Welcome to the August edition of Aging and Still Engaging. Our topic for this issue addresses the sad reality for some senior citizens in our county who struggle to stay in their homes and live independently as long as they are able. At the July meeting of the SLO County Commission on Aging, we invited three guest speakers to present a few of the current programs in place, or in planning stages, designed to assist those elders who face economic hardships related to housing and support.
Anne Wyatt, Program Coordinator for HomeShareSLO, described her organization as one that helps connect and facilitate matches between home providers–people with an extra bedroom–and home seekers–people looking for a place to live. The program is now accepting home providers and will begin assisting with client matching in September. Matching and screening prospective home sharers, assisting with living together agreements and helping find solutions to issues as they emerge will be part of program offerings. Benefits of home sharing include: security and independence through extra income, creation of low cost housing, companionship and help around the house. Over 60 home share organizations around the US operate and have helped make hundreds of thousands of successful matches. For more information about the organization, visit www.HomeShareSLO.org – or call Anne at (805) 296-0013.
Tauria Linala of SLOVillage.org informed us about a new movement afoot that sets it sights on the needs of people who live independently in their homes, but require assistance to remain in their preferred setting. SLO Village is a new retirement model designed to encourage, protect, and enable at-home independence for seniors. For many, it means being able to live out their retirement years at home rather than having to relocate. SLO Village is a local membership organization focused on empowering older adults to live happily, healthfully, and successfully in their own homes as they age. SLO Village provides connection, community, and a network of resources that address practical needs, social, cultural, and educational interests. This is accomplished by providing easy access to a screened network of service providers and volunteers. Villages tend to prefer using volunteers to deliver services, and it provides “one call does it all” support and problem solving for members, including transportation, shopping, household chores, gardening, light home repairs and maintenance. For more information about the organization, visit www.slovillage.org – or call (805) 242-6440.
Jerry Rioux of the San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund (HTF) explained that the mission of his organization is to increase the supply of affordable housing throughout the County. The HTF provides financing and technical assistance for affordable housing projects and advocates for the development and building of affordable housing. The agency’s customers are developers, housing sponsors and government agencies, rather than individual home seekers. Since incorporating in 2003, the HTF has loaned $18 million to assist 661 units of affordable housing. Most of these units have been apartments, but 11percent have been homes for sale. In addition, 16% have been for the disabled and other special needs groups. The HTF has advocated for more rental housing, including relaxing the rules for secondary dwelling units or granny flats. Currently we are advocating that local governments allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as secondary units and to charge lower impact fees for smaller homes. For more information about the SLO County Housing Trust, visit www.slochtf.org. Learn more about the small houses movement by Googling “tiny homes” where you will find many websites with photos and descriptions.
San Luis Obispo County Commission on Aging invites members of the public to join us at the SLO Veterans Hall on August 19, 2016 from 10:00a.m. – Noon. “In Search of Needed Senior Transport?” speakers will cover County 511 program, medical transport and more.
