I thought this would be a good place to share. The more signatures, the better
Dear Friends of Apache ASL Trails,
We have good news and bad news to share with you.
The good news is that Apache ASL Trails recently received one of the most significant national awards conferred by the tax credit industry. On June 21, 2012, Apache Trails was awarded the Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award for best Special Needs Housing project in the nation. Apache was recognized in an award ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
The bad news is that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently issued a finding that undermines Apache ASL Trails’ ability to fulfill its purpose of providing quality supportive housing to the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf blind individuals who most benefit from the state-of-the-art amenities and services provided at Apache. This callous and uninformed ruling hurts not only the many current residents who call Apache ASL Trails home, but the many potential future residents who can only dream of a home like Apache. Adding insult to injury, HUD is even insisting that Apache eliminate “ASL” from its name to ensure that all references to deaf culture at the property are eradicated.
In conducting the compliance review that generated this outrageous ruling, HUD did not interview one single deaf tenant at Apache, consult with any experts from the deaf community, or discuss with Apache the legal brief they have submitted explaining why Apache ASL Trails is fully compliant with the letter and intent of federal law.
We remain committed to the rights of the deaf, the hard of hearing and the deaf blind community to live in housing that enables them to maximize their independence and sense of inclusion into their community but we urgently need your help to fight this recent assault on Apache ASL Trails. Please review the materials related to Apache ASL Trials below. Then, please sign our petition today to let HUD know that you support Apache ASL Trails and projects like it that allow deaf persons the choice to live in an environment that meets their needs.
Please go to www.apacheasltrails.com, read the statement, click on “Please sign the petition” and follow the directions. Your action now will help in stopping actions of the Phoenix, AZ Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will destroy Apache ASL Trails (AAT) and threaten the future of more Deaf housing.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/i-stand-with-the-deaf/sign.html#se
Thank you for saving AAT !!
Thomas J. Posedly
Board Chairman
Arizona Deaf Senior Citizens Coalition, Inc.