[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1236-E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER FLYNN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jennifer Flynn. For close to 
two years, Jennifer Flynn ended her workday by standing for six hours 
in front of New York City's largest welfare center. She and other 
activists took their place on the sidewalk whether it rained or snowed 
to protest the lack of legally mandated emergency housing for homeless 
people living with AIDS.
  Ms. Flynn is one of 10 outstanding individuals from across the 
country chosen to receive this year's Robert Wood Johnson Community 
Health Leadership Program award.
  The unusual strategy, combined with litigation and public education, 
resulted in the City being found in contempt of a court order--and 
insured that nearly every homeless New Yorker living with AIDS who 
needed emergency housing received it.
  Ms. Flynn didn't stop there. She went on to co-found and direct the 
New York City AIDS Housng Network (NYCAHN), which has seen to it that 
housing is provided to every single New Yorker with HIV/AIDS who 
requests shelter.
  HIV has hit low-income people of color harder than any other 
demographic group in New York City. A full 92 percent of New Yorkers 
living with HIV/AIDS are from communities of color.
  Of Ms. Flynn, Christine Quinn, Councilmember for the 3rd District 
says: ``Jennifer Flynn has managed to be a constant activist for the 
rights of homeless and low-income people living with HIV/AIDS, while 
building an organization in this time of financial hardship. She is 
fearless in her advocacy.''
  Teaching people with HIV/AIDS to advocate on their own behalf has 
been key to Ms. Flynn's success. In fact, NYCAHN is a membership 
organization led by people living with HIV/AIDS. She has trained more 
than 1,000 of NYCAHN's members in community organizing and advocacy.
  Recently, she and her staff pressured the New York City Council to 
release a report about its emergency housing system. NYCAHN's efforts 
led to the introduction of the first bill in U.S. history that insures 
permanent housing for people living with AIDS/HIV. She has also exposed 
the dangerous conditions that exist in illegal rooming houses the City 
was using to house formerly incarcerated people with AIDS/HIV.
  One woman who works at NYCAHN and finds shelter for people living 
with HIV/AIDS every day says, ``We are all willing to do this grueling 
work because we know that Jennifer is working 10 times harder all of 
the time. She is there fighting with her heart to make sure that we 
have access to housing and to our human rights.''
  The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program 
distributes $1.2 million each year o innovators who have creatively 
surmounted obstacles to meet the challenges of providing health care 
and social services to the underserved members of their communities. 
Ms. Flynn and this year's other winners will be honored at a June event 
in Washington, D.C. She will receive $105,000 to

[[Page E1237]]

apply to her program and a $15,000 personal award.
  Ms. Flynn was chosen from nearly 700 people nominated this year. 
Since 1992, the program has given 133 awards in 45 states, Puerto Rico 
and Washington, D.C. Award winners are nominated by civic leaders, 
health professionals, government representatives and others inspired by 
their efforts to provide essential health services to their 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Flynn is motivated by the disparity and 
inconsistencies that she observes in her community. She believes that a 
commitment to help those who are regarded as less fortunate is a small 
price to pay. Her commitment in turn inspires others to continue to 
strive for a better future. Ms. Flynn is more than worthy of our 
recognition today.

                          ____________________