HousingWireHousingWire
As older Americans run into more challenges with the cost of living on a fixed income, a coalition of advocacy groups in and around New York City are calling for action. Led by LiveOn NY, more than 50 organizations are rallying the city’s government for additional support for older residents as they navigate these challenges.
The groups, which reportedly include the New York chapter of AARP, are calling on city leaders and Mayor Eric Adams “to invest a significant $2.3 billion for senior housing, food, community support and more,” according to reporting from local news outlet AMNY.
On Thursday, a coalition of seniors and advocates from these groups descended on city hall to demand action on these issues and better address the challenges that come with aging in the nation’s most populous city.
“New York City is failing to meet the needs of its aging population, with hundreds of thousands languishing due to policy and system failures that result in year-long waitlists for basic services, a chaotic and confusing care system, and life-threatening social isolation. Our older adult communities deserve better,” said Allison Nickerson, executive director of LiveOn NY, according to the reporting.
New York City Council member Crystal Hudson, who chairs its aging committee, joined Nickerson to explain what the groups and advocates hope to accomplish.
“One in five New Yorkers is over the age of 65, and they deserve everything from deeply affordable housing and well-resourced older adult centers to community programming and home-delivered or congregate meals every day of the week,” Hudson reportedly explained. “While my Age in Place legislative package lays the groundwork for many of these initiatives, we need robust funding to ensure every older adult gets access to the services they need.”
Another council member, Mercedes Narcisse, also spoke at the event and emphasized the important role that older citizens play in their neighborhoods.
“Older New Yorkers are the backbone of our homes and neighborhoods, and we must make every effort to ensure they have access to the housing, healthy food, and the services they have earned and deserve,” she said.
On its website, LiveOn NY explains that the city government has several unaddressed shortfalls it must tackle to meet the needs of older New Yorkers. Among them are insufficient budget allocations for the city’s aging services, as well as a need to address a shortage of housing inventory.
“Over 500,000 older adults are on waiting lists for affordable housing while homelessness among seniors rises,” the organization said. “The city must expand affordable housing and rental support for older adults.”
