THE Center for Living Independently in the CNMI, unlike its counterparts in other U.S. jurisdictions, is excluded from the Commonwealth budget.
“[We] are the only CLI in the United States that doesn’t get allotted local funding. We need to pass legislation to have CLI be part of the budget,” said CNMI CLI Executive Director Susan Satur in an interview with Variety.
“We’re trying to get a bill to be passed so that the CLI will be part of the budget. Right now, we’re not, so we don’t get local funding,” she added.
“We have to become part of the budget. The governor had told us before that we would be. We submitted a budget, but we never got it. That was three years ago,” she said.
CLI, however, received roughly $107,000 appropriated by the Saipan and Northern Islands Delegation this year to purchase a 15-seat wheelchair-accessible van to transport its consumers.
The funding, however, does not include the costs of insurance and fuel for the vehicle.
“We have maybe 60 consumers that come to the center, and the rest, we service in the home, so we need to go into their home,” Satur said. “In order for us to go into the home, we have to use our own vehicles. We can’t use the van because often the roads are inaccessible for the van. We save the van for the consumers that come into the center.”
Satur said this helps consumers cut costs by utilizing the CLI van. The Commonwealth Office of Transport Authority vans cost $6 round trip per consumer.
With a five-member team, CLI services 175 consumers or adults with disabilities. Three of the CLI staff perform temporary roles through American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Once those funds are gone, CLI will lack staff to cater to its numerous consumers.
Asked how local funding would help CLI, Satur said it would help with staffing, especially as the center is now expanding its space to meet the growing number of consumers it services.
“We just acquired the building next door. It’s going to be wonderful. We’re really fortunate to get that building. But with that building comes costs, such as power. Our power bill doubled,” said Satur.
“Obviously, the ARPA funds are temporary. It’s a Band-Aid,” she added.
Looking ahead, Satur said the center is seeking out grants to retain their additional staff, and potentially hire more.
The center has helped various consumers who are now contributing to the workforce, and they include a local radio DJ and a stateside chef.
CLI’s consumers also include 18-year-old Northern Marianas College student Kahulo Pangelinan and 20-year-old Northern Marianas Technical Institute culinary student Ignacio Leon Guerrero, who now act as trainers at the center.
“My grandma introduced me to this place,” Leon Guerrero said. “I was a bit nervous coming in because I wasn’t really used to talking to people, but when I came here, they showed me around this place and I met the other consumers. They have different personalities. A trainer taught me how to cook and how to serve people equal amounts so that it will be fair to everybody in CLI. Now I help cook and teach others how to cook.”
The aspiring chef encouraged consumers to step out of their comfort zones. “Be open to talk to people, and always be mindful of their needs. It’s always about fairness,” he said.
For his part, Pangelinan said, “My experience with CLI has been a long journey. I’ve taken a lot of steps into benefiting myself and helping the people here. I’ve been here since last October, and I love how CLI has been helping the people here. I feel like they have a good cause.”
He added, “I just give them all my love and my respect because we all come from different backgrounds, and we all have struggles in life. We come here for our own good and for a good purpose, so I’m happy to be a part of it.”
He said CLI has helped him find his own place to live, taught him how to cook, how to set a budget, and how to interact with people.
“My message to the future consumers who will benefit from CLI is always be open to new changes. Don’t be afraid of change. And just love who you are and accept that there’s a plan for you. And always trust that there’s good things coming for you, if you do the right thing displays for yourself,” he said.
Reflecting on the growth of past and present consumers, Satur said, “It’s amazing. It makes it all worthwhile to see all the growth and where they’re going and where they’ve been. And now where they are. It’s really fun.”
To future consumers, she said: “Be strong, stay focused, and be open to change. And let us help you in the way that we need to guide you.”
Asked how community members can help CLI, Satur said that donations are always welcome.
“Any donation would be wonderful. We have a lot of community members donating clothes, food, and money. We will accept anything because we need it,” she said.
Satur also asked that lawmakers help CLI become part of the CNMI government budget, noting that it would take at least $110,000 to meet their annual costs, including salaries for their staff and transportation and food for their consumers.
“We really need to be part of the regular budget so that we have funding. We’re living on a shoestring budget. I know everybody does, but I feel like what we do is very important for the community, for the disabled people,” she said.
Center for Living Independently Executive Director Susan Satur, left, and office assistant Matilde Selepeo pose for a photo.
The Center for Living Independently on Capital Hill is expanding its office space to include a next-door building it recently acquired. The building will include more consumer-friendly space, including a room designed specifically for the autistic.