CM James Calls on Home Health Agencies to Restore Senior/Disability Services

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
MAY 4, 2011

Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES CALLS ON HOME HEALTH AGENCIES TO IMMEDIATELY RESTORE SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED
Many have lost home care due to arbitrary, illegal decisions and are currently at grave risk

(Brooklyn, NY) Last month, the way Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs) are reimbursed by Medicaid was changed. In response, CHHAs have illegally reduced the services they provide. In some cases they have stopped providing care altogether.

Regarding this sad situation, Council Member James stated, “Can you imagine being a 90-year old person, living alone, and having no one to care for you? People who had been receiving 24-hour care for years are suddenly receiving only 12 hours of care, or worse. I am appalled that this is happening in a country that prides itself on taking care of our own.”

James continued, “New York Legal Assistance Group filed a lawsuit recently, and I trust the courts will ultimately put an end to this terrible mistake. But until that happens, dozens of disabled and elderly people are in grave danger. I urge the CHHAs to immediately restore all services to those affected by their recent, arbitrary decisions. Our most vulnerable should not suffer because of greedy corporations trying to pinch pennies.”

NYLAG's press release is attached and includes stories of those actually affected by these changes, including a 90-year old holocaust survivor whose care was terminated with no notice, as well as an 87-year old with severe dementia whose care was cut in half, also without notice.

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ATTENTION: 2011 NYC Lien Sale

Let’s Talk Lien Selling:
A lien sale is when the City sells debt to a private collector (known as a lien holder) who assumes the right to collect the debt, and move to foreclosure if owner remains in arrears. In a lien, the lienholder assumes the debt, not property. The lien sale is the City’s primary enforcement tool to collect delinquent debt owed by property owners

Property Tax Debt:
You are at risk if you own— a 1-3 unit residence, a condo/co-op, a small business with 1-2 residences, or vacant land zoned for residential use
-any of the above categories with minimum $1,000 in property taxes for 3+ years
You are at risk if you own— a 4+ units
-the above category with minimum $1,000 in property taxes for 1+ years

Water/Sewer Liens:
You are at risk if you own— a Tax Class 1 property other than a single-family residence
-the above category with minimum $2,000 in debt for 1+ years
You are at risk if you own— a Tax Class 2 multi-family home, a commercial property
-the above categories with minimum $1,000 in debt for 1+ years

Emergency Repair/ Alternative Enforcement Program:
You are at risk if you own— any property other than a 1-3 family residence
-the above category with minimum $1,000 in debt for 1+ years

All 1-3 unit properties will be excluded from the lien sale with the exception of non-owner-occupied 3-unit buildings in the Alternative Enforcement Program.

Property tax liens will NOT be sold on 1-3 family homes with the Veteran or Active Military Personnel Exemption; Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption; Disabled Homeowner Exemption; or the Real Property Circuit Breaker Personal Income Tax Credit (PIT) for 2010.

Stats on At-Risk Properties:
-Total Eligible CityWide- 25, 937 (Brooklyn- 11,375)

Important Dates:
May 2- 90-Day Publication
May 3- 90-Day Mailing
June 1- 60-Day Mailing
July 1- 30-Day Mailing
July 22- 10-Day Publication & Mailing
August 1- Last Day to Pay

Customers can call 311 for questions related to the lien sale.

To be removed from the lien sale list, customers must either pay in full or enter into a payment agreement.
Department of Finance- for property and ERP/AEP debt
www.nyc.gov/liensale
For general lien sale inquiries:
(212) 504-4039
taxlien@finance.nyc.gov

Department of Environmental Protection- for water and sewer debt
www.nyc.gov/dep
(866) 622-8292
For general lien sale inquiries:
(718) 595-7000
ombuds@dep.nyc.gov

Housing Preservation and Development- for ERP/AEP debt
For general lien sale inquiries:
(212) 863-5300
taxlien@hpd.finance.gov

Lien Sale Outreach Dates:
Outreach sessions will be held in each borough from 5PM- 7PM.
Brooklyn’s session is—
July 28, 2011
Brooklyn Finance Business Center
210 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor
Please call Finance's Outreach Unit at 212-669-8745 for more information.

Job Opportunity: Visions Positions Available!

Visions VCB is a non-profit that has provided services for the blind and visually impaired for over 80 years. Most people they service have limited income, and thus most of the services are free-of-charge.

Visions currently has a job openings for the following positions:

Visions VCB provides services for the blind and visually impaired are recruiting workers for an 8 week summer period. All positions include room and board.

Supervisor

Social work, teaching, recreation, camp or related experience required. Masters in social work, education, recreation therapy, rehabilitation or related field preferred. Masters level students are encouraged to apply. Supervisory/management experience a must. Spouses and children welcome. Preferably post-collegiate. Salary is from $3,000 to $5,000 depending on experience

Nurse

Requires N.Y.S. R.N. standard first aid and CPR. Part time, work hourly available. Salary negotiable. Hourly wage, part time and per diem.

Dining Hall Manager

Experience in food service delivery and supervision of wait and bus staff. Must be 24+ years. Salary $3,000+

Program Specialist/Artist in Residence

Arts (crafts, pottery, music, dance), Fitness (must have certification), education (adaptive computers, nature), Rehab Teaching, O&M, TVI, Early intervention Specialists etc. Experience teaching special populations. Expertise in program area. Supervisory experience a plus. Preferably post-collegiate. Salary negotiable full/part time or per diem.

Counselor

Outgoing, warm, committed and interested in working with people of all ages and those who are blind. Leadership skills, maturity, enthusiasm, creativity and motivation a must. Counselors will also assist with the care of staff children on a rotating basis. Must 18 years or older. Salary range beginning at $1,200

Lifeguard

Lifeguard certification, B.L.S. CPR and standard first aid required. Mature, responsible, and energetic. Preferably post-collegiate. Salary negotiable

Driver

Must have a clean license– no outstanding tickets! Driving record will be checked. Patient, friendly and mature attitude a must. Experience driving in New York City a plus. Must be 24+years. Salary negotiable. Full/Part time, $10 per hour.

Support Staff

To assist in kitchen, dining hall, maintenance, and housekeeping. Serving and cleaning up of meals, cleaning dormitories, program areas and bathrooms, grounds work, assisting with program activities when assigned. Ability to work as part of the team. Must be flexible. Must be 18 years or older. Salary $1,200+, depending on experience

Language Interpreter/Rehabilitation Office Assistant

The interpreter will interpret for consumers receiving services from Visions and the working environment will include field work (i.e. consumers’ homes, neighborhoods, schools, and offices). The interpreter will facilitate communication through the use of spoken foreign language, spoken English, cultural mediation and knowledge of vision loss.

The applicant:

* Must become familiar with rehabilitation terminology
* Must show evidence of fluent ability in English and the foreign language for which they are training
* Must be willing to have a background check
* Interpreter training and certification through ATA is a plus

The salary is commensurate with experience.

Visions VCB is located at 500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor. New York, NY, 10013. The telephone number is (212) 625-1616, fax number is (212) 219-4078, and their email is info@visionsvcb.org.