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Last updated on Monday, April 14, 2014
(BLOOMINGTON) - The Bloomington Human Rights Commission (BHRC) announced the winner of its 13th annual Human Rights Award.
The nominee chosen for the 2013 award was David Metheny.
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."
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