The New York State Assembly Committee on Housing and the Task Force on People with Disabilities are holding this hearing on the housing needs of people with disabilities because people within New York's disability community face unique challenges in the quest to secure housing that meets their very specific needs. Finding housing that is appropriately accessible and affordable has proven to be very difficult in many areas of the state, especially for people living on fixed incomes. The Committee and Task Force would like to examine the current state of housing services that are available to this population and consider innovative solutions to problems that would respond to existing needs in the current economic climate. The purpose of this hearing is to take the information that we gather from the testimony and use it to develop an agenda and policy initiatives that will help people with disabilities live in accessible and affordable housing in their own communities.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee and Task Force at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee and Task Force will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to the committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee and Task Force would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's and Task Force's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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1. How many housing units in New York are accessible to individuals with disabilities? How many citizens in New York require special housing accommodations due to a disability?

2. Are any particular areas of the State facing a shortage of accessible housing? Do certain regions have an overabundance of accessible housing?

3. What is the estimated cost difference between a standard housing unit and a housing unit that has been designed to provide accessibility to people with a disability?

4. What issues are the most challenging to overcome when seeking an apartment that is designed for access by people with disabilities? What are the greatest challenges when developing or rehabilitating accessible housing?

5. Are there organizations available that assist individuals with disabilities in securing housing that is affordable and accessible? If so, where are they located, and how successful have they been at achieving their goals?

6. Do current state policies need to be re-evaluated to assist people with disabilities in securing accessible and affordable housing? Are there statutory changes that would assist people in this effort if enacted into law?

7. What funding streams that currently exist have proven to be successful in helping people with disabilities get the accessible and/or affordable housing that they need? Please give specific examples.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Housing for People with Disabilities are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to: