Hi All:

This message is to encourage you to sign-in on SB408, the Senate equivalent of HB1168. Submitting written testimony helps a lot, but is optional. See "Submitting Testimony Online" below for instructions - it only takes a couple minutes.

Note that SB408 is only about determining if a committee should be formed. If you choose to provide testimony, it should give a reason why the committee should exist and what the committee might consider focusing on.

I also apologize for the length of this message. If you attended or viewed the hearing on HB1168 last week, however, it should be readily apparent that we need to help our legislators understand the housing crisis that our disability community faces.

Why are there two bills?

You may be wondering why there are two bills to create a committee to study the housing crisis on the disability community: House Bill HB1168 and Senate Bill SB408. As we saw with the dental benefit bills a couple years ago, this is sometimes done. I think we should be happy about this: the more people we can educate, the better.

What is in Senate Bill SB408?

Senate Bill SB408 recognizes the following: "changes to the housing climate increase individual and societal costs, with minority and marginalized populations disproportionately affected. Inaccessible housing and quality of housing are a fallout from the affordability crisis and must be considered when addressing the needs of people with disabilities. Many adults with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities live with their parents because they cannot find supportive housing. As of 2020, 12.6 percent, or roughly 175,000 New Hampshire residents, are living with a disability."

To that end, the Senate has created SB408 to study the effects of the housing crisis on the disability community.

What suggestions might help the Senate?

There are likely a couple typos in the bill that reference the "2008 housing crisis". It might be kind to point these out politely noting that it is easy to make mistakes (I make mistakes all the time - there's probably even a few in this message).

More importantly, we need to let the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services know why a new committee focused on housing for people with disabilities is important. We should identify the uniqueness of our space and we might suggest actions that we would like the committee to take.

If you choose to develop testimony, you might consider sharing your personal story. You need to tie that back, however, into why we need a special committee focused on the housing crisis for people with disabilities.

Some talking points you might consider are:

• Identifying the complexity and uniqueness of our space:
• Housing requirements for our community go beyond compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Concerns you may have about access to public transportation, safety, and availability of services
• The requirements for independence and inclusion in the community
• Continuity of care if a service provider becomes unavailable
• Financial considerations for paying for housing
• The complexity in applying for housing and the time it takes to get it
• Any discrimination you may have faced
• Any lack of stability in housing you may be facing now
• The need for choice: there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution
• Existing rules/policy/laws that get in our way
• A reminder that institutions have failed us: "Lost in Laconia"
• A reminder of "nothing about us without us" (RSA 171-A): Participation of people with developmental disabilities and their families in decisions concerning necessary, desirable, and appropriate services, recognizing that they are best able to determine their own needs
• If you are a member of a disability organization and if you are willing to provide testimony to the proposed committee

I'm sure there is even more that you can come up with.

Submitting testimony online

To register your opinion online, fill out this form - it takes less than a minute.

• Step 1:
• Select Wednesday, February 21st
• Select the Committee: Senate Health and Human Services
• Choose the Bill: 9:15am - SB408
• I am: A Member of the Public
• I'm Representing: Myself
• Indicate your position on this bill
• Press "Continue" at the bottom of the page
• Step 2: 
• Enter your personal information
• Press "Continue" at the bottom of the page
• Step 3:
• Review your information
• Click the checkbox below your information
• Press "Continue" at the bottom of the page

You can also email written testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by clicking on the "Email the Entire Committee" link at https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/committees/committee_details.aspx?cc=46

Viewing the Hearing

You can watch the hearing live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NewHampshireSenate.

If you wish to write testimony or want to attend the hearing in person, please let me know if you would like help.

Thank you for your advocacy,

Will