We are proud of Edith Stephenson, our colleague in Missouri who advocates for the rights of the elderly and disabled.

Public Housing in Georgetown: Trestle Way

Working together takes trust and solidarity. How is trust developed? What does it take for people to develop solidarity and community in a healthy way rather than toxic? I have examined situations that may help to understand these issues by comparing the healthy and the toxic, situations that exemplify the problem and/or a solution.

Here is the story of one public housing community, Trestle Way in Georgetown; the Director, Diane Drinan; and a generous town.

Preventing hospitalization, death from COVID-19

Those of us who are elderly and/or disabled are at increased risk for COVID-19, especially those who live in public and subsidized multifamily housing, do now seek effective public health measures.

We must speak out at this time of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic out of concern for the well-being of tenants of public and subsidized housing for elderly and disabled residents.

June 15, 2020

To the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Joint Committee on Public Health

S2753 An Act to Ensure the Collection of COVID-19 Data

Greetings,

Peabody, Mass. June 4, 2020. Young people of Peabody demonstrated at the Peabody courthouse on behalf of human rights in wake of the cruel murder of George Floyd, who died after he cried out, "I can't breathe."

...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.---John Donne

The demonstrators, overseen by several police, and cheered by passing motorists, called out for justice.

Introduction

Community norms can either promote a healthy, caring community or lead to a toxic community that is harmful. In public and subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled, failure to control bullying and mobbing (group bullying) creates a toxic community, while failing to prevent transmission of COVID-19 can create a deadly situation.