juStOUt
APRIL 6. 2007
northwest
JMV
The Law Office of John V. McVea, P.C
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
PERSONAL INJURY
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DUII / DWS
PROPERTY CRIMES
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
THEFT
ASSAULT
Step Inside Our House
A closer look into the residential care facility
AUTO ACCIDENTS
WRONGFUL DFATH
BICYCLE / PEDESTRIAN
ABUSE VICTIMS
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
by Malka Geffen
he gay community is familiar with the
efforts of Our House of Portland to provide
residential health care to people with
HIV/A1DS. A charity event rarely occurs
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Riley, Our House assesses for medical acuity,
active addiction and psychiatric issues. According
to Oules, the system that is in place works, and
people who move into Our House can meet the
that does not list Our House as a benefici state’s requirements. “We wouldn’t put a person in
ary. Our House gets the biggest cheers at Basic
a situation if it’s beyond their means or ability,” he
Rights Oregon fund-raisers and during the Pride i says. In the case of a person who gets sick quickly,
parade. The community at
large came out last summer to
support the unveiling of the
new and improved Our House
facility. This is the side of Our
House we know and support.
“Especially in the gay
community,” says marketing
and communications manager
John Oules, “someone knows
someone who has received
care here.” The nonprofit
organization, which holds
compassion, collaboration and
respect among its core values,
has touched many people and
owes a large portion of its
volunteers to the gay commu
nity. Understanding how Our
House operates, away from the
fund-raisers and the public
eye, helps the community
Social interaction between staff and residents is part of a balanced
relate to the organization, its
lifestyle at Our House.
residents and staff even better.
According to Alienirady, director of adminis
Riley says Our House commits to helping this per
trative services, Our House receives 52 percent of son who needs care and can’t wait around for his
its yearly operating budget of $2.3 million from
Social Security application to go through.
state funding, holds a few major fund-raising
“Sometimes there’s a gap when we cannot collect
events, applies for grants and accepts donations to
room and board—not many facilities will do
make up the rest. “Half of Our House is just like
that,” she says.
any other residential care facility, and then there’s
half of us that has private fund raising that is the
ccording to Miya, Our House has had several
part the community sees and is so loved and under
involuntary move-outs. “A common one is due
stood in more tangible ways," says Kristin Riley,
to endangering oneself and others; another is
director of social services. “The state funding side
where a person’s acuity is too high and we can’t
is a complicated system.”
take care of them adequately; another is the mon
What most people don’t know is that Our House
ey issue,” he explains. “There have been cases of
charges for room and board. Executive director
nonpayment of rent where we’ve worked with the
Wayne Miya says that this is one of the strings of person for months and nonpayment has been
regulations and required compliance attached to the
totaling up into the thousands and we have to ask
state funding. “All funding regulations [from the
how fair is that to everyone.”
Portland Development Commission, state and fed
If a client does have to leave, otherwise endan
eral government! require that residents pay a portion
gering the organization with losing state funding,
of their income toward room and hoard here. If we
Our House staff says they will do everything they
don’t comply, we’re at risk of losing our funding,”
can to make for an easy transition. “Until that
explains Miya. “The state figures out what residents
point we’ve spent time and effort working with
need to pay us based on their income, and then the
them so they can stay, hut when you’ve crossed that
state deducts that from what [the state allots] us.”
line, another process comes into play so they can
According to Brady, residents are allowed to
go somewhere to continue to get care," says Brady.
keep $141 a month of their income for personal
“They’re not out on their own.” Riley explains that
incidental funds, based on state regulation.
once a notice is issued, there’s heavy emphasis on
Regardless of whether residents have a direct deposit
a gixxl and ethical discharge. “We have to balance
of their Social Security funds into their account and
upholding the state system and still recognize that
write Our House a check or have the funds sent to
leaving here is not easy," she said.
the facility where they sign over the amount less
Miya added: “As we carry out the state regula
$141 in cash, Riley says rixim and hoard payment is
tions, we operate under a philosophy of care that
typical of residential. care facilities that have
has respect for the resident, the community and the
contracts with the Department of Human Services.
staff. Rules may he conflicting, hut we need to kx>k
When a person is considered for residency at
at the overall issue and see what’s in the best inter
est for all of us.” ©
Our House, many factors are at play. According to
A
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