Bloomington Human Rights Commission Announces 2013 Human Rights Award Winner

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Barbara McKinney, Bloomington Human Rights Commission, 349.3429

Bloomington Human Rights Commission Announces 2013 Human Rights Award Winner

Bloomington, Ind. - The Bloomington Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has announced the winner of its 13th annual Human Rights Award. The nominee chosen for the 2013 award was David Metheny. Chairperson Byron Bangert of the BHRC will present the award to Metheny at the Bloomington Common Council meeting on April 9 in Council Chambers of City Hall, 401 N. Morton St.

Metheny, a Bloomington resident, was chosen as a tribute to his advocacy for low-income tenants, many with disabilities. When Metheny was informed that the apartment complex he lived in would no longer accept Section 8 vouchers, he worked tirelessly to prevent the change, which would displace approximately 60 low-income residents.

Despite his own health problems, Metheny spent several months contacting various agencies for information and assistance and eventually sought legal recourse through Indiana Legal Services for all of the Section 8 tenants. He also brought the matter to the Herald-Times, which published an article that brought additional attention to the situation.

In spite of many dead ends and frustrating set-backs, Metheny persisted in his efforts until the apartment complex agreed to honor the leases of residents with Section 8 vouchers. Susie Rimstidt, then with Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living, nominated Metheny, saying, "I feel that David Metheny is an excellent nominee for the Bloomington Human Rights Award for Housing. He significantly contributed to improving the civil rights of numerous low-income persons, many with disabilities."

For more information, please contact Barbara McKinney of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission at 349.3429.

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