Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. statement, October 28, 1997

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Richard Cross October 28, 1997 202-225-3061 STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN BOB EHRLICH REGARDING HUD GRANT TO DULANEY STATION “I am utterly dismayed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s decision to award over $890,000 in a Section 81 1 grant to Dulaney Station for the purchase and operation of three group homes in Loch Raven Village and Cockeysville. As I have stated before, this grant is not the best use of federal taxpayers’ money. By approving this application, HUD is ignoring the legitimate, factually-based objections raised by residents of both affected communities and their elected representatives from all levels of government. “My reasons for opposing this funding are well known. First, despite Dulaney Station’s promise that these homes would be ‘scattered’ throughout Baltimore County, the two prospective sites in Loch Raven Village are in fact located on neighboring streets. This is no way to engender trust and develop a community relationship. “Second, there will be no on-site or live-in counselors at these homes. In my view, weekly drop-by visits by Dulaney Station personnel and a telephone help line do not constitute adequate supervision. Neither the residents of the group homes nor their neighbors would be helped or assured by this kind of oversight. “Unfortunately, this situation demonstrates, once again, that HUD is a bureaucracy run amok. Many of its programs, with seemingly good intentions, do nothing but waste precious tax