Living Hope Wheelchair Association

Conclusion

Living Hope Wheelchair Association meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Purpose

Stated Purpose:
To affirm the dignity and improve the quality of life of people with mobility disabilities and their families; particularly those who use a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury or disease, as well as immigrants and refugees. Living Hope Wheelchair Association works at the intersection of the rights of people with disabilities, health justice, and the rights of vulnerable people and workers, providing medical supplies and equipment, as well as spaces for leadership development and a community where everyone can feel included, respected, and loved. 

Year, State Incorporated:
2009, TX

Programs

Living Hope Wheelchair Association's main programs aim to improve the quality of life of our members  and families by responding to their needs for survival and also by addressing the root causes of those needs.
They know from their own experience that isolation and access to medical supplies and equipment and quality health care are the main barriers we have to overcome in order to have a good quality of life. Access to employment, adequate housing, education opportunities as well as recreation are other areas where they see the need to work to improve lives

Medical Supplies and Equipment
Living Hope Wheelchair Association (LHWWA) central activity: To make sure that everyone whether a member or not, has access to the supplies needed for a life with dignity and health.
LHWA works very hard and with the help of our members, allies and volunteers we are now able able to distribute supplies to those who need them. Their program consists of monthly distribution of supplies, wheelchair repair and maintenance
Distribution of Wheelchairs, Scooters and Hospital Beds as well as other needed medical equipment

Membership Development: Quality of Life Navigators
LHWA Quality of Life navigators program affirms our right to have a life with dignity. We work together and share our resources to make sure each one of our members has the medical supplies he or she needs to live well and with basic dignity. We work together to gain access to resources and services and to change polices that deny us services. We organize to promote laws that respect our rights as workers and immigrants and as persons with disabilities. We do this as families and all this work helps our families stay strong. Our accidents were devastating and destroyed the lives we had, together we create a new community to help each other, we know we are not alone and that makes all the difference.
Many of our activities are oriented to secure our survival as persons with spinal cord injuries and we are clearly aware of the importance that our services and supplies have to affirm the dignity of our members and improve our quality of life. We work in a society that pretends not to see us, we aim to denounce barriers, attitudes and policies that deny us access to resources and services and to announce or commitment to fight for our rights and change policies so that we our rights and the rights of all people with disabilities, all immigrants and all workers are respected.
The intersection of structural racism, anti-immigrant policies, poverty and discrimination against people with disabilities as well as the limited availability of health and social services make the lives of our members a constant challenge.
Our work moves around the following issues and as we move forward we hope to establish each one of them as a more solid program:
Accompaniment and Spirituality
Access to Health Services
Mobility
Communication
Housing
Family Support
Education
Culture and RecreationCommunity Education, Advocacy and Civic Engagement, Public Policy
Having a Spinal Cord injury puts your life at risk. Not having access to services and medical supplies due to policies that punish poverty, immigration status or both represents even a bigger barrier. We face legal and institutional barriers as well as negative attitudes, fear and prejudice towards people with disabilities, migrants and people of color. We affirm our right to have life in abundance, we affirm the right of All People to have All Rights.
Some of our actions in this program are:
Membership and Leadership Development
Advocacy - Policy Campaigns
                        Metro and Mobility
                        Immigrant rights
                        Worker Rights
                        Disability Rights
Public Education
Research

Disaster Relief and Recovery Program
The Disaster Relief and Recovery program was created in response to the challenges we faced during the recent hurricanes in the Houston area. Through this initiative, we aim to address both immediate needs and long-term resilience, particularly for communities disproportionately affected by environmental disasters.
Our program includes a variety of essential services, such as:
Disaster Preparation: We provide resources, training, and guidance to help our members and community members prepare for environmental disasters, ensuring everyone has the tools to protect themselves and their homes.

Relief Assistance: We offer small grants to support our members and others in the community who have been impacted by disasters. This funding helps cover immediate needs like temporary housing, medical expenses, and critical supplies.

Connection to Broader Relief Efforts: We work to connect our members to larger disaster relief networks, ensuring they receive the full spectrum of assistance available, including support from government and nonprofit organizations.

In all of these efforts, we are deeply committed to Environmental and climate justice. We advocate for those most vulnerable to the disproportionate impacts of environmental disasters, particularly marginalized communities. This includes not only providing immediate support but also advocating to legislators for policies that address the root causes of climate change and its effects on vulnerable populations. By pushing for stronger climate action and equitable recovery strategies, we strive to ensure that these communities receive the resources and support they need for both recovery and long-term resilience.

Economic Opportunities
One of the goals that our membership expresses more often is being able to work, to have a job and provide for you and your family. We are exploring ideas and gathering resources to be able to respond to this need. In the near future we will be starting providing opportunities for training so our members can advance in areas such as:
Job training - Employment opportunities
Creating small business
Organizing a cooperative

Advocating for disability. The Living Hope Wheelchair Association (LHWA) plays a vital role in advocating for disability rights and ensuring that government policies effectively support individuals with mobility impairments. Its efforts focus on key areas such as healthcare access, Medicaid, public transportation, immigration, and broader social services.
LHWA works closely with government agencies to assist its members in navigating and accessing essential programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and housing assistance. Additionally, it promotes emergency preparedness by advocating for inclusive disaster response plans that address the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.
Through strategic advocacy and community organizing, LHWA engages with policymakers, conducts awareness campaigns, and collaborates with nonprofits and governmental agencies to influence policy reforms and secure critical resources. While not a government entity itself, LHWA serves as a key stakeholder in shaping policies that enhance accessibility, healthcare, and social services for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that their rights and needs remain a priority in public policy.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Living Hope Wheelchair Association's program expenses were:

Governance & Staff

Chief Executive
Osvaldo Capmany, Executive Director

Chair of the Board
Mrs. Diana Levine, President

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Living Hope Wheelchair Association

Board Size
7

Paid Staff Size
12

Fundraising

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet

Tax Status

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

Financial

The following information is based on Living Hope Wheelchair Association's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds

Programs: 73% Fundraising: 7% Administrative: 19%