akf_ngu
Jan 14, 2016, 03:36 PM
Hello.
I just want to make sure that I am giving out the right information. When we lived in Phoenix, it was never a problem for some reason, but since moving here to small town New England, I have run into a lot of issues with my daughters service dog that I never had to deal with before.
First, just cause I know how it works and the differences, yes she is a Service Animal, and not an ESA. She is for seizures and autism, and I have paperwork from her doctor.
We are going into a transitional housing program, designed with case management, education, and support. Long story short, at 31 I am on my own, independent and doing it all myself for the first time, and its daunting. I have been codependent for too long. So the program will help me get past that.
SO anyway, moving on.
Doing all the paperwork for the apartment in the program, my case manager came across the paperwork for my daughters SD, and said "Oh, we can't have dogs here" I was a little shocked, as I said before, in Phoenix the laws were always pretty common knowledge. I explained that she was a service animal and she said "It doesn't matter, the director made it clear, no dogs ever" I was even more shocked and said flat out "That is illegal..." (I already knew that they are required to comply with the ADA and FHA, they are not a private organization, and they receive public funding as well as federal funding)
My case manager felt terrible, and I am not taking my frustration out on her.
But I did Email the director. And I was hoping I could share the Email, his reply, and my reply, with you guys, and make sure I was correct, and giving all the information needed.
**Me to Director**
Greetings.
I was so surprised to find out that my daughters service animal was not welcome at *** ******* ********, after waiting for a year and a half and working with Bev and Pauline for so long, and finally facing the possibility of moving into our apartment, I find out we couldn't if we do not send my daughters service animal to a foster home.
I was hoping you could explain to me why. Bev was very nice about it, but she didn't seem to know why other than it wasn't allowed.
But I would really like to understand, because I was under the impression that *** ******* ******** had to comply with the ADA and FHA.
Thank you so much for your time! If you are the wrong person to speak to about this, could you please forward my question to the appropriate person?
-Jennie ******
***His reply***
Hi Jennie,
My apologies for the delay in getting back to you.
I'm reviewing this situation and your daughters circumstance. We do have a policy regarding pets not being allowed in the building.
In general we try to work with organizations like the humane society and others to find a temporary foster placement for pets while someone is staying in our program. Having said that we're aware and strive to comply with the ADA guidelines. We'll attempt reach a workable solution.
Respectfully,
Giff
***My reply***
Hello.
I am very happy with the alternatives that Bev has come up with for us, and we will be working towards getting an apartment elsewhere and being an outsourced client, and I am OK with that.
I would just like to help you understand, and possibly you may want to look deeper into the laws, as a service animal is not a pet, and is no different than a wheel chair in the eyes of the ADA. And obviously you would not deny someone access to the building because of a wheel chair, or request that they get rid of it.
If you have any questions about the ADA I am more than happy to answer them for you. Or point you in the right direction to get the information.
Thank you so much for your time!
-Jennie
I just want to make sure that I am giving out the right information. When we lived in Phoenix, it was never a problem for some reason, but since moving here to small town New England, I have run into a lot of issues with my daughters service dog that I never had to deal with before.
First, just cause I know how it works and the differences, yes she is a Service Animal, and not an ESA. She is for seizures and autism, and I have paperwork from her doctor.
We are going into a transitional housing program, designed with case management, education, and support. Long story short, at 31 I am on my own, independent and doing it all myself for the first time, and its daunting. I have been codependent for too long. So the program will help me get past that.
SO anyway, moving on.
Doing all the paperwork for the apartment in the program, my case manager came across the paperwork for my daughters SD, and said "Oh, we can't have dogs here" I was a little shocked, as I said before, in Phoenix the laws were always pretty common knowledge. I explained that she was a service animal and she said "It doesn't matter, the director made it clear, no dogs ever" I was even more shocked and said flat out "That is illegal..." (I already knew that they are required to comply with the ADA and FHA, they are not a private organization, and they receive public funding as well as federal funding)
My case manager felt terrible, and I am not taking my frustration out on her.
But I did Email the director. And I was hoping I could share the Email, his reply, and my reply, with you guys, and make sure I was correct, and giving all the information needed.
**Me to Director**
Greetings.
I was so surprised to find out that my daughters service animal was not welcome at *** ******* ********, after waiting for a year and a half and working with Bev and Pauline for so long, and finally facing the possibility of moving into our apartment, I find out we couldn't if we do not send my daughters service animal to a foster home.
I was hoping you could explain to me why. Bev was very nice about it, but she didn't seem to know why other than it wasn't allowed.
But I would really like to understand, because I was under the impression that *** ******* ******** had to comply with the ADA and FHA.
Thank you so much for your time! If you are the wrong person to speak to about this, could you please forward my question to the appropriate person?
-Jennie ******
***His reply***
Hi Jennie,
My apologies for the delay in getting back to you.
I'm reviewing this situation and your daughters circumstance. We do have a policy regarding pets not being allowed in the building.
In general we try to work with organizations like the humane society and others to find a temporary foster placement for pets while someone is staying in our program. Having said that we're aware and strive to comply with the ADA guidelines. We'll attempt reach a workable solution.
Respectfully,
Giff
***My reply***
Hello.
I am very happy with the alternatives that Bev has come up with for us, and we will be working towards getting an apartment elsewhere and being an outsourced client, and I am OK with that.
I would just like to help you understand, and possibly you may want to look deeper into the laws, as a service animal is not a pet, and is no different than a wheel chair in the eyes of the ADA. And obviously you would not deny someone access to the building because of a wheel chair, or request that they get rid of it.
If you have any questions about the ADA I am more than happy to answer them for you. Or point you in the right direction to get the information.
Thank you so much for your time!
-Jennie