Weekly Edition - 3.18.25

❌ Fair housing threatened nationwide. $85M allocated for disability transitions. Financial confidence tools emerge. Chicago's blind students navigate without sound signals.

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The Big Idea

This week’s featured story: a closer look at developments making waves in the I/DD community

🏠 Fair housing protections vanish with the stroke of a pen. For 66 fair housing nonprofits across America, a letter from HUD terminated approximately $30 million in grants last month without warning or explanation. The cuts threaten vital services protecting vulnerable families like Brooke Kirkpatrick's, whose 3-year-old son with nonverbal autism faced eviction because neighbors complained about his vocal stimming.

These local organizations serve as the primary enforcers of the Fair Housing Act, handling 95% of housing discrimination cases nationwide. When Kirkpatrick received an eviction notice just days after her husband lost his job, she discovered she had legal rights through a local fair housing group. "Within 24 hours, it was resolved," she said. That same organization now faces closure within six months after losing 85% of its budget.

The funding cuts came at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, claiming the programs "no longer effectuate program goals or agency priorities." Multiple fair housing advocates and attorneys have filed a lawsuit against HUD and DOGE, alleging the cuts are unlawful, arbitrary, and exceed DOGE's authority. Meanwhile, HUD itself faces dramatic staffing reductions, with plans to slash three-quarters of its fair-housing office personnel according to internal documents.

The timing couldn't be worse for Americans struggling with housing. With record-high homelessness, overwhelming shelter systems, and an unprecedented housing affordability crisis, advocates warn these cuts eliminate crucial services that save taxpayer money by preventing evictions through mediation. "We help people avoid homelessness," explained Maureen St. Cyr of the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center. "This work saves taxpayers money." If you would like to read more, check out the original article.

Moments That Matter

Celebrating the everyday victories, breakthrough achievements, and inspiring individuals

🚶‍➡️ They waited for safety. A group of visually impaired suburban students recently tested their navigation skills on Chicago's busy streets, despite the city's significant lack of accessible pedestrian signals. While these students demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, their experience highlights a critical infrastructure gap affecting over 100,000 Cook County residents with low vision.

Despite a 2023 federal ruling that Chicago violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, progress remains slow. Only 85 of the city's 2,800+ signalized intersections have accessible pedestrian signals, while disability advocates push for complete implementation within 10 years. This contrasts sharply with New York City, which already has nearly 2,400 warning signals and plans for 10,000 within a decade.

The suburban students from Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, and Palatine school districts rely on extensive training from mobility specialists to navigate safely. During their visit, they learned about resources at Second Sense, a downtown nonprofit offering technology assistance, mobility training, and daily living skills support to visually impaired adults. Students like Hannah Spedale and Mario McMinn demonstrate that with proper training and confidence, they can maintain active lives despite their visual impairments. check out the original article.

Community Catalyst

From Capitol Hill to community centers: the national updates shaping our collective future

💳 Regions Bank breaks barriers for neurodivergent customers. The MagnusCards app, championed by Raleigh Branch Manager Nancy Lancaster (mother to an adult son with autism), provides visual guides for banking tasks like using debit cards, opening accounts, and navigating ATMs. This digital tool joins other accommodations including sensory packs and quiet areas in branches, allowing users to practice banking skills before visiting. Lancaster doesn't just promote these resources professionally—she organizes financial wellness sessions through Triangle Disability & Autism Services, delivering Regions' "Money Basics for Life" curriculum. This comprehensive approach to inclusive banking empowers neurodivergent individuals toward financial independence. If you would like to read more, check out the original article.

💰 New York pledges $85M to support independence. Governor Hochul announced a five-year initiative helping adults with co-occurring mental illness and intellectual/developmental disabilities transition from inpatient care to community living. The program will develop "step-down" housing options paired with critical time intervention teams, addressing a significant gap in support services. Five organizations across New York will receive funding, including AHRC NYC, with $10 million specifically allocated for building residential facilities. This initiative directly impacts families seeking community-based options for loved ones leaving institutional settings, potentially creating more pathways to independence and reducing lengthy wait times for appropriate housing with support services. If you would like to read more, check out the original article through this link.