Senior Housing and Assisted Living

The government of Canada and Ontario recently announced the funding of approximately $4.8 million for 40 new affordable housing rental units for seniors and persons with disabilities.  These 40 affordable rental units are part of an 80-unit project with approximately $4.8 million in federal and provincial funding is complemented by $10.1 million in municipal financial incentives.  The Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.

"Locally, this achievement gives a hand-up to individuals and families who need safe, affordable housing that meets their needs," said Minister Raitt. "Our government is investing in this project to get the local economy moving, creating immediate jobs and economic stimulus for the community."

Construction is underway on the $20.4 million, 89,000 project for Senior Living at Cambridge Heights facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Cambridge Heights will feature 117 one- and two-bedroom apartments designed for older adults and be comprised of apartments ranging in size from 504-618 square feet for a one-bedroom apartment and 837 square feet for a two-bedroom apartment.  The development will contain 75 public housing apartments, 36 apartments to receive project-based Section 8 assistance (nine of those are also Missouri Housing Finance Agency Home Investment Partnership Act apartments and eight are also Affordable Housing Assistance Payment apartments) and six Low Income Housing Tax Credit-only apartments. The facility also includes a common outdoor green space and approximately 51 private parking spaces.

KAI Design & Build is the architect, general contractor and mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineer for the project and expects the project to be completed in January 2011.  Financing for the three-story building was secured through the Missouri Housing Development Commission, St. Louis Housing Authority, Enterprise Bank & Trust and Business Bank of St. Louis, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. St. Louis-based McCormack Baron Salazar is the project’s developer.

“This capstone to the redevelopment of the former Cochran Gardens public housing site will meet an important need in the community to provide affordable, quality senior living and will serve to replace an obsolete and isolating tower building with a sustainable, universally-designed, low-rise facility,” said Vince Bennett, Executive Vice-President of McCormack Baron Salazar. “This development will also further the dramatic transformation of this community started with the Cochran Gardens HOPE VI and will support the revitalization efforts in the Columbus Square neighborhood.”

What kind of income is necessary to afford a modest rental home?  According to a recent report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, that number is $18.44 per hour or $38,360 per year.  The report highlights that rents are continuing to rise while wages stay the same or decrease across the country.  The national two-bedroom Fair Market Rent (FMR) is a $959 a month and 74% of metro renters live in an area where having two full-time jobs at the minimum wage would still not allow them to afford the two-bedroom FMR.

Other key findings from the 2010 report include:

·    The two-bedroom Housing Wage topped $20.00 in 10 states: HI, DC, CA, MD, NJ, NY, MA, CT, AK and FL.

·     In 2010, the estimated average wage for renters in the United States is only $14.44, a decline from $14.69 in 2009.

·    At the federal minimum wage of $7.25, a household would have to work 102 hours each week to afford the nation’s average FMR for a two-bedroom home.

·    There is no county in the United States in which a full-time minimum wage worker can afford even a one-bedroom apartment at the FMR.

“Out of Reach 2010 shows once again that prevailing incomes and wages are simply not enough to allow a family to afford a decent home in their community,” said Sheila Crowley, President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

“The persistence of high rates of unemployment and under-employment is making it ever more difficult for families to secure decent housing. Unfortunately, the situation is not likely to improve any time soon,” Center for Economic Policy and Research Co-Director Dean Baker said.

“[NLIHC’s] Out of Reach annual report on rental housing affordability shows a growing need to preserve and expand the current stock of affordable rental housing,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said. “The hardships faced by many low income renters in an economy recovering from the recession and record foreclosures make this need all the more urgent. We are grateful for NLIHC’s efforts, and we will continue our partnership to ensure that more Americans have better access to decent and affordable rental housing.”

Extensive data for every state, metropolitan area and county in the country are available online, at www.nlihc.org/oor2010/.

E3 Building Sciences recently announced that it has been chosen to provide assistance in certifying the a new mid-rise project for the 87-unit Lil Abner Apartments in Miami to meet LEED standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC).  Developer Consolidated Real Estate Investment of Miami selected Burgos Lanza Architects & Planners of Miami provide the initial design of the five-story building. The project team hopes to break ground this year and eventually achieve LEED Silver Certification.

"I think there are a lot of beneficial aspects to it," explained Carlos Lanza, project architect, regarding the new LEED for Mid-Rise program. "You’re doing your part to conserve the Earth’s resources. You’re being conscious of the environment and I think that’s a step forward."

The Lil Abner Apartments, located on a 4.65 acre site, will be built to the ASHRAE 90.1 Standard, a national commercial building benchmark for improved energy consumption in buildings. The energy and water efficient units will provide residents with lower monthly household expenses for a more comfortable lifestyle.

"Seniors are often on fixed incomes and a LEED Certified Home will help buffer their household finances from rising electric and water bills while better indoor air quality through fresh air ventilation should help reduce airborne illnesses," said Ben Millar, Business Development Director at E3 Building Sciences.

It’s always interesting to see some designs from university students interpreting senior housing and living from their perspective. The vision designed by students Benjhamin Callam and Joseph Littrell of the University of Pennsylvania is to support the surrounding community with just as much importance as the medical advances that support the individual.  The design takes modular design to a whole new level.  Check out Aging in Place(s) – Dynamic Architetcure for Retirement Homes

Jack Satter House, a supportive housing community for 300 low-income seniors in Revere, Massachusetts announced that it has received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of its new Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing.  The grant, which is the first of its kind in New England, will fund infrastructure upgrades and other retrofits to reduce utility costs by approximately 25 percent, cut water consumption, and improve indoor air quality. Jack Satter House is sponsored by Boston-based nonprofit Hebrew SeniorLife, a leader in geriatric health care, research, teaching and housing, and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

“Not only will this grant result in significant energy efficiency improvements and cost savings at Jack Satter House, it will serve as a model for how other organizations can incorporate sustainable, green building elements to create environmentally friendly communities,” said Len Fishman, CEO of Hebrew SeniorLife.

The one-year improvement project will include a variety of retrofits, including installation of EnergyStar-rated refrigerators and air conditioners, replacement of old boilers with new high-efficiency condensing boilers, installation of a combined heat and power electric co-generation plant, upgraded energy efficient lighting, low-flow aerators, shower heads and toilets, and the use of non-toxic paints, adhesives and sealants throughout. The renovation will enhance the quality of life for residents, increase energy efficiency, and generate approximately $180,000 in annual utility savings.

Hebrew SeniorLife was awarded grant funding through a highly competitive process from a pool of 769 applicants. HUD officials reviewed a variety of project criteria, including financial feasibility and the building’s physical condition, before allocating the $250 million in available Green Retrofit Program funds nationwide.

“This funding will not only improve the quality of life for the residents of Jack Satter House, but will lower energy costs and create quality green jobs at the same time,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “This is an example of the kind of long-term, fundamental impact the Recovery Act is having on America’s economy through clean energy investments.”

Beneficial Communities announced that it is celebrating the grand opening of Banyan Senior Apartments in Port Richey, Florida this May.  The community’s 94 one- and two-bedroom energy-efficient units feature a private balcony or solarium, fully equipped designer kitchen, washer/dryer connections, central air conditioning, 9-foot ceilings, walk-in closet and ceramic tile bathroom flooring.  The community is already more than 50 percent occupied since the community’s soft launch in December.  Banyan Senior Apartments is the first of several Tampa-area development projects between Sarasota’s Beneficial Communities and CORE Construction.

Prospective tenants at Pasco County’s Banyan Senior Apartments must be at least 55 years of age and meet certain income requirements. The monthly rental fee starts at $561 and includes water, trash and sewer. The fee also includes limited access to the senior community’s two guest suites and unlimited access to all amenities, daily activities such as water aerobics, resident activities such as holiday parties, periodic health and nutrition classes, quarterly financial counseling, and bi-annual life and safety training. Plus, management is on-call 24 hours a day, and a list of qualified service providers is available to residents who need assistance with light housekeeping, grocery shopping and laundry.

“Pasco County has historically had very little to offer in the way of affordable senior housing for independent seniors who want to stay active. Banyan Senior Apartments now offers them an affordable yet amenity rich, high quality, and thriving community that really feels like home,” said Karen McGinnis-Weeks, Director of Asset Management for Beneficial Communities.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer recently stated that he will fight to reverse budget cuts proposed by Administration in its Fiscal Year 2011 budget for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program. Schumer noted that in fiscal year 2010, Congress appropriated $825 million for Section 202 programmatic funding.  However, the Administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2011 only includes $273.7 million.  It is projected that, while $273.7 will sustain existing Section 202 housing stock, the funding will fail to cover project shortfalls for new housing development and force sponsors to find additional sources of funding to make these projects feasible.

“The Section 202 program helps seniors achieve economic and financial independence while providing them with quality affordable housing, and it is essential, especially during these tough economic times, to ensure funding is sustained,” Schumer said. “It is common-sense to boost this program that helps seniors in Nassau and Suffolk and across the nation live with dignity in a home they can call their own. I will continue to fight for funds that will improve the quality of life for residents on Long Island.”

Section 202 provides affordable housing for very low-income seniors through the provision of supportive, community-based services. While Section 202 currently provides approximately 300,000 units of affordable housing for elderly households, there is a long list of seniors waiting for assistance. The American Association of Retired People (AARP) estimates that there are approximately ten seniors on the waiting list for each Section 202 unit that becomes available. There are currently 738 Section 202-assisted units on Long Island, with 10 seniors vying for each Section 202 unit that becomes available. In Nassau County, there are 469 assisted units and 269 in Suffolk County.

Microsoft Corp., the city of New York and Selfhelp Community Services Inc. recently unveiled their Virtual Senior Center, a public-private partnership and demonstration project that is showing how cities can use technology to revitalize senior centers and enhance the lives of homebound seniors. The Virtual Senior Center uses computer, video and Internet technology to create an interactive experience for homebound seniors that reduces social isolation and gives them better access to community services.  The project links six homebound seniors (ranging in age from 67 to 103) to Selfhelp’s Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Flushing, Queens and each home is equipped with a desktop computer as well as a touch-screen monitor, a small video camera, a microphone and broadband Internet service.

Video cameras and monitors have been strategically placed around the senior center to enable the homebound seniors to interact with classmates and instructors at the center, and to take part in activities such as armchair yoga, painting classes, current events discussions and tai chi. Using the technology, seniors at home can see and hear the other people in the class and actively participate in two-way discussions and activities. Since beginning the project, some have even made new friends. It’s Never 2 Late, a Colorado company that creates specialty technology packages for seniors, provides the custom interface.  The Virtual Senior Center project included a psycho-social assessment that measured a number of attitudes, health attributes and emotional factors for the six participating seniors at the start of the program and at various stages. As a group, the seniors showed marked improvement throughout the course of the project.

"The New York City Department for the Aging is deeply committed to improving the quality of life for older New Yorkers, and this partnership with Microsoft and Selfhelp Community Services in creating the Virtual Senior Center is one more step toward making New York City the most age-friendly city in the nation," said Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA). "Senior centers are the social hub for many older New Yorkers, and this new model — the Virtual Senior Center — has shown us that technology will help seniors age in place and remain integrated into the community by bringing that same senior center experience into the home."

"The opportunity for homebound seniors to interact virtually with caregivers, providers, peers, family members and friends has made a significant and measurable difference in the quality of their lives," said Becky Bigio, director, Selfhelp Senior Source Geriatric Care Management Program. "Nearly all the candidates have described feeling more connected to others and show an increasing awareness and appreciation of those connections."

Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Executive Director Gloria L. Materre, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Alderman Ray Suarez, Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Mary Ellen Caron, Department of Community Development First Deputy Commissioner Ellen Sahli and members of the Senior Lifestyle Corporation recently celebrated the grand opening of a new development featuring 85 new affordable homes for seniors in Chicago’s Kelvyn Park neighborhood on the city’s Northwest Side.  IHDA provided a $1.25 million low-interest loan from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund to build Senior Suites of Kelvyn Park, 2715 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago. IHDA, the state agency dedicated to creating affordable housing for Illinois residents, was a key partner in the construction of the 60 one-bedroom and 25 studio apartments.  Senior Suites of Kelvyn Park will bring 25 studios and 60 one-bedroom apartments, complete with bathroom and kitchen facilities, at initial monthly rents from $650 to $795. The apartments in the six-story building will be available to seniors, 62 or older, whose incomes meet federal guidelines.

Through a partnership with the City of Chicago, the six-story, 75,000 square foot development also houses a senior center to connect seniors with services supporting their independent lifestyle. The center features a fitness center, computer lab, cafeteria and other amenities. Seniors who live in the surrounding neighborhood also will benefit from the center.  Since the mid-1990s, IHDA has invested more than $41.7 million in low-interest loans and tax credit equity to join Senior Lifestyle Corp. in adding affordable housing throughout the Chicago area.

“Seniors across the state are living on a fixed income, and may need to make choices about expenses that could impact their ability to afford safe and decent homes. It’s our role as the state’s housing finance agency to work with public and private partners to create more affordable options, such as Senior Suites of Kelvyn Park,” said Materre, IHDA Executive Director.

“Our Senior Suites developments provide Chicago’s seniors an opportunity to stay within their home neighborhoods in affordable, high-quality residences,” said William B. Kaplan, chairman of Senior Lifestyle. “With the support of city and state leaders, we are able to continue to address the strong housing demand of its senior citizens.”