CHUCK
FLOYD
H a irsty lis t
for
men
and
women
1320 NE
Broadway
WCALHAV I
287-5737
Sunday and evening appointments
OUBJIOUôE
Specialized living facility for
H.I.V. positive people. We are a
team based, developing
organization providing a unique,
home-like service for people
living with AIDS. We are
looking for progressive thinking,
dynamic RN and LPNs to
compliment our team.
Call 234-0175
Non-profit organization
B R A D LE Y J. W O O D W O R T H
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Problems plague House of Light
AIDS
BY
Free Initial Consultation
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dies.
carefaciUtyopens Jespite controversy and questions
R O S A N N E
KING
ust Out’s most important
responsibilities are to its community
and readers. We strive to be accurate,
objective and fair. The truth becomes more
important when we report on controversy in
our own community.
The House o f Light (HOL), a fledgling
care facility fo r people with AIDS, is
certainly controversial. It could provide
desperately needed services, but serious
questions are being asked about HOL’s
financial solvency and ability to deliver
necessary services. Just Out intends to
investigate all sides o f this story, and will
publish a follow-up article in the August
edition.
J
he House of Light Villa Rose
Residential Care Facility (HOL)
officially opened June 18, but controversy
and concern surround the care center for
people with AIDS.
HOL is a 15-bed facility for clients
requiring 24-hour care. Potential residents
will be screened by an HOL medical board
to ensure eligibility for services. According
to HOL representatives, clients will benefit
from educational, recreational and
counseling services. There are seven other
residential care facilities in the greater
Portland area, according to Oregon AIDS
Hotline. HOL is the largest.
Two major issues have surfaced in the
controversy surrounding the center. The
first revolves around the question of HOL’s
financial stability and ability to remain
solvent over the long term. The second
issue is based on concerns that HOL will
not be able to adequately provide necessary
services to clients.
Concern over these issues precipitated
resignation o f HOL’s entire board of
directors on May 17. According to minutes
of a board meeting held that day,
“irreconcilable differences” existed
between the board and HOL executive
director Jeri I. Hendricks.,
The minutes itemize several points of
contention regarding finances:
• Hendricks had estimated costs of 90-
day start-up period at $78,000, with a
completely volunteer nursing staff.
According to the board, HOL had $99.26 in
its checking account on April 26, and “no
committed grants or donations to provide
funding of the start-up costs.”
• HOL entered a lease/buy agreement
for the facility in November 1988 with the
Sisters of the Good Shepard. The Sisters
require, under the existing contract, a
$100,000 payment 90 days after HOL
receives its occupancy permit. The permit
was issued June 1. HOL raised
approximately $52,000, mostly in
donations, in 1989-90.
T
920 CROWN PLAZA • 1500 S.W. FIRST AVENUE
PORTLAND, OREGON 97201
(503) 273-9146
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Dan at 223-5907
just news
• As of April 15, HOL’s total indebtedness
was $150,982.80. That included unpaid
payroll and related taxes.
According to the board, the budget showed
that a projected debt service o f $20,000
monthly to the Sisters couldn’t be paid, even
at fully reimbursed occupancy. They
estimated that “at least $20,000” per month in
community donations would be required to
support the real estate debt service. Residents
will pay about $1800 per month.
(Following review o f the HOL financial
picture, the board concluded that “even when
fully operative and fully reimbursed, HOL
would be running at a $32,000 monthly
deficit.”)
The Board unanimously agreed that it did
not “foresee that community support will be
sufficient to both purchase this amount of real
estate and fund the needed services to HIV-
diseased and AIDS-afflicted individuals.”
Joni Topper, chairwoman of the resigning
board, stressed her concern that HOL could
not provide important services necessary for
care facility residents.
“Is it really a service organization?” she
asked. “There is a vision that does make sense
. . . at one point it was viable idea. Given the
right people, it could work. We need the right
people and the right location.”
She said that many people had worked
diligently toward HOL’s vision of pioneering
new concepts in community health care.
Many have also withdrawn their support in
face in HOL’s considerable difficulties.
The adequacy of resident care also
concerned the state care facility licensing
agency when HOL initially applied for its
license. Oregon State Senior and Disabled
Services issued HOL’s license June 1.
According to Cindy Hannum, division
manager of client care, that license is
currently under review.
HOL has appointed a new board of
directors, and Hendricks has assumed the
position of chairwoman. Due to an out-of-
town emergency, Hendricks was not available
for comment at press time.
However, Hendricks did send a letter to
the former board just two days before their
May 17 resignation. She makes allegations
that the board’s decision not to proceed with
the facility “was made without my knowledge
and presented as a done deal, not open to
discussion.” Hendricks wrote that information
she had furnished to the board was not
“received with an open mind.”
“I also feel that due to the focus on
financial concerns o f board members they
have lost the purpose o f why the HOL was
founded,” the letter stated.
▼
Further comments fro m H endricks and a
complete update on the status o f House o f
Light will appear in the August issue.
WHEEL ALIGNM ENT
TIRES
2454 E. Burnside
& p ai nt
FAMILY OW NED SINCE 1952
just out T 10W July 1990
232-3600