Nearly a year and a half after the beginning of Covid-19, many of our aging adults are feeling the unprecedented effects of the pandemic daily.. The end of the housing moratorium in August 2021, adds to the ongoing housing problem for seniors ranging from affordability to accessibility.
16.4 percent of renting households in Dallas County owe back rent. An estimated 11 million Americans are at risk of eviction. Approximately 15 percent of older Texans ages 65-84, and 22 percent of 85 and older, are renters with lower incomes. Many of these renters cannot afford to pay market-rate rent, and the poorest of renters are at a greater risk of experiencing evictions and homelessness.
Housing insecurity touches nearly half of adults at some point in their lives. Most Americans believe it is challenging to find affordable quality housing in their communities and more than half of all adults say they have made at least one trade off to cover their rent or mortgage. Such tradeoffs include cutting back on health care and healthy food and moving to less safe neighborhoods. This is most impactful to aging adults who may simultaneously experience a disability or illness and reduced income. Housing instability – including frequent moves, overcrowding and the threat of evictions or foreclosure, creates stress, depression, and hopelessness for far too many seniors. Aging adults living in housing that they struggle to afford often describe themselves as less healthy.
A decent and affordable place to live helps aging adults by freeing them from such physical and mental hardships and placing them on a path of new opportunity and increased confidence and self-reliance.
Juliette Fowler Communities is working to provide that affordable housing for aging adults facing housing insecurity. New construction of “The Peak” on our Lakewood campus in Dallas is an affordable housing development that will meet the needs of aging adults facing housing insecurity. We believe providing this affordable home for aging adults provides stability they need to thrive. A senior choosing to move to “The Peak” ensures they have rent control and a stable place to live with the benefits of community. A decent roof over their heads establishes home as a place that protects, instead of endangering their health.
We are proud of this new initiative and seek the community’s support to meet this most critical need. Donations may be made on our website at fowlercommunities.org or by mail at 1234 Abrams, Dallas, Texas 75214.
Author: Nicole Gann, President and CEO