Just out., August 01, 1990, Page 8, Image 8

FREE
Just news
House of Light faces finance
and licensing questions
CONSULTATION.
Thinking of a city or country setting, or is it
time to sell? Let’s meet and discuss your needs. Being in sales
since 1977, I’m an expert on all the current information
available in the real estate market.
For a down to earth, flexible, no hype approach, give
me a call. / want your business!
Kathy Tysinger
Member of Portland M illion Dollar Club
Bridgetown Realty
Work (503) 287-9370 Home (503) 287-1523
Ability to provide care questioned
B Y
R O S A N N E
K I N G
This is the second article in Just Chit’s two-
part investigation o f Portland's newest and
biggest residential AIDS care facility. The
House o f Light (HOL) officially opened June 18
surrounded by questions and controversy.
HOL’s entire board o f directors resigned a
month before the facility opened, citing serious
concerns over H O L's financial integrity and
ability to provide necessary services. We began
our investigation into the controversy, which
immediately became a complex muddle o f
opinions and facts.
Throughout the investigation, though, one
remarkable fa ct surfaced over and over. Even
HOL’s harshest critics still believe in a dream
o f a pioneer-approach, community, education,
and residential care facility.
Just Out w ill continue to follow the story o f
the House o f Light and will investigate and
report new developments.
though several finance professionals were board
members. HOL Program Director Bonnie
Johnson said the budget which provoked the
mass resignation was simply “a scenario Jeri
had written up.”
A new budget has been drafted and is now
the concern o f the new board of directors, one
of whom has already resigned. According to
Hendricks and Johnson, the facility’s financial
condition is dramatically different from the one
described by the former board.
According to the minutes of the May 17
board meeting, HOL’s total indebtedness was
$150,982.80 as of April 15. Hendricks and
Johnson put the figure at $85,000. That figure
includes $14,000 in unpaid payroll and related
taxes. Johnson declined comment on the
$65,982.80 difference in figures.
HOL still has its lease/buy agreement for the
facility with the Sisters o f the Good Shepard.
The agreement, made in late 1988, “is not
public knowledge,” according to Donn M.
Sullivan, real estate agent for the Sisters.
visit to the House of Light Residential
“It’s exactly the same as in 1988,” he said.
Care Facility (HOL) makes one thing
“We just moved the dates. There’s nothing
clear. Great love, commitment and effort, from
wrong with that.”
many people, have made the care center
He described the facility as “an excellent
possible.
endeavor” and verified that all personal prop­
It is not apparent, however, that patrons of
erty left by the Sisters were part of the lease/
the new facility are facing significant obstacles
buy agreement.
to fulfilling their dream of a financially solvent
Hendricks asserts that the personal property
community care center.
donated by the Sisters give HOL a $500,000
The status of HOL’s finances remain
inventory, including cases of handmade soap
unclear at best. HOL’s entire board of directors
and several pieces of antique furniture. The
resigned at their May 17 meeting, citing
center has eight pianos, including two Baby
“irreconcilable differences” between the board
Grands.
and HOL Director Jeri I. Hendricks. Minutes of
Other donations have furnished the 15-bed
that meeting detail serious concerns over the
facility with 65 hospital beds— 30 of them from
center’s funding prospects and ability to
Good Samaritan Hospital. St. Vincent’s
provide adequate care.
Hospital donated 75 televisions.
Hendricks discounts the former board’s
Hendricks intends to convert the entire
concerns. She said she believes the board was
inventory to cash when terms of the lease/buy
uncomfortable with "scary dollars,” even
agreement are satisfied. “When we close,” she
A
ju s t out T 8
▼
A ugust 1990