Assistance programs.

To: Subject: Assistance programs. Dear Sir/Madam, On August 10, 2018, I joined a social movement called “Overcome” - a movement that seeks to promote the status, quality of life, and rights of the “transparent disabled” - people like me who suffer from medical problems and severe disabilities that are not conspicuously visible - and consequently suffer very extensive denial of rights. I have heard that large technology companies such as Google, Facebook, or Amazon run social assistance programs - to which these organizations can apply for financial assistance, which is tested according to criteria and criteria set by these companies. I am looking for more detailed information about these assistance programs. Best regards, Assaf Binyamini, Costa Rica Street 115, Entrance A-Apartment 4, Kiryat Menachem, Jerusalem, ISRAEL , Zip code: 9662592. Phone numbers: at home- 972-2-6427757. Mobile-972-58-6784040. fax number-972-77-2700076.

Post Scriptum. 1) The founder of the “Get Over” movement I joined, and the person who still runs it today is Mrs. Tatiana Kadochkin, with whom you can contact the phone number 972-52-3708001.

Telephone contact with her is possible Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 11: 00-20: 00 ISRAEL time, except for Jewish holidays and various Israeli holidays. Below is a link to our website: www.nitgaber.com 2) Here are some explanatory words about our movement, as they appeared in the press: Tatiana Kadochkin, an ordinary citizen, decided to form the “Overcome” movement with the help of what she calls the “transparent disabled.” So far, about 500 people from all over the the country has gathered for its movement. In an interview with Channel 7 Diary, she talks about the project and those disabled people who do not receive proper and sufficient assistance from the relevant parties, just because they are transparent. According to her, the disabled population can be divided into two groups: disabled people with wheelchairs and disabled people without wheelchairs. She defines the second group as “transparent disabled” because she says they do not receive the same services as the disabled with a wheelchair receive, even though they are defined as having a 75-100 percent disability. These people, she explains, cannot make a living on their own, and they need the extra services that the disabled with wheelchairs are entitled to. For example, the transparent disabled receive a low disability pension from the National Insurance Institute, do not receive certain supplements such as special services allowance, escort allowance, mobility allowance and they also receive a lower allowance from the Ministry of Housing. According to a study conducted by Kadochkin, these transparent disabled people are hungry for bread despite the attempt to claim that in Israel in 2016 there are no people hungry for bread. The study she conducted also states that the suicide rates among them are high. In the movement she founded, she works to include the transparent disabled on waiting lists for public housing. This is because she says they do not usually enter these lists even though they are supposed to be eligible. She holds quite a few meetings with Knesset members and even participates in meetings and discussions of relevant committees in the Knesset, but she says those who can help do not listen and the listeners are in opposition and therefore cannot help.. She is now calling on more and more “transparent” disabled people to join her, to contact her so that she can help them. In her opinion, if the situation continues as it is today, there will be no escape from a demonstration of the disabled who will claim their rights and the basic conditions for living. 3) My ID number: 029547403. 4) My email addresses: 029547403@walla.co.il or: asb783a@gmail.com or: assaf197254@yahoo.co.il or: ass.benyamini@yandex.com or: a32assaf@outlook.com Or: assaf002@mail2world.com 5) The therapeutic framework in which I find myself: Reut Association - Avivit Hostel, 6 Avivit Street, Kiryat Menachem, Jerusalem, Zip code: 9650816. Phone numbers at the hostel offices: 972-2-6432551. Or: 972-2-6428351. The hostel’s email address: avivit6@barak.net.il 6)I am treated by a social-worker from avivit hostel. 7) The family doctor with whom I am being monitored: Dr. Brandon Stewart, “Clalit Health Services” - Promenade Clinic, 6 Daniel Janowski Street, Jerusalem, Zip code: 9338601. A phone number at clinic offices: 972-2-6738558. The fax number at clinic offices: 972-2-6738551. 8) Age: 48. Marital status: Single. 9) In-home computer type/model: Processor Intel ® Core ™ i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20 GHz Installed memory (RAM): 8.00 GB (GB 7.88 can be used) System Type-64-bit operating system, processor-based x64 Computer name: 111886-PC I’m renting it from day one Monday, December 30, 2019, from the “Computer Adapters” company.

10) I am using the operating system windows 10 11) I surf the web using a browser chrome, and uses considerable magnification of screen characters due to a vision problem. 12) My ISP: Hot. 13) Date of birth:11/11/1972 14) I will note that I am a person who speaks Hebrew - and my knowledge of other languages ​​is very limited. Except for medium to low-level English and very low-level French, I have no further knowledge in this area. I enlisted the help of a private translation company to write this letter. 15)Here is a social report written about me in the year 2011: * I would like to point out that I arrived for rehabilitation at the Kfar Shaul Psychiatric Hospital in Jerusalem on 8 March 1994 and not during 2004, as was mistakenly written in this report. June 28, 2011 To: The M.G.A.R. Company. Re: Assaf Binyamini, Id. No. 29547403 – Psychosocial Report General background: Assaf was born in 1972, bachelor, lives alone in an apartment on HaRakefet St. under the status of protected accommodation (sheltered housing) on behalf of a rehabilitation basket, he subsists by means of a disability allowance on the background of a mental disability. Assaf is the eldest son in a family comprising four people. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, the relationships between his parents during their marriage are described as harsh. The father remarried and Assaf had three half-siblings from this marriage. After the divorce, Assaf remained with his mother and his sister. Since his childhood, Assaf suffered from emotional and motor difficulties. Following a change of residence at the age of 4, he stopped talking. He was referred to psychotherapy in a therapeutic kindergarten. Assaf was a quiet child who used to seclude himself, he spent the afternoon hours reading history books, working on computers, his only social activity was within the framework of chess games. During his adolescence, his mental health condition deteriorated severely, he developed persecutory delusions (Illegible), among others against his father´s wife. A suicide attempt was exhibited and he was hospitalized several times at the Geha Mental Health Center. An attempt to rehabilitate him was carried out at a hostel in Petah Tikva, yet it failed. From this age, he was no longer integrated within any framework, he was a socially-rejected child, his strange behavior also caused great aggression from his surroundings towards him, and this worsened his condition even more. In his early 20’s, Assaf suffered from diverse symptoms, the main ones being obsessive-compulsive, which included self-harm as well – such manifestations of physical self-harm never returned in this manner, but currently, Assaf hurts himself, by means of the manner he utilizes in order to cope with society, and the reality that surrounds him (and regarding this issue – further information will be provided in the sequel). In 2004, Assaf was hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Department in Kfar Shaul and from there he moved to a protected accommodation (sheltered housing) with the escort of the Enosh Mental Health Association. Over the years in which he was treated at the Rehabilitation Department, his condition improved, the obsessive-compulsive symptoms weakened significantly, and no psychotic content such as delusions or hallucinations were observed. Assaf was escorted by the rehabilitation team of the Kfar Shaul Psychiatric Hospital, he continued receiving escort at his residence through the Enosh Mental Health Association, he received psychiatric treatment, his mental health condition has stabilized and he lives independently within the community. Assaf worked voluntarily for several years at the National Library of Israel yet he left due to a deterioration in his physical condition. Afterwards, Assaf worked for about a year and a half at the Ha’Meshakem Sheltered Company (2005 – 2006). He left due to difficulties with the staff, according to him. Subsequently, he worked in a sheltered production plant on HaOman St., and he left due to transportation difficulties while trying to arrive to this workplace. During 2006 – 2007, a gradual decline in his physical and mental condition has taken place, and since then he suffers from an accumulation of mental and physical problems – back problems, digestive problems, deterioration of his psoriatic condition, joint problems, more severe and more frequent anxiety attacks. Assaf has lost faith in the public services, he claims that there is a deterioration in the quality of service and the professionalism of the employees. He has terminated his connection and relationships with the Enosh Mental Health Association, attempted an accommodation escort by means of the Kidum

Association, which has not succeeded. In April 2007, he approached the Tzohar Association, a private association that engages in rehabilitation and recuperation. In November 2007, he was referred to the Reut Community Mental Health Registered Society and was admitted under the status of protected accommodation (sheltered housing) at the Avivit Hostel, and he is escorted by the Hostel’s staff. During our escort, provided during the last three years, a deterioration in Assaf’s mental health condition can be observed, and following are several indices regarding this deterioration: A. Assaf’s level of suspicion is increasing, a suspicion that intensifies by a pessimistic world-view, an absolute lack of trust and faith in any therapeutic factor, whether medical, psychiatric or professional. The relationship that he maintains with the Hostel’s staff is very partial, he refuses to accept guides (instructors) from the Hostel and he is willing to maintain contact solely with the social worker, whom he also regards as a representative of a system that does not seek his well-being. B. A tendency to seclusion which worsens. Assaf is not connected to any social framework. He does not maintain any friendly human relationship, not with the Hostel’s residents, and as stated-above, neither with guides (instructors) from the Hostel, not with his family, whom he also distances himself from, almost up to a complete detachment (the word “almost” is utilized since his mother insists on maintaining the connection despite his resistance). He does not partake in any community life, finds himself secluded in complete solitude on Saturdays and Holidays, he does not respond to any offer to join a certain framework, an event, Holiday eves and the like. C. Entanglements and encounters with therapeutic factors: over the three years, during which we have been escorting Assaf, he managed to swap between several Family Physicians at the HMO, some of them clearly sought his well-being, yet he did not know how to identify this. He quarreled and argued with the staff at the Mental Health Community Clinic in Kiryat Yovel and outright refused to continue his psychiatric surveillance there. There too, the staff tried to come towards him, yet he did not notice it. Despite the fact that he is the main sufferer from this story, he appealed to every entity related to mental health in order to obtain an alternate psychiatric surveillance. Finally, following our appeal to the Ir Ganim HMO, a certain arrangement was achieved, beyond the letter of the law, allowing the required surveillance at the HMO. His encounters are always accompanied by writing dozens of complaint letters, including appeals to the media, with regard to all the factors that treat him: the rehabilitation basket, the Reut Community Mental Health Registered Society, the National Insurance Institute, the HMO’s and more. D. Boycott of the Hostel and the escorting Association: although he keeps receiving an escort on behalf of the Reut Community Mental Health Registered Society, he refuses to arrive by himself to the Hostel, and the encounters are carried out solely as house calls. His suspicion and hostility are directed towards the Hostel’s staff and residents and he even writes complaints and greatly complains about the escort itself. Nonetheless, a certain level of normal reality judgement does exist, and despite the anger and the complaints, he has refrained so far from disconnecting the relation with us as well. E. An increasing level of anxiety: Assaf is very anxious about his upcoming future, both in terms of his psychiatric health and his accommodation options as well as financially and existentially. This level of anxiety makes him live in unbearable scarcity and austerity. F. Abstinence and austerity during his daily life: Assaf is convinced that in the not-so-distant future he will become homeless, and out of his own considerations, he saves electric power and saves on any other expense, and therefore, he does not heat his apartment during the winter, does not heat his food and he does not allow himself to experience any pleasure or contentment. He also economizes when it comes to his health matters, such as dental treatments or medications that might alleviate the physical suffering and pains he suffers from. G. An obsessive engagement in correspondence and writing to every possible factor that he thinks that his story may touch his heart, thus making him provide assistance within extensive correspondence has become his life-practice, he writes, photographs and sometimes distributes in dozens of copies, to Government Offices, Knesset Members, periodicals and magazines, associations, law firms, private bodies and entities, places of business and more. In most cases, he does not receive any replies, in certain cases he receives some attention – this practice awarded meaning and content to his life. According to him, as long as he is alive, he will continue and this is his way of fighting for the rights that he deserves. H. Difficulties in adjusting to places of employment: along the entire time period, Assaf exchanged several places of employment, each time on the basis of difficulties or accessibility or complaints regarding his terms of employment. However, it should be noted that recently he found by himself a place of business that employs him three times a week, and so far, they are pleased with him. Assaf himself does not have a lot of faith in this place, yet as of today, and for the past two months, he has managed to persevere. In summary: there is no doubt that his psychiatric image is not common, there are several capabilities that are relatively preserved, such as: the cognitive capability, his oral and writing expression capabilities, and on the other hand, a severe mental injury. He is situated within an enclosed circle of loneliness and despair. The nature of his symptoms does not allow him to receive any assistance or support, he is convinced that the entire world is against him, that there is no way out, and that the situation will only get worse. There are no psychotic outbursts in the customary sense, yet there exist tantrums and severe aggression, which currently, are mainly directed towards his mother when she dares to visit him (this was much worse when he lived with a partner who suffered from his severe tantrums, and as a result we were forced to discontinue their apartment partnership). With regard to Assaf, the sensation is that the entire structure is a hermetic paranoid structure, his reality judgement is very defective and inadequate and this is particularly obvious when he does not identify the people who want to assist him and he pushes everyone away. It is possible to notice the decline of the effect, up to the absence of any human emotion, even with regard to close people or caregivers/therapists, with whom he is in daily contact. The dominant emotion that controls him is despair, which keeps worsening. This influences his life quality, not to mention the extremely low level of life in which he subsists. As the person who has been escorting him for the past two years, and from the conversations he held with the Psychiatrist who treated him, there is no doubt that his behavioral difficulties, his mental problems, the tantrums and the like, pertain and emanate from his mental disorder, and therefore, his blunt, insulting and outrageous behavior should also be regarded as a symptom of his problems and not as a separate part of them.

Naomi Harpaz Social Worker The Avivit Hostel Ir Ganim. REUT Community Mental Health Registered Society
“Avivit” Hostel Avivit Hostel, 6 Avivit St., Jerusalem 96508, Telefax: 02-6432551 Email: avivit6@barak.net.il

16)Below are some explanations/details about the housing condition of the handicapped. a. Problem of financing/paying rent – many years ago, (and it is not clear by whom, but apparently some government official) it was decided that handicapped persons living in the community were eligible for NIS 770 per month to pay rent. As is known, home prices have soared in Israel in recent years, naturally pulling up rent as well. But the figure of NIS 770, completely arbitrarily set many years ago without any explanation or logic, has not been updated.

Regrettably, even after extensive correspondence (thousands or even tens of thousands of letters, and to the regret of this author, these figures are no exaggeration), sent to every possible party – various desks at the Ministry of Housing and Construction, other ministries, such as the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office, numerous journalists, many of whom this author has spoken with personally, numerous attorneys, and even investigation firms and the embassies of foreign countries – nothing has helped. The result is that the amount of aid has not been updated and many handicapped are ejected to the streets to die there of hunger, thirst, or cold in winter or heat

stroke and dehydration in summer.

It should be noted that rights organizations, such as Yedid: The Association for Community Empowerment and universities and colleges’ legal aid clinics with which this author corresponds, are never able to help, for a simple reason: the amount of aid of NIS 770 is prescribed by law, and rights organizations can help pursuant to current law. The only address where there is a need for legislative amendments is the Knesset. But matters only get more complicated: as is known, for a long time (these lines were written on Friday, 17 January 2020) Israel has been in one election campaign after another, and even the third elections, scheduled for six weeks hence, will not necessarily herald the establishment of a functioning government. It should be noted that even when the Knesset and government responded to the inquiries of this author and the handicapped organizations and many others in the matter of the aid, Members of Knesset automatically directed the inquiries to the rights organizations, even though the Members of Knesset are fully aware that, in this case, the organizations are not the address; they themselves are. b. Communications with apartment owners: there are many cases in which the handicapped struggle to negotiate with apartment owners, because of their disability or illness. Under these circumstances, social workers must serve as mediators, and most social workers cannot really assume this role in every case. Moreover, deep cuts in recent years in the number of social worker positions, together with difficult work conditions, low pay, frequent improper treatment on the part of the patients’ families – who often unjustifiably consider the social workers as responsible for the faulty care their relatives receive – combined with the impossible workload that sometimes forces them to neglect urgent or hazardous cases, add to the difficulties of the handicapped in finding a suitable apartment and for the social worker to help him. c. Patients’ means of payment – there are cases in which a person moves to live in the community after a long period in hospital and lacks the normal habits of life, such as going to work or taking responsibility for managing his life. Frequently, the conditions for signing a lease, such as a guarantee check, are unattainable for people in this stage of their lives. Previous treatment and rehabilitation structures (one of which this author used 25 years ago when he was discharged from hospital to an assisted living facility) have been closed or have slashed their operations in recent years, thereby preventing rehabilitation by people in this stage of their lives, who cannot make progress without these critical treatment and rehabilitation structures. d. Regulatory problems – currently, there is a complete imbalance with respect to rights and duties of apartment owners on the one hand and lessees on the other hand. Many laws protect apartment owners against possible abuse of the lease period on the part of the lessees; conversely, there are no laws to protect tenants against abuse by the apartment owners. Consequently, leases include many scandalous, draconian, and sometimes even illegal clauses, and there are no laws to protect the lessees, who are compelled to sign the leases. In many

cases, lessees have no legal right to object to the harmful clauses that they must sign as a condition for renting the property, and they are utterly exposed to the capriciousness of the apartment owners, sometimes even during the lease period. This is obviously a problem for the general population, but thought should be given it is naturally more difficulty for disadvantaged groups, such as the handicapped or sick to deal with apartment owners under these circumstances. e. Difficulties in explanations – there are substantial difficulties with respect to the difficulties raised and their disclosure in the public arena for the purpose of making the necessary amendments. The current priorities of the various media, which are not interested in the subject, division between the handicapped organizations, disinterest of a great many parties in the society in which we live to take an active role in efforts to correct and improve the situation weigh and greatly hinder the efforts to raise public awareness about these problems in a way that will force Members of Knesset to amend the laws rather than to continue ignoring them and do nothing. There is another difficulty with respect to launching an advertising campaign: handicapped people living on a disability pension cannot pay the huge sums advertising agencies demand for managing a campaign to deal with this issue, and the great many efforts by this author to bypass this obstacle by joining a student advertising project have not helped, because the students have shown no interest and considered the issue to be important.