[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S8568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      IN MEMORY OF DEBORAH VINCENT

 Mr. SARBANES. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a young woman, Deborah Vincent, who, in March of this year, began her 
work with the city of Baltimore's Public Housing authority as its 
Deputy Executive Director. Sadly, however, Ms. Vincent was diagnosed 
with leukemia in June and passed away on July 26. There is always a 
great sense of loss when a person dies in the prime of their life, in 
this case, loss by those that knew her, her family, friends, colleagues 
and loved ones. However, I too want to express my loss and the loss to 
the citizens of Baltimore and the residents of the city's public 
housing with the passing of Deborah Vincent.
  Ms. Vincent came to Baltimore after working at the U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, first as the General Deputy Assistant 
Secretary in the Office of Public and Indian Housing and then as Deputy 
Chief of Staff to Secretary Andrew Cuomo. At HUD Ms. Vincent worked 
tirelessly for those in need in this country; for the homeless, for 
those in need of a place to live, for those in need of assistance to 
defeat substance abuse, and for those in need of a caring and friendly 
environment in which to raise their families. At HUD she not only 
demonstrated her passion to get the job done, but also her compassion 
for those that have the least in our society.
  Although only 43-years-old when she died, Ms. Vincent had 20 years of 
experience managing public housing. From 1981 until 1997, before coming 
to HUD, she managed the Clearwater Housing Authority in Clearwater, FL. 
As its executive director, she took the Clearwater Housing Authority 
from what had been described as a ``shambles'' to one of the 
outstanding public housing authorities in the nation. Recognizing that 
those most in need of safe and decent housing in the Clearwater 
community were those in public housing she mustered her inner strength 
and began cleaning up Clearwater's public housing projects, getting rid 
of drug dealers, scofflaws, and improving the quality of life for the 
residents that remained.
  Ms. Vincent was also an innovator; under her leadership the Housing 
Authority established homeownership programs by purchasing condominiums 
and selling them to qualified public housing residents. Later, 
recognizing that there was a need for affordable housing for those 
Clearwater residents that did not qualify for public housing 
assistance, the Housing Authority purchased a large apartment building 
and sold the units, at a discount, to those who could not afford to 
purchase a home at market rates. To this day, Clearwater's Housing 
Authority is recognized for its innovative housing programs.
  At the beginning of this statement I said that Ms. Vincent's death 
was not only a loss to those who knew her, but also to those that were 
just beginning to know her, the residents of Baltimore and of 
Baltimore's public housing. Like them, I know all too well the need for 
the expertise, spirit and compassion that Ms. Vincent brought to her 
job in just a few short months with the Baltimore Housing Authority. 
Let us hope that her example of caring will live on in all of us so 
that we can achieve great things, as she did as a truly dedicated 
public servant.

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