Without Housing Help, This Care2 Mom and Her Autistic Son Could End Up Homeless

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.care2.com/causes/without-housing-help-this-care2-mom-and-her-autistic-son-could-end-up-homeless.html




by Ximena RamirezOctober 18, 20145:30 pm

After being evicted from her apartment in New York City, Anne Diaz struggled to find affordable housing that would meet the special needs of her son Christopher, who suffers from epilepsy and profound autism. After endlessly searching for a solution, she discovered that while options are available for single adults with disabilities, there are no options for individuals with disabilities and their families.



A devoted advocate for her son and family, Anne Diaz decided to take action in order to keep her family together. She turned to Care2 and started a petition for affordable housing for families with disabilities.

Without affordable housing, Diaz and her son will likely be forced into a homeless shelter by the month’s end, which can be a devastating change for a person like Christopher.

Diaz says:

The way the current shelter system is designed my son and I could be placed anywhere in the five boroughs on NYC, which means we could be displaced away from our community, friends and family. For my son, this would be extremely dramatic as he requires a daily, structured routine to keep him focused and well balanced. Due to displacement there is a possibility he will not be able to attend his day program and other routine activities that he requires on a day-to-day basis. In addition, Chris may not receive his home care services which are needed, as I cannot take my son outdoors alone due to his challenging behaviors and his medical condition.

FULL story and E petition at link.