Michigan Veterans Vehemently Respond To Oakland Township's Stance Against Paralyzed Veterans Housing Project

DETROIT, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan veterans issued a vehement and stinging response to Oakland Township's motion to deny paralyzed veterans fair housing.

"As a Veteran, I find it absolutely outrageous that the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America have to sue an affluent community like Oakland Township in order to get them to approve a senior housing project which would provide some of the needed housing for the more than 2,000 Service Disabled Veterans in the area," said Keith King, President, Veterans Support Foundation, United States Armed Forces Association. "As the President of a national foundation that provides funding and care for homeless veterans, and funds other foundations supporting Veteran causes, I see no justification for Oakland Township's cowardly stance." 

The Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America in December filed a lawsuit against Oakland Township in Federal Court contending the Township had engaged in discriminatory housing practices under the Federal Fair Housing Law, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, by aggressively blocking approval of a housing project that would accommodate paralyzed veterans and the elderly.

In responding to the Federal Court complaint of the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA), the Township doubled down on its lawlessness, claiming the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of American have no right to protect its members' rights in court. 

"I applaud and fully support the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) in their Fair Housing lawsuit against Oakland Township," said decorated disabled veteran Army Ranger Frank Campanaro. Campanaro is also the President and Founder of VETPOWER.org, a Michigan-based 501(c)3 charity dedicated to helping veterans transition from military service.

"These are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, who served our country in the military with honor, and who have returned with service related disabilities," Campanaro said. "There are more than 36,000 service disabled heroes in Southeast Michigan, with more than 7,600 in Oakland County alone.

"Oakland Township's contempt against the Fair Housing Act is clearly evident when they denounce the freedom of elderly and disabled persons, which includes many MPVA members', to choose where they want to live.

"It's despicable that this community would look for ways to stop, rather than help, these valiant men and women who have protected our country. These Veterans have paid the price for our freedom with their blood, flesh and bones.

"The attempt to use a legal technicality to throw out the MPVA from a "standing" issue is demoralizing and the slightest use of any unintended pun is not humorous.

"Oakland Township should help them create more housing solutions that will accommodate their needs, and not be standing in their way," Campanaro said.

SOURCE Keith King; Frank Campanaro