PhotoLuminations

The federal sequester is a cruel weapon: a raw deal that is part of an effort to undo the heritage of the New Deal and the safety net. It is striking home and eliminating programs that are essential to the needs and rights of the elderly, the poor, children, and the disabled. Today I learned about the end of an excellent advocacy program for the disabled.

The front page story, by Rick Foster, is headlined: Bullying at any age: Experts say aggression by seniors against other seniors is a growing problem—and it's being felt in Attleboro Foster details specific instances of bullying in Attleboro senior housing.

How three women escaped

Not from kidnap and rape, but from bullying which is bad enough. Bullies target differences and vulnerability. Three women living with disability in HUD-subsidized housing were bullied—Margaret, in Massachusetts; Christie, in Washington; and Jennifer in Wisconsin. Margaret got evicted and lives in a shelter, Christie managed to buy a home, and Jennifer found a well-managed residence. Their lives are transformed, they feel good again, and they experience hope and peace—even living in a shelter is better than being bullied.

Shocking story of injustice—elders and disabled are treated cruelly.

Join Margaret in the fight to bring justice to subsidized housing

No more hurting people. By terrorism. Or by small acts of abuse and harassment, of hatred, by lower-case "terror." Or hunger. Or sending them to live in the street. Or denying them essential services. Or by turning away from pain and suffering.

We failed to stop bullying, and now the target, Margaret, is homeless.

As a result of advocating for the rights of people living with age or disability, I am hearing painful stories of injustice.

If we create the right kind of personal identity, we can say things to the world around us that they don’t yet believe, and get them to do things that they don’t think they can do.---Bryan Stevenson, founder Equal Justice Initiative, speaking at TED

Just imagine for a one minute video

How to contact your lawmakers on Beacon Hill in support of S604, A bill to protect citizens from bullying

Supporters of the Stop Bullying Coalition held a first grassroots strategy meeting to support passage of a bill in the Massachusetts legislature, S604, A bill to protect citizens from bullying.

How to make calls to support S604

3 minutes: Find the contact information for your state representative and senator.

http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Search
enter your zip code

Make a call to each representative. 3 minutes each.

Hi, I'm (my name) and I live in the (Representative's/Senator's) District. I support legislation to stop bullying that takes place in subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled. I want to talk with the (Representative/Senator) and ask him/her to support S604, A bill to protect citizens from bullying. My phone is XXX and I live at ADDRESS and my email is me@emailaddress.

Great progress! Our petition and proposed bill has moved to the Joint Committee on Housing. We will need support from all concerned citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to move this through the legislative process. Write to us to share your experiences, write to your elected state representatives, and let us know if you are prepared to testify in support of the bill.

Workplace bullying is similar to bullying that takes place in subsidized housing developments. Mediation is not appropriate in either situation.

A victory and a beginning. The STOP BULLYING COMMITTEE has introduced a bill to stop bullying to the Massachusetts Legislature. SD01635 A bill to protect residents of subsidized housing developments from bullying; bullying prevention policies and plans; research and demonstration programs.

We welcome questions and suggestions about the petition to "Stop Bullying."
Bullying, including social bullying, has the potential to do serious harm to the targets, including depriving people of their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, creating stress with consequent psychological and physical injury, and restricting the rights of targets to enjoy normal social interactions or to organize for educational, social, or advocacy purposes.

We start from the principle that harassment/bullying is harmful and must not be tolerated. We advocate for research, education, and the means to provide protection through intervention and enforcement. Action is necessary and justified because bullying is harmful and because no one deserves to be bullied.

Our petition to stop bullying will be the basis for a bill to be considered by the Mass. legislature.The petiton has been presented to Senator Patricia Jehlen, Chair of the senate committee on elder affairs, who is sympathetic to our concerns. Now is the time for everyone concerned to help. We ask that you advocate through us or let us know what you have done so that we can report and coordinate.

The Stop Bullying Committee has submitted A petition to stop bullying of elders and people living with disabilities in subsidized apartments to the Massachusetts legislature. We seek your interest and support to enable passage of effective legislation.

Guest post: Mary shares her ideas with Jerry

Hi, Jerry,

I just came across this really awesome idea for senior housing, that is more community-creating, healing and health-supporting, homey and comfortable,

An act stopping the bullying of residents of multi-family residences, with attention to elders and persons living with disabilities residing in subsidized housing.

We are working on legislation to stop bullying of elders and people living with handicaps in subsidized apartments in Massachusetts. We are reaching out to residents, social service professionals (including social workers and community workers), advocacy groups, and landlords to seek input, help, and support. We solicit your comments and feedback on this draft proposal.

The STOP BULLYING committee is advocating for legislation to help stop bullying in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our legislators tell us that they need people from all over the Commonwealth to witness and demonstrate that bullying of elders is widespread and needs to be corrected. And we need your ideas!

Introduction

Mary lives in a city close to the Pacific Ocean. She has been forced by abuse and bullying to move several times in a vain attempt to find a peaceful home in subsidized housing. Despite her pain and frustration, she bravely continues to seek solutions.

Guest post by Bonny. See Introduction to Bonny's story

Management of Wuthering Heights was part of the problem.

First in a series of case studies and personal experiences by seniors living in HUD-subsidized apartments where bullying by other residents or management takes place

This is a collection of references that deal with bullying of and by senior citizens: what it is, how it emerges, how to control and extinguish it, and how to create a better environment.

To create a virtual peer-to-peer support network to combat bullying of seniors

• To provide meaningful peer support for seniors living with bullying in subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled. Including practical ways to empower seniors to protect themselves and to advocate for themselves: we will seek to provide support, information and education, and to share tested ideas.

A petition for legislation, administrative rules, and oversight to correct the abuse

Introduction

Elders living in subsidized residences frequently are subject to abuse, harassment, and bullying by other residents and/or by staff. Residents in these out-of-control buildings are constantly under siege from bullying, causing them to suffer from stress and related conditions such as depression, high-blood pressure, stroke, and possibly suicide, and have nowhere to turn for relief. This is a petition seeking legislative and administrative remedies. Please join and help make a difference.