The Bay Area Reporter - July 2, 1999
Cynthia Laird

On such person is John Thoman, a San Franciscan with a triple diagnosis, who had to leave a residential treatment facility in June but had nowhere else to go. The situation nearly resulted in Thoman being made homeless.

Thoman, who describes himself as a legally blind diabetic living with AIDS, has been a resident at Ferguson Place, a program of Baker Places, Inc. for PWAs who also have substance abuse and mental health issues. He was looking forward to entering into a cooperative living arrangement after completing a 90-day program at the facility, but that fell through when agency staff expressed concerns about his readiness for co-op living.

Last month Thoman filed a grievance, hoping to appeal the denial of his request, but was told his time at Ferguson Place was rapidly ending because the facility needed his space. In the meantime, his grievance was unresolved and he had nowhere to go. He did not want to go to a shelter or a residential hotel in the Tenderloin. He became anxious.

"I had a hard time getting Ferguson to take me because I'm blind," Thoman said.

Judith Stevenson, director of operations for Baker Places, told the Bay Area Reporter that Ferguson Place has a waiting list and needs Thoman to move so that someone else can be admitted. She also said that concerns about Thoman were not related to a relapse on his part, and reiterated that he was successful in completing Ferguson's program.

"We immediately begin working on discharge plans with them [clients]," Stevenson said, adding that the procedure was followed in Thoman's case. "John expressed his desire for another program within Baker Places [co-op living] and had a meeting with staff."

Once the staff concerns were raised and Thoman filed his grievance, he was granted a couple of extensions to remain at Ferguson Place. Somehow, things stalled after that, Stevenson said, as Thoman missed two interviews and staff members kept the pressure on for him to move.

Last week, when a photographer visited Ferguson Place to take Thoman's photo, Stevenson rushed to Thoman's side to assure him he wouldn't be kicked out into the street.

"He won't be made homeless and he won't be placed in a Tenderloin hotel," Stevenson told the B.A.R. last Friday, June 25. "Today, he's at an interview at Walden House."

On Tuesday, June 29, Thoman called to say he was approved for a housing subsidy and was very happy. "I can go ahead and start looking for apartments," he told the B.A.R.

Even with a housing subsidy, finding an apartment can be daunting, but Stevenson said they have a list of landlords they work with and that Thoman has two primary case managers at other agencies who can also help out.

"We'll all continue to assist him, but we need him to move on," she said.
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