On January 25, 2020 the Life Course Scholars cohort went on an affordable housing tour in San Diego. We stopped by the Potiker Family Senior Residence, the Sara Francis Hometel, Talmadge Gateway, and North Park Seniors. I was amazed that the Potiker Family Senior Residence was able to serve so much food to the community!
At the Sara Francis Hometel, the manager said it cost around $750 a month to live in their single occupancy room. He also said they are super lenient and didn't perform background checks because everyone has a story. The age range of residents was 18-95. To be honest, I was very shocked to hear that people at such a young age lived there as well.
The Talmadge Gateway was a very interesting center. We found out that residents were homeless or would have been homeless. Everyone also has some kind of chronic medical condition and if they did not have the medical assistance that Talmadge provides then they most likely would have had to stay in a nursing home. There are many things to do there such as daily activities, speaking with caseworkers, and learning new life skills, going shopping, and doing strength training class. The Talmadge Gateway helps solve its residents' issue with housing (they accept government vouchers and rent is 1/3 of their income, so around $300). With that issue alleviated, it was easier to see how food insecurity was rampant among this population. To help with this problem Talmadge helps teach them how to cook on a budget and brings in food bank donations. Rebecca said that many of them are so used to calling 911 as their primary mode of health care, which I never knew. It just made me think about how different life is when you don't have housing. It made me happy to hear that staff at the Talmadge had trauma based care training, because the individuals who live there have endured so much and deserve the best level of care.
At the Sara Francis Hometel, the manager said it cost around $750 a month to live in their single occupancy room. He also said they are super lenient and didn't perform background checks because everyone has a story. The age range of residents was 18-95. To be honest, I was very shocked to hear that people at such a young age lived there as well.
The Talmadge Gateway was a very interesting center. We found out that residents were homeless or would have been homeless. Everyone also has some kind of chronic medical condition and if they did not have the medical assistance that Talmadge provides then they most likely would have had to stay in a nursing home. There are many things to do there such as daily activities, speaking with caseworkers, and learning new life skills, going shopping, and doing strength training class. The Talmadge Gateway helps solve its residents' issue with housing (they accept government vouchers and rent is 1/3 of their income, so around $300). With that issue alleviated, it was easier to see how food insecurity was rampant among this population. To help with this problem Talmadge helps teach them how to cook on a budget and brings in food bank donations. Rebecca said that many of them are so used to calling 911 as their primary mode of health care, which I never knew. It just made me think about how different life is when you don't have housing. It made me happy to hear that staff at the Talmadge had trauma based care training, because the individuals who live there have endured so much and deserve the best level of care.