This past Monday, August 14, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley presented and the Flint City Council approved Resolution 230253 awarding TDN $250,000 in ARPA funds to provide “Ramps and Accessible Home Modifications” for citizens in Flint. These funds will provide more diverse, accessible housing options to attract new citizens and allow proud Flint citizens to remain independent and living in Flint.
The approved city council resolution allows the City of Flint to begin the process of entering into a contract with The Disability Network to provide these services directly to Flint residents. When the contract is in place, the City and TDN will work in partnership to share information widely so that Flint residents can access these resources.
TDN has a long-standing history of working with the City of Flint to provide ramps to Flint residents. With an aging population, the need for quality, accessible ramps is immediate and growing.
“Accessible ramps and modifications are critical for people with disabilities to have the freedom and independence to go to work, access healthcare and participate in our community,” The Disability Network CEO Luke Zelley said.
TDN is a nonprofit center for independent living that has been serving the community for over thirty years. Their services include information and referral, peer support, nursing facility transitions, employment services and health and recreation programming. The mission of this organization is to revolutionize communities to be inclusive and accepting, where all people thrive in the quality of life they create. Learn more about The Disability Network at disnetwork.org.
Statement from Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley
I want to thank the Flint City Council for partnering with the administration to fund accessible home modifications for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Still, I need the council’s partnership to pass the remaining ARPA home repair funding for the health, safety, and quality of life of Flint residents. Proposals for home repair funding have been on city council agendas since July 19, 2023 and we are waiting for them to decide how they will allocate funding to provide home repair services directly to residents.
