FROM THE CORPORATION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

MIRACLE ON KENNETH STREET?

Nineteen-year old Angel Quinones and his family were at a family picnic on the fourth of July when he dove into the Farmington River and broke his neck.  He spent nearly five months at the Hospital for Special Care, initially for rehabilitation but ultimately because he could not go home.  His family lived in a third floor apartment and, as a quadriplegic, he would have no way to get into his home.

Five months elapsed before someone called the Corporation for Independent Living to request assistance.  Angel was due to be discharged from the Hospital for Special Care.  Because the landlord had availed a first floor apartment to the family, the request was for a ramp that would enable Angel to get into the home.

Without this porch lift, Angel Quinones could not go home from the hospital.

We determined to do all we could to have Angel home by Thanksgiving.  This would mean a lot of collaboration at an incredible pace.  For example, funding for a porch lift had to be identified, an architect had to design the plans, the city had to approve the design, CIL had to obtain three bids for the installation and all work would have to be completed in less than two weeks.  The South Hartford Initiative (SHI) provided the funding using a dedicated fund for accessibility renovations.  At an incredible pace, we were able to secure a building permit from the City of Hartford and to select from three viable contractor bids for the job.   The work was completed in a timely fashion, and Angel was able to get home on the day before Thanksgiving.

That was our miracle on Kenneth Street.

Angel’s mother, Mrs. Ortiz, who used to be a paid personal care attendant, is now compelled to provide the same services to her own son.  We are working to secure a Section 8 certificate that would enable her family to pay housing costs given the change in income caused by this accident.

Those who have worked with Fran Mazzarella will tell you that she is very easy to talk to.  Mrs. Ortiz just happened to mention that all the family had in the refrigerator was some pancake mix.  Pancakes on Thanksgiving?  Fran and Jane Koley decided that the family of five was going to have a real Thanksgiving meal.  They secured a turkey donation and promptly went shopping for all the fixings, using their own funds.  CIL is pleased to have been of service.

CIL PARTICIPATES IN THE PILOTS INITIATIVE

CIL is actively involved in this year’s major, state-sponsored housing initiative – the Supportive Housing PILOTS Initiative.  Statewide, PILOTS will provide 300 supportive housing units.

            Unique to the PILOTS initiative is its combination of capital financing, support service funding, and project-based rental subsidies.  An intensive collaboration of CHFA, DMHAS, DSS, OPM, DECD, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing will allow for the development of affordable housing that includes the necessary support services from nonprofit providers.  CIL is working with Leeway in New Haven, Reliance House in Norwich, First Step and the Women’s Center in New London, and MCCA in Danbury.

            CIL has chosen to develop small, scattered sites for several practical and philosophical reasons.  We purchase 2-4 unit properties and one-bedroom condominiums.  With a relatively small amount of renovation work, units will quickly be ready for occupancy.  The use of smaller sites also allows residents to integrate more easily into surrounding neighborhoods, avoiding the stigma that sometimes is attached to larger supportive housing developments.

            The Leviticus 25 Alternative Fund has provided bridge financing we used to acquire sites prior to completion of the underwriting process.  CIL hopes to work with CHFA and the other collaborative partners to create construction financing mechanisms that will expedite the acquisition and renovation process for earlier occupancy. The financing models created for the development of licensed supportive housing for other state agencies are a good example of what PILOTS needs.

A

MINUTE

WITH MARTY

Marty Legault, President /CEO

Corporation for Independent Living

Grounded Pilots?

My friends know how much I love flying.  As a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, I accepted every challenge and consider myself lucky to have come away unscathed.

There is a PILOTS initiative in the state of Connecticut which aims to provide alternative rental housing to individuals and families of low income.  Qualified tenants in these units would also receive support services as needed.  CIL is currently working with five service provider agencies which will support tenants of CIL-owned rental housing throughout the state.  The process is intricate and requires high levels of collaboration and planning.

What would ground this effort is failure to proceed diligently.  Each housing project plan must be approved by at least three state entities before we can secure and develop the homes.  In addition, the funding window for permanent financing through CHFA is fast closing.  We need expeditious communication.  We need to keep the goal in mind  -  there are homeless individuals whose hope for a better life depends on a successful PILOTS initiative.

Let us not ground this pilot.

A HOUSING OPTION FOR CHILDREN

We rehabilitated this home to make it suitable for the three children who will receive support services from our lessee, Key Services, Inc.

CIL has completed a licensed group home for three children funded through the Department of Children and Families (DCF).  We are very excited about this project because it could be the beginning of a regular partnership for the provision of housing services to meet the special needs of some DCF clients.

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families needs to place over 400 children in supported, residential settings this year.  All of these children require housing with support services to address their developmental, behavioral, medical, substance abuse or other needs.  These children may now be living in unsuitable environments such as hospitals, foster homes, inpatient treatment settings, and/or out-of-state placements.  Many of the clients are also eligible for services from the Department of Mental Retardation or Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.  As such, some of the homes will involve close collaboration between multiple agencies.

Duxbury, MA Condominium Project

CIL has submitted a comprehensive permit application to the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, for the development of 48 condominium units.  Affordable housing is very limited in this town.

CIL to be HUD Asset Control Area Partner

CIL has submitted an application to HUD to be designated as an Asset Control Area (ACA) partner in Hartford and Manchester.  We would then buy all HUD-foreclosed properties in these towns and restore them for homeownership.  This nationwide property disposition process enabled us to rehabilitate eleven homes for first-time homebuyers in small designated areas of Hartford.  We now seek a wider designated area.

A Second Good Neighbor Home

CIL has completed another home under HUD’s Good Neighbor Program.  Working with the Town of Granby, a home on Griffin Road has been renovated and sold at an affordable price to a first-time homebuyer.  Previously we worked with the town of  Enfield on a Good Neighbor Program home.

$10 Million Secured

CIL has secured $10 million in permanent financing through a MassHEFA, pooled bond issue will provide funding for the development of 30 homes in Massachusetts.

14 Units for Reliance House

We have completed the renovation that created 14 units of transitional housing in two houses on the grounds of the old Norwich State Hospital.  Reliance House will use these units to provide housing and services to its clients.  Seven people have moved into the renovated cottage and another seven will move in some time in March. 

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Established in 1979, the Corporation for Independent Living is a nonprofit housing development corporation which specializes in the creation of accessible housing.  Its business niche is community housing for people with developmental disabilities.

With increased experience in financing and developing homes, CIL has grown to serve other housing needs.  For example, we modify private homes for accessibility.  We rebuild neighborhoods through our homeownership program.  We have a significant role in the partnership that is developing the Mortson/Putnam Heights area of Hartford, CT.

Corporation for Independent Living
30 Jordan Lane, Wethersfield, CT  06109
Telephone: 860-563-6011     Fax: 860-563-2562
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