We spent this past Saturday on a senior housing tour in downtown San Diego and in North Park. There were more places that offered affordable senior housing in downtown San Diego than I had initially expected. For many of them, we learned about the thoughtful architectural design process that went into creating the buildings. The geographic location was also important in that these buildings were situated near public transportation and even right across the street from facilities that provided essential resources such as the Gary and Mary West Wellness Center. Two of the residences that stood out the most to me were the Potiker Family Senior Residence and the Sara Frances Hometel.
The first stop of our tour was the Potiker Residence, a part of Serving Seniors that provides affordable housing for seniors and also connects them with resources to support their basic needs. At the Potiker Residence, we listened to a presentation by Melinda and Jennifer detailing the programs and services they offered but as well as the obstacles they have encountered and continue to encounter. In an effort to change the current legislation on the federal poverty line (a grossly inaccurate and underestimated value) and how it affects seniors, the Elder Index was introduced which details the actual income seniors need to meet their basic needs. In the presentation, it was said that despite being able to present the index to our legislators, it has since become a “footnote” and no major legislation change has been made. While I’m glad that this information is out there and is actually being appropriately and diligently used by some, it was upsetting to hear that the desired level of impact and change wasn’t quite achieved. On a more optimistic note, there are still many individuals and organizations out there, such as Serving Seniors, that dedicate their work to making sure that seniors, especially those in more vulnerable circumstances, get the help that they need. And now back to the tour…
We split up into two groups in touring both the Potiker Residence and the Sara Frances Hometel nearby. The Potiker Residence works with the Sara Frances Hometel in a collaborative effort to provide transitional housing for homeless seniors. When we arrived at the Sara Frances, there was a stark difference in the environment and conditions of the building compared to the Potiker Residence. The air inside the building was thick and smelled of smoke. The small courtyard in the center of the building, despite being an outdoor space, was surrounded by high walls, making it difficult for wind and fresh air to pass through. Michael led us through a narrow hallway to show us a typical single occupancy room and a shared bathroom. The room was vacant at the time and so the furniture wasn’t complete. Even as we filed into and exited the room one at a time, the room already felt pretty cramped. To many, it is likely not the ideal place to live, but to many others, it might be the best and only option they have.
We returned to the Potiker Residence to tour their building and we were able to meet one of the residents there, Irene, who warmly welcomed us into her home. She shared with us the events and circumstances, some traumatic, that eventually led to her staying at the Potiker Residence. When discussing her own experience living there, she said to us, “This place saved my life”. I imagine that a similar experience and sense of gratitude for places like Potiker Residence is shared among many of the other residents. But I can’t help but think of others who might not have had that opportunity. There are long waitlists of qualified individuals hoping to get in to one of these units, and I wonder what their living situations are like while they wait; where do they live and in what conditions? How significant is the difference in access to resources between those who are housed in these units and those who are not but are still qualified and entitled to those same resources? Irene’s story was very uplifting and while I’m glad that she and many others like her have been given the chance to improve their lives, there are still many others who haven’t. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the current state of things, however, I am optimistic that with the efforts and progress being made today by dedicated individuals and organizations, like Serving Seniors, more and more folks in the senior community will get the help and live the lives they deserve.
The first stop of our tour was the Potiker Residence, a part of Serving Seniors that provides affordable housing for seniors and also connects them with resources to support their basic needs. At the Potiker Residence, we listened to a presentation by Melinda and Jennifer detailing the programs and services they offered but as well as the obstacles they have encountered and continue to encounter. In an effort to change the current legislation on the federal poverty line (a grossly inaccurate and underestimated value) and how it affects seniors, the Elder Index was introduced which details the actual income seniors need to meet their basic needs. In the presentation, it was said that despite being able to present the index to our legislators, it has since become a “footnote” and no major legislation change has been made. While I’m glad that this information is out there and is actually being appropriately and diligently used by some, it was upsetting to hear that the desired level of impact and change wasn’t quite achieved. On a more optimistic note, there are still many individuals and organizations out there, such as Serving Seniors, that dedicate their work to making sure that seniors, especially those in more vulnerable circumstances, get the help that they need. And now back to the tour…
We split up into two groups in touring both the Potiker Residence and the Sara Frances Hometel nearby. The Potiker Residence works with the Sara Frances Hometel in a collaborative effort to provide transitional housing for homeless seniors. When we arrived at the Sara Frances, there was a stark difference in the environment and conditions of the building compared to the Potiker Residence. The air inside the building was thick and smelled of smoke. The small courtyard in the center of the building, despite being an outdoor space, was surrounded by high walls, making it difficult for wind and fresh air to pass through. Michael led us through a narrow hallway to show us a typical single occupancy room and a shared bathroom. The room was vacant at the time and so the furniture wasn’t complete. Even as we filed into and exited the room one at a time, the room already felt pretty cramped. To many, it is likely not the ideal place to live, but to many others, it might be the best and only option they have.
We returned to the Potiker Residence to tour their building and we were able to meet one of the residents there, Irene, who warmly welcomed us into her home. She shared with us the events and circumstances, some traumatic, that eventually led to her staying at the Potiker Residence. When discussing her own experience living there, she said to us, “This place saved my life”. I imagine that a similar experience and sense of gratitude for places like Potiker Residence is shared among many of the other residents. But I can’t help but think of others who might not have had that opportunity. There are long waitlists of qualified individuals hoping to get in to one of these units, and I wonder what their living situations are like while they wait; where do they live and in what conditions? How significant is the difference in access to resources between those who are housed in these units and those who are not but are still qualified and entitled to those same resources? Irene’s story was very uplifting and while I’m glad that she and many others like her have been given the chance to improve their lives, there are still many others who haven’t. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the current state of things, however, I am optimistic that with the efforts and progress being made today by dedicated individuals and organizations, like Serving Seniors, more and more folks in the senior community will get the help and live the lives they deserve.