 Please
write the Senate Members NOW and ask
them to
Sunday June 20, 2004- Last Hours of Legislature.......they
meet today at 5pm and tomorrow is the last day of the 2004
Session
We need Senators to
OPPOSE Concurrence of HCR 353 and reject
discrimination provided to the disabled under
Federal Fair Housing Act - For
Recovering People live in Sober Homes-Supporting Recovery under
Attack!
This Resolution filed by Rep Scalise, is the
3rd Attempt this Session by Rep Scalise to pass
legislation that supports violating the Fair Housing Act and
protections provided to Recovering Alcoholics and Addicts.
Oxford Houses Provide a safe
sober environment for recovering people to live, these homes
support a "recovering family" environment greatly supporting
recovery from Alcoholism and Addiction, called our "Nation's
Number one public health problem".
Communities greatly support recovery and the rights provided by
the Fair Housing Act for disabled persons. Recovering
people offer hope to our communities and state. These are
not "halfway houses" but housing that is alcohol and drug free,
the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Oxford Houses rights, and it
appears that Rep Scalise believes these rights are not valid.
Summary:
Scalise HCR No. 353-
pending in Senate
Asks congress to amend the FHA to allow local regulation of
group homes for recovering substance abusers in residential
neighborhoods.
---Essentially to Discriminate against Recovering Alcoholics and
Addicts----
Ask your Senators NOT to concur---or
support Discrimination against Recovering People.
What HCR 353 Says is that the Louisiana Legislature Agrees on
the Following:
WHEREAS, designating recovering substance abusers as
"disabled" in the Fair 18 Housing Act undermines local control
over acceptable land-use in residential neighborhoods 19 and
prohibits local officials from weighing a municipality’s right
to control land-use through 20 regulation against the rights of
recovering substance abusers who could pose a direct threat 21to
the health or safety of the community including neighborhood
schools, parks, and 22playgrounds; and 23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
all agencies of this state shall refrain from
entering or renewing any contracts with entities that operate
group homes for recovering 13 substance abusers who do not agree
to comply with local zoning ordinances, land-use 14 regulations,
and occupancy limitations. 15
Read ALL of HCR 353
Against Fair
HOUSING ACT protections for Recovering Alcoholics & Addicts
Two other attempts to end
protections for fair housing for recovering alcoholics and
addicts:
 Last
Week:
HB 1645 opposed by Governor Blanco
for Legality Issues--
Bill is Dead -More
Facts Protections
and Fair Housing
Now Scalise is attempting to blindly rush a resolution
through the legislature with the same language that proposes
efforts to violate the Fair Housing Act- and that the Louisiana
Legislature concurs with his self serving legislative efforts
despite the effect on disabled persons
Recovery is the solution not the problem, and this
Resolution says that you concur that persons with disabilities
as described by the Fair Housing Act are not recognized by our
legislature.
Please Support Recovery and object to this attempt to
push discriminatory policy towards people who are working,
paying taxes, and staying sober because of the supportive
environment found in independent living environments.
 LA
Sunday and Monday
Watch Live-Video go here
http://www.legis.state.la.us/ see the "Senate Box" see
the TV screen click to watch the Live Senate in Action
Click on "In Progress" to view the
LIVE broadcasts. You need
RealPlayer to view the broadcasts. If you do not have RealPlayer
on your computer, click
here to download
RealPlayer
See the Senate Agenda and HCR 353 by Scalise for Sunday June 20
http://www.legis.state.la.us/bills/sorder.asp
Louisiana Links to Legislature:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/
Main Page
on Scalise efforts to oppose Oxford House
Louisiana Main
Back to Louisiana Alert
More on Oxford
House
Addiction Recovery NEED In Louisiana
Only 8% of Louisiana adult residents
finding recovery support (Treatment) even less for youth, where
4.5% of Juveniles who need treatment for
alcohol and other drugs find available services.
A mere 32 medical detox beds are available
for 4.4 million residents,
Clean up costs for the lack of treatment and prevention costs Louisiana
more than $8 Billion annually in direct and
indirect costs according to CASA.
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 Ask
your Senators NOT to concur---
E-Mail Senate NOW!
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