technology would increase the accessible housing stock and are cost effective. A recent study of the Illinois Department of Human Services Reintegration Project estimates that the state will save $50 million by helping 133 people move from institutions to the community.

Actions Needed:

You need to contact your Illinois Representatives and Senators as well as the Governor’s Office. Inform them that the Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act Must be funded. Explain that $1,000,000 for the Department on Aging and $2,500,000 for DHS are paltry sums compared to recent funding proposals for other, less disability-friendly projects. A sample letter/email is below this text.

To find out who represents you in the General Assembly, you can use the Illinois State Board of Elections web site www.elections.state.il.us. Click on Find Districts/Officials. You may also contact your local public library for assistance.

Contact information for the Governor’s Office:

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244
Email: governor@state.il.us

SAMPLE LETTER/EMAIL:

DATE

Representative/Senator XXXX XXXX
State Capitol Address
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Representative/Senator XXXX:

I am writing you regarding the funding bills for the Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act (Public Law 92-0122). This Act became law in 2001. However, it has been idle for the last two years, having received no appropriations.

Yet, this year, there are two appropriation bills that could remedy this problem. H.B. 1276 requests funding for the Department on Aging in the amount of $1,000,000. H.B. 1277 seeks $2,500,000 in funding for the Department of Human Services (DHS).

These funding bills are incredibly important and would breathe life into the Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act. This Act is vital to Illinoisans with disabilities of all ages who want to live or remain living in the community. The Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision of 1999 stated, “Unjustified placement or retention of persons in institutions…constitutes a form of discrimination based on disability.” Further, a recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons found that more than 9 in 10 people age 65 and over would like to stay in their current residences for as long as they can.

Not funding this Act makes little sense and fails to help the very citizens it addresses. When there is discussion of providing $10,000,000 to reopen a portion of the Lincoln Developmental Center, a total of $3,500,000 for both H.B. 1276 and H.B. 1277 seems like a minor amount in comparison. Yet, this money will support people in ways no nursing home or state funded institution can provide.

Funding these bills would allow structural modifications to homes, such as, widening doorways and adding ramps to exits and entrances among many other types of alterations. Further, access to affordable housing is extremely limited for Illinoisans with mobility impairments. Home modifications and assistive technology are cost effective. A recent study of the Illinois DHS Reintegration Project estimates that the state will save $50 million by helping 133 people move from institutions to the community.

I strongly urge you to support funding of both H.B. 1276 and H.B. 1277. For Illinoisans with disabilities of all ages, it could mean the difference between life in an institution and life in the community. Funding these bills also means choice for many individuals who do not currently have one. True consumer choice for every person with a disability regarding his or her living arrangements must be the goal of every Act such as this. Without this critical element in a person's life, that very life is not, truly, his or her own. Thank you very much for your time.

Respectfully,
YOUR NAME
ADDRESS

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