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ULS December Newsletter
All ULS offices closed on December 24 at 2pm and will remain closed until January 2, 2025. We wish all of you a very happy holiday season, and we will see you in the new year!
DC Assistive Technology Program
DCATP's Favorite Things
One of the songs sung by Julie Andrews from the movie, The Sound of Music describes a few of the characters' favorite things. As the end of the year approaches, we want to share the most popular products that our clients borrowed from our lending library, purchased from local vendors, or desire to purchase in the future. Here is a list of DCATP's Favorite Things for 2024:
- Apple iPad 10
- Seeing AI App (for individuals with low-vision)
- Be Hear Proxy (Bluetooth Hearing Amplifier and Neck Speaker)
- Large Print Bluetooth Mini Keyboard
- Go Talk 9+ (an augmentative alternative communication device for individuals with impaired speech/communication)
- Logitech MX Ergonomic Vertical Mouse
- Amazon's Echo Show with Alexa
- WinBridge Voice amplifier S92
- Noir Fit Over UV Shields (low-vision sunglasses)
Disability Rights DC
Reflecting on DRDC's 2024 Report
In July 2024, Disability Rights DC (DRDC) published Unsafe and Unprotected: Neglect at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW), detailing investigations into serious incidents at PIW, the District’s only for-profit psychiatric hospital. The report shed light on unsafe conditions at the facility, which serves thousands of patients annually.
DRDC found evidence of continued serious neglect leading to, among other things, patients being subjected to sexual assaults, physical assaults resulting in fractures and other serious injuries, staff neglect, and overreliance on seclusion and restraint. DR urged the Department of Behavioral Health (“DBH”), DC Health, and PIW to take steps to ensure that patients are safe while receiving care at a hospital. We also found that, as the oversight agencies, DBH and DC Health should also investigate allegations of abuse and neglect at PIW in a timely manner.
Disability Rights DC met with the CEO and management of PIW to address the hospital’s unsafe conditions and how the hospital planned to address the report’s recommendations. PIW also agreed to meet with a recommended DRDC consultant and expert in trauma informed care training for staff to retain her services. The Washington Post subsequently included the report and described its findings in a follow-up story concerning youth who eloped from PIW. That same day, the local public radio station, WAMU featured the report a radio story and included an interview with DRDC staff describing conditions at the hospital.
The report was later the centerpiece of a DC Council Committee on Health public roundtable. DRDC submitted written testimony and spoke in person at the hearing, where councilmembers cited the report’s findings in their questions to PIW administrators, DC Health, and the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). A former nurse at PIW provided emotional testimony, corroborating DRDC’s findings and sharing further accounts of systemic abuse and neglect. In response to the report, DC Health and DBH stated that they had significantly increased their oversight and monitoring of PIW.
Housing Counseling Program
Check Out Our Housing Webinars!
Every month, the Housing Counseling Program (HCP) holds webinars to help residents navigate DC’s housing programs. Our webinars cover the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), the Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Program, and the Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program (SFRRP). We also offer select webinars in Spanish. Learn more and register below!
Jail and Prison Advocacy Program
Mr. K’s Journey to Stability and Success
We’re excited to share the story of one of our incredible clients, Mr. K (He/Him), whose determination and resilience have been truly inspiring.
Mr. K first connected with University Legal Services in 2021 while he was incarcerated. Referred by an associate, he sought help to ensure his mental health needs were taken seriously. Through a collaborative effort involving ULS and other organizations like the Remedy Project, we consistently advocated for Mr. K, calling into the Federal Bureau of Prisons to ensure his concerns were addressed.
When Mr. K was released, he stayed at a halfway house in Baltimore. However, he faced immediate challenges—his medication was not being provided. ULS stepped in, advocating on his behalf with the halfway house staff. Although it took nearly a month, Mr. K ultimately received the medication he needed.
This year, Mr. K reached two major milestones: securing stable housing and starting a full-time job. His reentry advocate, Cami, played a key role in helping him secure a room at Mulumba House. Despite delays and setbacks, Cami ensured his application was properly processed and advocated for his rightful place at the top of the waitlist. Now, Mr. K finally has a space of his own, where he can relax, save money, and plan for permanent housing.
In January, Mr. K joined Project Empowerment, a program that supports DC residents facing barriers to employment. After graduating in the spring, he began working full-time in the maintenance department of a hotel. He loves his job, enjoys working with his coworkers, and is already thinking about his next steps, including further education and career growth.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. K shared, “ULS has been with me from prison to freedom. They’ve made such a big difference—I don’t know if I’d be where I am today without them.”
Mr. K’s journey shows the power of advocacy and determination. We’re proud to have supported him and look forward to seeing all he accomplishes next!
Tenant Purchase Assistance Program
New Grant Initiative at Minnesota Gardens Cooperative
In November, the 48-unit Residence at Minnesota Gardens Cooperative received a $25,000 grant from DC LISC to promote financial stability and community engagement. This is a new program, and we are excited to see it in action at Minnesota Gardens! This grant will fund incentives designed to strengthen the co-op’s finances and encourage timely payment of carrying charges.
As part of the initiative, residents who fully pay their monthly carrying charges by December 31, 2024, will receive a $400 account credit. Next year the program plans to expand incentives, including additional credits for funding reserves, energy conservation, and hosting community events. For instance, additional credits could be given to the 10 residents with the lowest electricity usage and to all co-op members if the co-op holds at least two social gatherings during the year.
The grant will be used over a two-year period, with credits going directly to residents. By prioritizing financial health and community involvement, this initiative aims to address challenges faced by affordable housing cooperatives while fostering a stronger sense of unity among residents.
