Megan Flynn
John Fay, who is running for Congress in Florida’s 13th District, aims to build stronger communities by promoting fairness and addressing the mental and emotional challenges that contribute to crime, homelessness, and addiction. He plans to protect seniors from outdated taxes, improve security and affordability for families, and create safer environments for children. Recently, John Fay visited the Parc Center for Disabilities. In the interview below, he explains what he learned from that visit, how he hopes to support the Parc Center, and how his campaign seeks to create meaningful change for individuals with disabilities.
Q: “How will you impact the Parc Center as a representative of the 13th District of Florida?”
A: “I will propose nationwide funding to provide facilities and services for people with disabilities, ensuring they receive food, shelter, and access to activities. Recent Medicaid cuts directly affect individuals with mental and physical disabilities. During my visit, I met individuals whose conditions make full-time employment difficult. If fails to support them, these individuals risk homeless. Unfortunately, homelessness often leads to drug use and addiction.
We can address this issue at a humane level now, or deal with the consequences later through crime and homelessness. We must act proactively instead of reacting after problems escalate. If you study the homeless population struggling with addiction, you will find that many individuals also face physical or mental disabilities, and some turn to crime as a result.
I strongly disagree with the current administration’s approach, which neglects the poor, needy, and disabled while prioritizing its own interests. I want to redirect funds currently allocated to ICE toward financing immigration fees and supporting essential services like food and shelter for those in need.”
Q: “John Fay, what was your biggest takeaway from your visit to the Parc Center?”
A: “I realized that individuals with disabilities need more consistent support and funding than they currently receive. Their conditions are permanent, but funding remains temporary. We should provide stable, long-term funding for these centers. Just as we consistently invest in roads and the military, we should guarantee ongoing support for people with disabilities.
I find it unacceptable that the government does not guarantee this support. Some people may choose to leave a society they view as inhumane, but I believe we should stay and work to fix it. If you feel concerned about these issues, take action rather than ignoring them.”
Q: “John Fay, how did hearing directly from the people who make up the Parc Center, impact your view of federal policy related to disability services?”
A: “I was surprised to learn how unstable funding is and how often organizations must rely on community donations to survive. I had believed that Social Security and disability insurance covered much of this support. I also assumed federal funding played a larger role in sustaining centers like Parc.
Instead, I learned that these organizations constantly struggle to secure funding. That reality disappointed me. The government claims to support individuals with disabilities, but it provides far less assistance than many people expect.
I was also surprised by how easily policymakers cut funding. When Trump proposed Medicaid cuts, many Republicans did not oppose the decision, even though it affected their own constituents. That lack of resistance shocked me. Disability affects every community, regardless of political affiliation, and people often have no control over these conditions.”
Q: “Were there specific programs at the Parc Center that you feel deserve greater support?”
A: “Housing for those who cannot take care of themselves. There is the assumption that it is the family’s job, but what I discovered was there are individuals who have families that are not capable of taking care of them. We are the wealthiest nation on the planet, and we have money for everything else but taking care of the disabled, that is disappointing. So what I learned while I was there is that they absolutely need funding for housing.”
