April 11, 2007 Houston Chronicle LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Center's nurse, mayor's honor

As a nurse at the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, I want to comment on what it would mean to uproot the residents at our facility. With all of the advances in modern medicine, the mentally challenged are enjoying longer and healthier lives than ever before.

Because of this, many of our clients are outliving their parents — the reverse of previous generations. A large number have elderly parents or family members who are unable to care for them; and in more and more cases, their parents have already died.

We offer a stable and home-like environment that may not otherwise be available for them. This includes on-site medical and dental care, as well as 24-hour nursing service. A stable home life is even more important to this population because most are unable to achieve it on their own. We offer day-care services and a workshop where they can perform jobs within their abilities to earn a paycheck, adding to their self-worth. Many clients commute to this location. These people might not not be able to attend our programs if we are forced to move to another location.

Seeking financial gain by ousting our clients would be justice at its worst, not to mention a moral travesty done to those who cannot speak out for themselves.

I hope Mayor Bill White will honor our contract, just as his predecessors have, and allow the center to remain at our current location and continue providing our vital services to this deserving population.

DEE ROSEN Houston