Presentation: Designated Housing Interviews September 2014
We conducted 20+ informational interviews to learn more about the housing needs of elderly and NED population Over the course of 2 months, we conducted a series of phone interviews with the elderly and non- elderly disabled population in the Greater Boston area in order to learn about: • Specific living preferences and requirements • The housing search and application process as well as alternative housing options • The size and needs of each respective population We conducted over 20 interviews with BHA residents and BHA current/former applicants as well as experts from the following organizations: • City of Boston’s Elderly Commission • Boston Medical Center's Elders Living at Home • City of Boston’s Commission for Persons with Program (ELAHP) • Disabilities Ethos • • Hearth, Inc. Massachusetts Association of Older Americans • • HomeStart, Inc. Boston Center for Independent Living We discovered structural and systematic disadvantages that the elderly face throughout the application process 1
A number of factors add structural difficulties to the elderly throughout the application process Category Filter throughout housing application Elderly / NED difference Qualify for BHA unit The elderly are more Choose to apply likely to continue living 1 to the BHA in unsafe/unreasonable alternatives The elderly are more 2 Able to live in geographically constrained available geographies The elderly are concerned Choose to live in mixed 3 about living with the age demographic housing non-elderly disabled The elderly need more help 4 Put together strong accessing the application application process Elderly applicants are less likely to successfully complete an application, and less likely to be represented on waiting lists NED applicant Elderly applicant 2
1 Seniors often stay in unsafe / unreasonable housing Comments Supporting quotes • Seniors will stay in housing that is unsustainably expensive "I stayed with a friend of 20 years, and it was just Many housing • Seniors will stay with kind of either I will sleep on the couch or you will alternatives for sleep on the couch [...] he is a drunk, so it didn`t acquaintances that offer no seniors are not go smoothly." stability viable - Marian, BHA Elderly Resident • Seniors will stay in nursing homes or hospitals • It is more difficult to get seniors to However, go through the necessary ”[Seniors say,] ‘ By the time they get to my name, seniors often application steps I will be dead.’ It often takes a lot of fail to seek out • Seniors often “feel hopeless and encouragement for them to apply.” better housing don’t see the point” - Boston area public official for elderly issues options • NED can apply within BHA along different paths Elderly options "There are more waitlists that disabled people – MassHealth’s vouchers are are more limited can apply, meaning that they have more options." transferable between institutions - Boston area homeless advocate than NED – Family housing • NED can apply to disabled-specific organizations outside of the BHA 3
2 Seniors are geographically constrained Comments Supporting quotes • Many have had a long-standing history with their particular “I’ve recently moved into a new apartment and surroundings, often living at a familiarized myself with the new environment. It was a big hassle for me; even if BHA offered me particular location for decades a better apartment, I wouldn’t consider it.” – Familiarizing oneself to new Seniors are - Lunie, BHA Elderly Applicant locations can be daunting for more attached the elderly to their • The elderly often currently live with "I felt that I was in danger if I were to live higher geographic than the second floor or in a building far away or nearby to existing family from my hospital." surroundings members - Dulce, elderly applicant who refused unit • The elderly tend to be slower to mobilize than the NED "I had no preference for any geographic location. – After being on a waitlist for 2-5 I was going to one hospital before, and was able years, they may need to re- to continue going there." evaluate their ability to mobilize - Michael, non-elderly disabled resident • Location preferences tend to be Their “Many elderly residents have to plan for the neighborhood specific geographic service planning of moving to a new location. You • Those currently living in nursing constraint limits can’t just call them up one day and move them.” homes require close coordination to their housing - Boston area elderly advocate successfully move out application 4
3 Seniors have concerns about living with NED Comments Supporting quotes • BHA’s housing policy of mixing the elderly and NED populations have “My first and foremost concern is safety. [There resulted in many complaints are some drug users in my building]… My fear is what happens when their money runs out, what regarding substance abuse and happens then?" mental illness The elderly and - Marian, BHA Elderly Resident • Elderly individuals have expressed NED have basic a stronger concern for safety than differences in the NED and tend to associate the personal safety younger population with drugs and and lifestyle crime preferences “D isabled people have common needs and [if they • Some conflicts are not population had separate housing] could have common resources specific, but instead specific to share." - Boston area public official for disabled personal issues, such as noise issues level and rowdiness • The elderly are frightened to apply These concerns “The mix of elderly and disabled creates and/or live with the NED cause seniors environments that alarm elders and prevent the a • The differences in lifestyle causes cohesive living community.” to not submit tension within the communities - Boston area elderly advocate applications 5
4 Seniors need more help with the application process Comments Supporting quotes • Application support is available from advocates at shelters, but Seniors are not seniors disproportionately avoid obtaining the “Many elderly people hang up on us when we shelters mention shelters.” help they need • Most applications are only in - Boston area public official for elderly issues to fill out the English and 20% of Boston’s application elderly population know little to no English • The already “overwhelming and discouraging” process is magnified This creates a A lot of seniors don't apply to the BHA. They feel barrier to the for the elderly population hopeless, saying "by the time they get to my • The long wait is a barrier to apply application name, I will be dead." - Boston area public official for elderly issues for the senior population process • While NED face “threshold” issues for “I applied on my own. The application was pretty This makes basic requirements (eg. accessibility), straight forward. I think anyone in the disabled them the elderly lack an understanding and population who needs it, knows about it and comparatively applies for it.” awareness of the application process worse housing • The NED also have a better grasp of - William, BHA NED Resident applicants preference points 6
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