Housing agency works to accommodate 772-pound tenant

Cleveland.com ^ | 11/17/03 | The Associated Press

[mansion]

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The city's public housing agency is trying to resolve a lengthy dispute by accommodating the needs of a 772-pound tenant immobilized by her weight.

Carmen Bowen, 44, has been involved in a two-year dispute with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority over how much work must be done to help her move around her apartment.

The agency is about to provide her with a handicapped-accessible apartment with extra space to allow an oversized wheelchair to turn. Bowen lives with her 19-year-old son and a caregiver.

Still, Bowen filed a discrimination complaint, saying the agency took too long. Housing officials responded that the agency went well beyond what federal disability law requires at a cost of about $15,000.

"Her special condition requires special equipment," acting Executive Director George Phillips said last week.

The modifications include removing doors and walls, installing an automatic door operator and panic device, demolishing the existing bathroom and installing a special shower, and putting in a sidewalk to the front door. Bowen could move in next month.

In her current apartment, Bowen can't move from a medical bed in the middle of her living room.

In August, 22 firefighters and emergency medical technicians worked for 2½ hours to move Bowen from her apartment so she could have dental work. Emergency crews had to help her back when she returned. The authority widened the door in October.

Bowen does not yet have the wheelchair. The Medicaid government insurance program has not yet said whether it will pay for it.

[Lady Jag]

That's not a pup tent it's the big top.

[FITZ]

I think this is just one more proof on why the food stamp program should be changed completely. They should not be allowed to buy cokes and doughnuts --- they should be limited to rice, beans, a little cheese and some vegetables. The money per person could be cut 75% if food stamps were limited to real food and not the junk they load their carts with.

[FITZ]

What makes you think she even wears anything? What is going to fit her at 772 pounds? Maybe she just sits around naked all day filling her face, watching Jerry Springer, and complaining she's not getting enough welfare benefits.

[Dan from Michigan]

We gotta pay for this? How the hell can someone that affords that much food and caregivers be in public housing.

772 pounds? HOW? She outweighs me by about 580 pounds, which is more than what Andre the Giant weighed.

[GeekDejure]

What makes you think she even wears anything? What is going to fit her at 772 pounds? Maybe she just sits around naked all day filling her face, watching Jerry Springer, and complaining she's not getting enough welfare benefits.

Yikes! Where the term "useless eater" is concerned, 772 lb. Carmen Bowen seems to be the prime candidate. Obviously she can't use toilet facilities, much less being able to reach around that Himalayan mountain of fat to wipe her own A-hole or P-hole.

Must be lots n' lots of fun being her caretaker, eh??? Wonder if s/he gets paid by the pound? Lemme see... 10 cents a pound x 772 = $77.20 per hour. Just about right, eh??? Hey... Wait a minute... Maybe we could get Judge George Greer to pull Carmen's feeding tube. Sheeesh... she'd live for 2 or 3 years feeding on just her own fat supply!!! BWAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!

Oops... pardon me... guess I'm just an insensitive, uncaring, stew pid ash whole (bows head in utter shame). ;-))

.

[dougherty]

Where is Richard Simmons when you need him?

[MEGoody]

"Then how did she do it? Skin grafts?"

I put 'overeating' in quotes, because to get to 772 pounds, one has to do much more than that.

A person just cannot handle the normal activities of life and still have time to eat enough to get to that weight. What I'm saying is, there are some serious psychological problems involved (perhaps health issues too - who knows).

That does not excuse her filing this silly complaint. It just addresses the weight issue.

[Looking4Truth]

I think this is just one more proof on why the food stamp program should be changed completely. They should not be allowed to buy cokes and doughnuts --- they should be limited to rice, beans, a little cheese and some vegetables. The money per person could be cut 75% if food stamps were limited to real food and not the junk they load their carts with.

The ones that don't eat the food just trade it for crack.

[Crispy]

"But at person doesn't get to 772 pounds by 'overeating'."

Come on. Does the pounds of fat just magically stick on her as she walks by the cheesecake?

This lady must stuff her face 24/7. I cannot even fathom the amount of food she chomps down every day.

[BBell]

so who pays for the caregiver? it sounds like a full time job.

[geege]

I betcha her blood type is "Ragu" and she has her own zip code...

[MEGoody]

"This lady must stuff her face 24/7."

Most likely, you are correct. But no one does that unless they have some sort of significant emotional or mental problems. That's all I was saying.

[petercooper]

who's feeding this woman?

[aShepard]

Can you just imagine the smell that must waft over the giant body as she moves, exposing a new porcine fold in her opulent body?

Yuck!

[cardinal4]

When is it my turn to use public servants as personal servants? I do get a turn, don't I?

You are a racist, and its Bushes fault! :)

[SledgeCS]

Ok, I just really need to see the wheelchair that she is looking for. I have searched the web for an oversized whellchair and the widest I could find was 24". I just have this image of something with multiple wheels, aka semi-truck style.

SledgeCS

[CajunConservative]

Why can't they do a forced intervention? Since she's living on disability for her weight, then it should be an automatic treatment. It can be done, just channel the funds differently. I know it would be best she didn't receive any, but that's a moot point at this time. However, if the only way to receive the disability benefits would be through a program to lose the weight while medically supervised she might actually have a chance at living life.

The discovery channel had a program about a nursing home that specializes in the severely obese where they treat the depression, diet, medical needs. As the person would lose weight then exercise was incorporated. One man on there weighed over 1000 pounds and had lost down to about 400 pounds, still quite obese but he was able to function, walk, be mobile.

[cjshapi]

Wonder if she's making cheese in those folds?

[DCBryan1]

Wonder if she's making cheese in those folds?

Dude, thats just plain wrong.......you owe me a new keyboard and clean out my bucket.

[cjshapi]

Sorry, I'm a dudette with a really gross mind.

Besides - the more cheese of her own she eats the less government cheese she needs!