In the 4+ years of our existence, responding to New Yorkers’ needs in the here and now has been a pillar of Epicenter NYC’s strategy. This week, we will begin sharing answers to some of the most asked questions we get from our neighbors. Special thanks to Mon Yuck Yu, previously the policy director for the Brooklyn borough president and the founder of an immigration nonprofit, for fielding this housing- and caregiving-related query. As you may know, these are two areas we’ve covered extensively. Check out our work here and here.
Question: I recently had a very sad catch-up with a brilliant mentor who’s now elderly and on the verge of homelessness. She is based in Brooklyn. Do you know social workers who can talk to her about nursing home options and how to access welfare support? She lives in Fort Greene.
Mon Yuck Yu’s Response: We are sorry to hear about your mentor’s situation. An organization that may be able to help is Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH) which has a satellite office located at 55 Hanson Place(suite 778) in Brooklyn in partnership with NYC council member and chair of the committee on aging Crystal Hudson. CUFFH is part of a housing ambassador program through NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), which works with a network of 20 organizations dedicated to supporting low-income residents, including seniors, in seeking affordable housing options. Their phone number is 718-360-2906. You can view this website to search for other organizations that are part of this program, or call 311 to speak with a representative from NYC HPD.
Skilled nursing facilities are designed to support older adults who need 24/7 medical support from a registered nurse or daily therapy services for medical issues such as respiratory care, wound care, and terminal illness, with a goal of transferring to another living facility. Depending on the individual’s needs, there are other housing options that may be more suitable and flexible. Assisted living facilities are for individuals that are eligible for nursing home care but require minimal care; they offer private to semi-private units with intermittent skilled nursing care and social services. Another option is an enriched housing program, which services older adults 65 years or older in a community-integrated setting with private residential units, offering more independence. Depending on the operator, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Medicare, and/or long-term care insurance plans may cover costs for these residential facilities and other supplemental services, but be ready for additional out-of-pocket costs. Note that Medicare will pay for long-term care nursing home services if an individual has been hospitalized for at least three days, but it does not cover stay in an assisted living facility.
If the individual does not require regular supervision, another option might be a home-sharing or shared housing program, such as this one through the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, which connects adult “hosts” with “adult guests,” one of which must be 60 years or older, to share living space. Guests are required to make a monthly contribution to the hosts’ living expenses, allowing companionship and financial freedom for the both of them while allowing “hosts” to stay in place. Additionally, the federal Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program provides housing with supportive services and rental assistance for low-income older adults, requiring payments of up to 30% of their income with the rest covered by federal subsidies. Organizations such as Met Council are currently accepting applications for Section 202 units. Finally, NYC Housing Connect prioritizes older adult applications for affordable housing; many buildings under the inclusionary housing program have units carved out for older adults and individuals with disabilities. For support in applying for affordable housing, you can reach out to CUFFH or the housing ambassadors listed here.
Applications for these programs may have waitlists. If an individual is at an immediate risk of homelessness, please call 311 to contact NYC Homeless Services for support with emergency housing for seniors. We hope that this helps!
Read more stories to help with your needs here.
