Dream of developmentally disabled man realized

ELIZABETH – Mark Straka grinned broadly as he snipped the wide red satin ribbon stretched across the doorway of his two-bedroom condominium, as the crowd gathered outside cheered and shouted congratulations. Wednesday August 23 was a momentous day for Mr. Straka; for Community Access Unlimited (CAU), an Elizabeth nonprofit that provides support services for people with developmental disabilities; and for the City of Elizabeth.

CAU, the Elizabeth Housing Authority, and the city’s Home Improvement Program joined forces to help Mr. Straka, who has a developmental disability, buy the condominium where he has lived for the last 15 years. Mr. Straka, who works at CAU in maintenance, provided a steady income stream, a solid credit history, and a commitment to owning his own home. An Elizabeth resident for 18 years, Mr. Straka approached CAU Executive Director Sidney Blanchard about buying his condo. Initially, Mr. Blanchard said that wouldn’t be possible, but several months later he said CAU could sell the property. "Now I have my own condo and I am proud of it," Mr. Straka said. "I’m not worried about paying the mortgage," he added. "It’s just another bill."

CAU, a pioneer in the low-income housing field, was one of the first nonprofits to take advantage of a federal tax credit program, the Community Reinvestment Act. The program offered incentives for investors to partner with nonprofits and create low-income housing, and in the late-1980’s CAU acquired over 50 housing units throughout Union County. Now the agency has taken another pioneering move by offering some of that housing stock to members who are qualified to own, rather than rent, their homes.

Bob Laux, of Bethel, ME, works to help people with disabilities acquire housing, and he is helping CAU convert rental units owned by the agency into home ownership opportunities.

Mr. Laux noted that CAU, which is holding the mortgage, made a unique gesture by selling Mr. Straka his condominium. "Most organizations try to build capital, but CAU wants to create opportunities for their members to own their own homes."

Mr. Straka’s case involved converting his Section 8 federal rental subsidy to a mortgage subsidy under a new Section 8 home ownership program—the first time this has been done in Elizabeth. Bill Jones, Executive Director of the City of Elizabeth Housing Authority, said, "We hope that this is the first of many Section 8 home ownership opportunities in Elizabeth." He also praised the partnership that CAU had achieved with his agency. "We do the red tape and they provide the support."

The city’s Home Improvement Program provided down payment assistance, closing costs, and a repair grant. Oscar Ocasio, Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Elizabeth Home Improvement Project, remarked that Mr. Straka was "buying a piece of the American Dream." He added, "Real estate is historically a way of moving from one economic level to another."

At a celebratory luncheon at the Suburban Country Club in Union, Mr. Blanchard proclaimed, "This is a great day for CAU, the City of Elizabeth, and Mark," noting that after 15 years as a renter Mr. Straka became a home owner and the city added a property that had been tax-exempt to its tax rolls. "Mark is now a contributory citizen in every way to the city of Elizabeth." He said that three or four more CAU members who want to purchase their own homes. "The American Dream of home ownership should know no artificial barriers such as a disability, and we at CAU pride ourselves in helping and supporting people with disabilities to become independent, tax paying citizens."

Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage sent his congratulations on Mr. Straka’s realizing his dream. "In Elizabeth we know that a home serves not only as a place to live, but is an important component to improving the quality of life for our residents."

Mr. Straka’s brother Steven, of Naperville, IL, and his sister Harriet, of Roslyn Heights, Long Island, were on hand for the event. His sister said, "I am so taken with the impact Mark has had on all these people and they on him. It is nice to see him in such a supportive environment outside the family."

Since 1979 Community Access Unlimited has provided services, including housing, employment, educational, and recreational programs, for over 7,000 people with developmental disabilities. In 1985 the organization added a youth services component for at-risk youth. Its mission is to provide community access through effective and comprehensive support services for its members, giving them the opportunity to lead normal and productive lives as citizens integrated into the community. For more information about CAU and its services contact the organization at Community Access Unlimited, 80 W. Grand Street, Elizabeth or call (908) 354-3040.

From the Informer, Ltd. September 2006 issue, Page 11.