[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   TRIBUTE TO HOUSING OPTIONS & GERIATRIC ASSOCIATION RESOURCES, INC.

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                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Housing 
Options & Geriatric Association Resources, Inc., an organization 
dedicated to improving the lives of homeless, elderly, mentally ill, 
physically challenged, and HIV/AIDS infected individuals in the Bronx. 
This invaluable organization celebrates the grand opening of its 
Scattered Site Housing Program and Supported Housing Unit on November 
15, 2001.
  H.O.G.A.R.'s mission is not only to raise awareness of the housing 
and health issues facing burdened groups of society, but also to 
provide ways of dealing with these issues. Not only does H.O.G.A.R. 
spread the word that a number of individuals diagnosed as mentally ill 
end up on the streets each year, but it also maintains a program to 
find housing for these people and has even opened a 12-bed supported 
housing unit that emphasizes community reintegration.
  Mr. Speaker, H.O.G.A.R. also recently implemented the Scatter Site 
Housing Program for HIV/AIDS infected people. This program provides 
relocation assistance, access to counseling services, access to primary 
health care, recreational activities, daily life skills training, and 
classes in healthy meal preparation to name just a few things. 
Essentially it is a program to ensure that people living with AIDS, 
actually have some quality of life. Often those who are sick and poor 
are left to the wayside. H.O.G.A.R. is there to pick these individuals 
up and to show them how to stand alone.
  An amazing group of men and women give H.O.G.A.R. its heart and soul 
and continually fuel its efforts. It is because of them that H.O.G.A.R. 
exists and succeeds in its mission. We will never be able to accurately 
assess exactly how many lives H.O.G.A.R. has saved or how many lives it 
has helped give meaning and hope to. We can only be sure that any 
addition to this organization is worthy of great celebration. That is 
why my son, Councilman elect, and myself are so honored to be named 
special guests of H.O.G.A.R.'s grand opening of these two new program 
units.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
H.O.G.A.R. directors and staff for their immeasurable contributions to 
those most in need and most overlooked and in thanking them for their 
ceaseless efforts.

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