LeadingAge California held its 9th Annual Affordable Senior Housing Resident Advocacy Day June 4 in Sacramento, bringing together more than 250 representatives from within the affordable housing industry, including CCH residents and staff. The day was an exceptional opportunity for those in attendance to address issues of common concern, including the affordability of adequate housing and services for seniors.
Prior to speaking with legislative representatives, residents and staff were briefed during lunch on three sponsored affordable senior housing bills:
- SB 611, the Affordable Senior Housing in the Master Plan on Aging bill, which calls on the Governor’s Office to establish the Housing Older Persons Effectively (HOPE) Task Force to convene stakeholders from around the state to find solutions that would help older adults and people with disabilities to age in place.
- SB 623, the Modernizing Funding for Senior Housing bill, which seeks to use the most updated data available to assess the housing needs of older adults and determine the set-aside for senior housing under the Multifamily Housing Program; and
- AJR 15, a resolution asking the President and HUD for increased funding for the Section 202 program, to help meet the affordable housing needs of older adults.
Following lunch, the seniors brought great energy to the Capitol, visiting their representatives’ offices, connecting with staffers and making their legislative asks known. Desiree Jackson, social services coordinator at Sister Thea Bowman & Percy Abram Jr. Senior Apartments, says the day was wonderful.
“I brought five women residents who were so excited to be there,” Desiree shares. “They talked, laughed and were able to express themselves and to articulate their ideas in a meaningful way. They thanked me all the way there and back. They were so excited to be at the Capitol for the first time and to be able to advocate for themselves and others”
CCH President/CEO Don Stump, adds, “The need for affordable senior housing has never been greater. We are thankful to our residents who were able to speak out and voice their opinions of behalf of tens of thousands of people struggling to find a secure place to call home. CCH is indeed honored to participation in Advocacy Day each year.”
